Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

Families in Hawai‘i are facing increased food insecurity as the federal shutdown threatens Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Nationwide, 42 million people depend on SNAP, including 165,000 residents in Hawai‘i. The program is a critical part of the state’s food safety net, providing significantly more meals than local food banks and parish pantries combined.

The risk to SNAP means an estimated 13 million meals could disappear each month for vulnerable groups in Hawai‘i. Many families are already struggling, with parents skipping meals so their children can eat and working individuals still facing empty cupboards.

Parish pantries and church food ministries also play a vital role by offering direct support to those in need. These efforts are seen as expressions of faith in action, especially during difficult times.

Pope Leo XIV emphasized that hope is not abstract but has faces—those of weary workers and anxious mothers who continue to share what little they have. “Their cry is not one of helplessness but of invitation—to live the Gospel as Jesus taught, to see and serve Him by responding to others in need,” he said.

Bishop Larry Silva encouraged support for a special collection on November 16, highlighting that 25 percent of funds from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) remain in Hawai‘i. These funds help feed disaster survivors, provide housing and job training for formerly incarcerated women, and assist low-income families.

“Hope, for the Christian, is never passive. It is active trust in the God who feeds the multitudes with five loaves and two fish—and entrusts those loaves to our hands,” Bishop Silva wrote.

The Diocese calls on parishes to strengthen food ministries, organize drives, partner with community groups providing free food, volunteer time, give generously, and advocate for policies supporting vulnerable populations.

This year’s CCHD collection comes at a crucial time as many face hardship due to the government shutdown. The Church urges generosity and active compassion so that no one in Hawai‘i goes hungry or is left behind.