We are excited to celebrate the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System (HSPLS), which recently earned media coverage for responding to current events and pressing needs within its community.
The State of Hawaiʻi has launched a week-long Kōkua Food Drive (November 3–7, 2025) to support families affected by the ongoing federal shutdown and interruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Led by Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, the initiative invites residents to donate canned goods and other non-perishable food items at public libraries across the islands. All Hawaiʻi State Public Library System (HSPLS) branches will participate during regular hours, except for Kāne‘ohe and Wahiawā (due to space limitations) and Lahaina (which remains closed).
The food drive is a partnership between the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, HSPLS, and Hawaiʻi’s major food banks—Hawaiʻi Foodbank (serving Oʻahu and Kauaʻi), The Food Basket (Hawaiʻi Island), and Maui Food Bank (Maui). State Librarian Stacey Aldrich emphasized that libraries are “the heart of our communities,” and this effort reflects that role by transforming each branch into a place where residents can come together to kōkua—help and uplift one another in times of need.
The food drive follows the state’s earlier announcement of $2 million in funding for Hawaiʻi’s food banks, along with $500,000 through the Farm to Families program to purchase local food for distribution. In addition to in-person donations, residents are encouraged to contribute online through the participating food banks. By using public libraries as collection sites, the campaign underscores how these trusted community spaces can play a vital role in connecting resources, fostering solidarity, and ensuring that no one in Hawaiʻi goes hungry during this period of uncertainty.
Cordelia Anderson Consulting 