From June 6 to 11, 2026, the marble corridors of Washington, D.C., filled with the scent of fresh plumeria, the sounds of slack key guitar, and the energy of the Hawaii business community for the 10th Annual Hawaii on the Hill.
Jointly organized by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, the event enabled a delegation of more than 200 local leaders—speaking for over 90 nonprofits and businesses—to engage federal decision-makers face-to-face.
For members of the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the event provides a primary venue to display the islands' agriculture and culinary offerings.
The strategic partnership between the Chamber, HFIA, and the Farm Bureau creates an advocacy triad. Direct federal policymakers hear firsthand about everyday food supply chain challenges from HFIA and the Farm Bureau, while the Chamber works to improve the broader business environment.
Their joint focus centers on protecting an isolated island economy through supply chain resilience, securing federal funding for agricultural technology and biosecurity, and advocating for regulatory relief to keep local farms and family grocery stores viable.
Farming in Hawaii is big business rather than a purely scenic endeavor. If local farmers cannot operate profitably, retail shelves empty and dependency on imported goods skyrockets.
Senator Hirono, serving on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, utilizes her seat to safeguard the diverse ecosystem of local manufacturers, retailers, and family-run commercial operations.
Senator Brian Schatz uses his leadership on the Appropriations and Commerce Committees to target Hawaii transportation infrastructure, ensuring harbor systems and cargo pathways receive critical federal resources.
Congressman Ed Case serves on the House Appropriations Committee and has put his legislative weight behind securing over $216 million for pest control programs, defending the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program, and fighting for funding that supports local specialty growers.
As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congresswoman Jill Tokuda introduced the Tariff Free Farming Act to remove expensive financial burdens on essential agricultural inputs like equipment and feed.
Furthermore, her efforts resulted in crucial additions to the House Farm Bill draft, such as a $2.5 billion investment in agricultural research infrastructure, the creation of a Tropical Plant Health Initiative, and a 100% funding increase to $30 million for the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program.
The crown jewel of the week was the Taste of Hawaii exhibition on Capitol Hill. A crowd of over 1,600 members of Congress, federal agency staffers, and national leaders packed the room to sample goods from the Hawaiian Chip Company, Kauai Kookie, Lappert’s Ice Cream, and fresh island produce from Mahi Pono, Maui Gold, and Aloun Farms.
Participation in partnership with the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival elevated the culinary showcase further, demonstrating that Hawaii functions as a global culinary and agricultural powerhouse.
Having worked in Washington, D.C. for the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink, Jayson M. Watts noted the truth of Senator Hirono’s observation that showing up remains half the battle. In a city where thousands of interests compete daily, in-person advocacy allows delegates to put a human face on policy and demonstrate unified clout.
By continuing to show up in Washington, the state establishes real, lasting brand equity for products made in Hawaii.
