The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce on Feb. 13, 2026.
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Feb. 13, 2026, 9 a.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 329 and Videoconference
To: House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce
Rep. Gregg Takayama, Chair
Rep. Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF HB2229 — RELATING TO MICROENTERPRISE HOME KITCHENS
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and other members of the Committees,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports HB2229, which would allow Hawaii residents to open small-scale food operations through the creation of microenterprise home kitchen operations.
The bill would subject MEHKOs to permit and inspection requirements administered by the state Department of Health.
If enacted, it would put Hawaii on the forefront of states that have legalized MEHKOs in order to advance food freedom and allow entrepreneurs to launch home cooking operations.
MEHKOs are a smart small-business response to the high entry costs of opening restaurants and food trucks. They are also adaptable, making them a more attainable option for chefs and cooks interested in starting new part-time businesses.
Individuals who face financial or practical barriers that make it difficult to launch a food business could especially benefit from MEHKOs. Surveys have indicated that 83% of those participating in this informal food economy are women, and many live in rural areas.[1]
Concerns over the safety of MEHKOs would be addressed by the permitting requirements included in the bill, which would mandate compliance with comprehensive food safety rules and allow Department of Health inspections.
In addition, the bill would curtail on-site consumption of food and bar sales to third-party retailers or wholesalers.
Finally, this bill deserves praise for not including an artificial cap on the number of meals or the amount of revenue an MEHKO could have in a year, as is the case under current California law.[2]
Given the financial challenges of operating a business in Hawaii, taking a “light touch” approach to regulating a budding MEHKO program is the best way to help the industry grow.
Encouraging the creation of small food enterprises through this legislation would be good for Hawaii entrepreneurs and the economy as a whole. This bill also would also further Hawaii’s goal of producing more food in the state to boost its food sovereignty.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] Patrick Montgomery, Regina Paparo and Emily M. Broad Leib, “Cottage Foods And Home Kitchens: 2021 State Policy Trends,” Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School, January 2022, p. 2.
[2] Dan King, “Popular Bill to Expand California’s At-Home Kitchen Business Program Becomes Law,” Institute for Justice, July 25, 2023.
