Honolulu is starting a project to turn its Skyline rail stations into food access points. The goal is to help residents connect with local food, culture, and community. This plan is a finalist in the Bloomberg Philanthropies 2025 Mayors Challenge. It aims to address food insecurity on Oʻahu. The project began after the October 2025 opening of Skyline’s second segment, which connects Kapolei to Kalihi and includes stations in Waipahu and Hoʻopili.
The 13 Skyline stations will be used to make fresh and culturally important foods more available. Mayor Rick Blangiardi said the city wants everyone along the 19-mile route to have access to affordable, local produce. The project responds to Oʻahu’s reliance on imported food—about 85%—and rising food costs. Many residents have limited access to affordable groceries, a problem made worse by the pause in SNAP benefits in November 2025.
The city’s plan includes Indigenous Hawaiian values, seeing food access as both an economic and cultural issue. The project started with pilot programs at two West Oʻahu stations. Partners like Hawaiʻi Foodbank, ʻElepaio Social Services, Waipahu High School, and local farmers organized farmers’ markets and mobile pantry events. These events distributed 7,000 pounds of produce, or about 5,800 meals, to over 300 households…