‘Aiaola Growing Justice Community of Practice: Virtual Learning Circles
These six learning circles hosted in 2025-2026 created space for shared learning, technical assistance, reflection, and peer exchange across islands and sectors working to advance Food is Medicine efforts in Hawaiʻi. Part of the Growing Justice Community of Practice, which is intended to strengthen pathways for local farmers and food hubs to participate in institutional and healthcare markets, the virtual learning circles continue to offer useful insight and takeaways.
About the Growing Justice Community of Practice
The ʻAiaola Growing Justice Community of Practice (CoP) is a statewide learning and action network grounded in food sovereignty, health equity, and Indigenous values. The CoP brought together 21 community-based organizations across Hawaiʻi, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, food aggregators, Native Hawaiian Healthcare Systems, local farmers, and food access organizations working to advance locally sourced Food is Medicine efforts that uplift Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and Black, Indigenous, People of Color communities.
Through deep community listening, partnership, and cross-sector learning, the CoP is working to strengthen pathways for local farmers and food hubs to participate in institutional and healthcare markets. A particular focus is expanding a locally sourced Food is Medicine marketplace under Hawaiʻi’s 2025-2029 Medicaid 1115 Demonstration Waiver and strengthening the relationships, infrastructure, resources, and policy conditions needed for farmers, food hubs, healthcare providers, and managed care organizations to participate.
About the Learning Circle Series
The six Learning Circles were designed as a connected learning journey, moving from patient access and cross-sector partnerships to local priorities, institutional demand, financing, and evaluation. Six virtual Learning Circles created space for shared learning, technical assistance, reflection, and peer exchange across islands and sectors. Topics were shaped by participant priorities and explored the practical systems needed to grow locally sourced Food is Medicine in Hawaiʻi, including screening and referral, collaborative partnerships, institutional demand, financing and reimbursement, evaluation, data sharing, and priorities for advancing the work. Together, the series supported participants in identifying challenges, sharing emerging practices, and considering how policy, procurement, and implementation can better support community-led food systems.
Recordings of all virtual learning circles are available. Scroll down for each learning circle description and recording:
September 18, 2025: Screening and Referral: An Essential Link Between Patient and Community
November 20, 2025: Building Collaborative Partnerships and Contracts for Nutrition Supports
December 18, 2025: Food is Medicine in Hawaiʻi: Priorities and Opportunities in 2026
January 22, 2026: Scaling up for Institutional Demand: Infrastructure and Capacity-Building for Food is Medicine
March 19, 2026: Food is Medicine: The Financial Picture
May 14, 2026: Food is Medicine Evaluation: Metrics, Data, and Impact
Learning Circle #1: Screening and Referral: An Essential Link Between Patient and Community
Connecting patients to care through community-rooted supports.
SEPTEMBER 2025
Learning Circle #2: Building Collaborative Partnerships and Contracts for Nutrition Supports
Building fair, lasting partnerships across health and food systems.
NOVEMBER 2025
Learning Circle #3: Food is Medicine in Hawaiʻi: Priorities & Opportunities in 2026
Aligning health and food efforts and learnings to guide Hawaiʻi’s priorities.
DECEMBER 2025
Learning Circle #4: Scaling up for Institutional Demand: Infrastructure and Capacity-Building for Food is Medicine
Growing capacity to meet local and institutional demand.
JANUARY 2026
Learning Circle #5: Food is Medicine: The Financial Picture
Exploring funding models, reimbursement, and the true costs of sustainable Food is Medicine work.
MARCH 2026
Learning Circle #6: Food is Medicine Evaluation: Metrics, Data, and Impact
Tracking outcomes, storytelling, and sharing data to drive change.
MAY 2026
Learning Circle recordings are available to those interested in learning from the ʻAiaola Growing Justice Community of Practice. Before accessing a recording, we ask viewers to complete a brief form. This helps us understand who is using these resources, how the learnings are reaching communities and organizations, and the broader reach and impact of the series.
Please Take This Survey To View the Series
Learning Circle recordings are available to those interested in learning from the ʻAiaola Growing Justice Community of Practice. Before accessing a recording, we ask viewers to complete a brief form. This helps us understand who is using these resources, how the learnings are reaching communities and organizations, and the broader reach and impact of the series.
Once you have completed the form you will be directed to the video links.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”