Locating Oahu Food Deserts Using Geographic Information Systems

Abstract

The United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service Food Desert Locator displays food deserts determined through specific criteria across the United States; however, Hawaii is not included in the locator. The first part of this project consists of a compilation of a literature review to present information on what food deserts and its characteristics are, the differences in opinions regarding food deserts, the significance of such research, the challenges in solving the problem of food deserts, and techniques utilized to map food deserts. The second component of this project is to compile a series of maps, similar to the USDA Economic Research Service Food Desert Locator. Geographic Information Systems(GIS), the variables determined in the literature review, and Census data were used to determine food desert census tracts on Oahu and create an interface similar to the Food Desert Locator. The result is a connection between food desert census tracts and socioeconomic characteristics of a community. Research such as this could encourage the development of food retailers in areas lacking access to such establishments, which could improve healthy food access in communities. In addition, this research provides information currently absent from the USDA Economic Research Service Food Desert Locator.