Introduction to my comments: CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE HUNGRY! WE DO NEED TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF HAWAII'S CHILDREN.

Now for my wonderings:

Regarding:"The DOE, which serves more than 100,000 lunches a day, spends $6 to prepare a lunch".
Why is the cost so high ($6), while the reimbursement so low? It's like saying my car costs $1000, but insurance only values it at $50.

Regarding: "For high school students paying full price for a lunch ($2.75), the USDA reimburses the state 43 cents. For lunches served at a high school participating in CEP, the reimbursement rate is $3.77 per meal." 
Are we, the taxpayers,  in a better situation to have the money come out of the right pocket (federal) instead of the left pocket (state)? Remember, it's our tax dollars, regardless. Which leads back to why the cost of the lunches are so much higher than what the state/federal reimburse.