Condominium towers have dominated Kakaako over the last few decades, but the state agency guiding redevelopment in this increasingly dense part of urban Honolulu is preparing a new initiative to enhance the production, distribution, consumption and reuse of local food in the area with assistance from the federal government.

The agency, the Hawaii Community Development Authority, was selected last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as one of 27 entities in 22 states to participate in a program called Local Foods, Local Places.

The EPA program aims to improve neighborhoods through food-related initiatives, and HCDA planners have more than just rooftop gardens in mind.

Daniel Simonich, an HCDA planner, said in an email that some ideas the agency will be exploring include composting cooperatives, a food waste rescue program and community gardens. He said converting impermeable surfaces into gardens can benefit nearby reefs by reducing stormwater runoff, while gardens or food forests can reduce the impact of sea level rise in low-lying inland areas.

So-called “food system planning” is a relatively new area of work for urban planners, Simonich said.

“While traditional planning has focused on providing for basic ‘necessities’ like housing, transportation, commercial business, etc., it is a fairly new movement to give special attention to planning for food,” he said. “We are excited about this food planning initiative.”

Simonich also said opportunity exists for the initiative to address other challenges in Kakaako, such as providing stable job opportunities and sustenance for the homeless through new food programs, and transforming surface lots into community gardens to mitigate the heat reflecting off hard surfaces, what is also known as the “urban heat island effect.”

The city’s rail line, which is slated to run through Kakaako, also presents a chance to increase access to locally produced food, Simonich said.

Gina McCarthy, administrator of the EPA, said in an interview that improving connections between locally grown food and residential communities can benefit farmers, neighborhoods and the environment.

For instance, shifting transportation of local produce from trucks to the city’s rail line could reduce pollution.

“In many urban areas we’re bringing back green spaces to keep water clean,” she said.

Local Foods, Local Places is in its second year at a national level, and this is Hawaii’s first time participating. The program provides no money, but connects participants with a team of experts from a handful of federal agencies including the EPA, the Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Transportation to help set goals and plan projects.

Entry into the program is granted on a competitive basis. More than 300 applicants, which are limited to local government agencies and nonprofit organizations, sought to participate in the program this year.

This year’s participants have diverse plans. The city of Bessemer, Ala., aims to start a downtown farmers market, convert vacant lots into community gardens and build an urban farm and garden project on former public-housing property in a federally designated flood plain.

In Middlesboro, Ky., a nonprofit plans to create pallet gardens, low-cost mobile food carts, business strategies for restaurants, a co-op grocery store and local food enterprises to employ low-income residents.

And in Mission, S.D., a Native American-owned economic development organization plans to establish a healthy-activity hub around a trail system linked to a local grocery store, community garden, farmers market, creek and wetlands.

In Kakaako, HCDA intends to connect with stakeholders and begin a series of community workshops in May to advance specific actions that might include improving or expanding existing outdoor dining areas and farmers markets.

A kickoff meeting is scheduled for Feb. 5 at 3 p.m. in HCDA’s community room at 547 Queen St. to discuss plans for a food assessment and a community survey, as well as to listen to ideas about possible partnerships or projects.

Simonich said anyone interested in joining a working group can contact him at daniel.p.simonich@hawaii.gov or contact Justine Espiritu at justinefreebird@oahufresh.com.