A new partnership between the government, private and community partners is working to provide easier access to healthy foods for children living in Hawai‘i’s rural areas.

The Kaukau 4 Keiki partnership will provide weekly breakfast and lunch meal kits for children 18 and under in rural communities with zip codes starting with 967.  The weekly meal kits will be available from June 7 for Oʻahu, (June 14 for neighbor islands) through July 31.

“It’s difficult for children in some areas to make it to a school for a single Grab-and-Go meal during the summer months. Through Kaukau 4 Keiki, many groups have come together to fill this need, and I want to thank all the partners,” said Hawaiʻi’s first lady, Dawn Amano-Ige in a press release.

The Kaukau 4 Keiki Coalition includes food access coordinators on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui and Hawai‘i Island,Hawai‘i Child Nutrition Program, Kahumana Food Hub & Organic Farms (Oʻahu), Mālama Kaua‘i (Kaua‘i), No Kid Hungry, USDA Summer Food Services Program, Vibrant Hawaii (Hawai‘i island), and Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance.

Families can sign up online to receive a meal box for their keiki at www.kaukau4keiki.org or call 2-1-1 if they do not have access to the internet. Funding is very limited, and applications will be approved on a first come first served basis.

Families will be contacted by community organizations on the designated date, organizations will deliver a box of fresh veggies, fruits, meat and grains or will provide designated pick up hours.  Meal kits will vary from island to island, as program hosts will make every effort to support local farmers, ranchers, and food producers with the USDA program’s food purchasing dollars.

In addition to Kaukau 4 Keiki, the Department of Education’s Summer Meals Program begins June 4 for children ages 18 and younger, regardless of enrollment status. For a list of participating schools, click here for more information.