Hawaiʻi public schools are adding more locally grown food to cafeteria menus this year, a positive change for students and local farmers.

• Schools are rolling out new meals made with Hawaii-grown produce, part of a state Farm to School program.
• The goal is for local food to make up 30% of what's served in public schools by 2030.
• Kalihi Waena Elementary debuted an "Okinawan sweet potato" breakfast roll made with produce from the Big Island.
• The push also gets students into gardening and farming, with school plots, citrus and mango trees, and new gardens being built.
• Leaders say local food is healthier than shipped-in processed food and cuts the cost of importing everything from the mainland.

Outlook: More local ingredients and school gardens are expected to keep expanding across Hawaiʻi campuses through 2030.