Bill > HR23

This 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 high-value, premium products. The study will assess the competitive advantages of locally made goods, define what constitutes a "high-value product" using clear economic metrics, and pinpoint specific markets that align with these products for export success. It will also analyze the cost of production in Hawaii, considering factors like energy, labor, and imported ingredients, to determine the profit margins needed for local food manufacturing to be economically viable. Furthermore, the study will examine logistical and transportation challenges to strategic markets and propose state-level solutions. 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 DBEDT will collaborate with other state agencies and the University of Hawaii to integrate these findings into workforce development and business incubation programs. The Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) will also use the study's results to guide the development of its scaling facilities and ensure businesses supported by University of Hawaii programs have the necessary infrastructure for growth. Finally, the resolution calls for policy recommendations on how the state can reallocate resources to support businesses manufacturing these identified high-value products.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HR&billnumber=23&year=2026