More fresh produce and healthier food products will soon be available in convenience stores in the Central and Leeward areas of Oahu, as well as on Hawaii Island, thanks to a pilot project being financed by Kaiser Permanente in partnership with Kanu Hawaii.

Kaiser Permanente is providing a $15,000 grant so that Kanu Hawaii can launch a program addressing “food deserts” – areas where there’s a particular lack of fresh and wholesome food products for the populace.

“Educating folks about making better choices while shopping is important, but access to healthy options is key,” said James Koshiba in a statement. Koshiba is executive director of Kanu Hawaii, a grassroots nonprofit organization whose mission is to move the state toward a sustainable future by encouraging support of social and environmental change.

“Kaiser’s support puts us in a great position to move the dial on this issue,” said Koshiba.

Kanu and Kaiser chose the Central and Leeward areas of Oahu and Hawaii Island to launch the pilot because of their higher concentrations of hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.