Bill > HCR24

This concurrent resolution requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to conduct a comprehensive study on Hawaii's food manufacturing capabilities and identify promising markets for local products. The study aims to pinpoint Hawaii's competitive advantages in food production, determine which high-value, premium products should be prioritized for export, and establish clear economic benchmarks for what constitutes a "high-value product." It also requires an analysis of production costs, considering Hawaii's higher operational expenses like energy and labor, to calculate the necessary profit margins for local food manufacturing to be economically viable. Furthermore, the resolution asks DBEDT to identify and propose solutions for logistical and transportation challenges hindering market access. The findings will be used to update curricula at the Maui Food Innovation Center and Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center to train entrepreneurs for export-oriented markets, and to integrate the study's results into existing workforce development and business incubation programs through collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC). The ADC will use the study's insights to guide the development of its scaling facilities, supporting businesses in producing high-value goods for sustainable growth, and both the ADC and the University of Hawaii will work to instill market discipline early in the product development process. Finally, DBEDT is tasked with recommending policy changes to reallocate state resources, grants, and funding to specifically support businesses manufacturing these identified high-value, premium products.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HCR&billnumber=24&year=2026