Bloomberg Philanthropies selects Honolulu as finalist in global competition

The City and County of Honolulu is one of 50 finalists around the world for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ sixth mayors challenge, a competition designed to support cities in bringing to life innovative ideas that improve residents’ lives.

Each city that is named a finalist in the competition receives $50,000 to prototype its idea. In January of 2026, each of 25 winners will be awarded $1 million and operational assistance to bring their proposals to life.

The locations of the finalists represent 33 countries across the world from Brazil to Zambia and more than 80 million people, according to Bloomberg Philanthropies. A total of 10 cities in the U.S. are competition finalists, including Beaverton, Boise, Boston, Detroit, Honolulu, Lafayette, San Francisco, Seattle, South Bend and Yonkers.

The proposed Honolulu project would add rooftop and community gardens to new developments — including the new rail line — to make fresh produce more accessible for underserved populations.

“The Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge competition has enabled Honolulu to reimagine how we can create access to sustainable, local food,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, in a written statement. “Our vision is to work collaboratively within our city agencies and community-based organizations to integrate innovative growing methods into transit-oriented development along our newly opened Skyline rail line. This will not only create exciting opportunities for residents living along the rail line, but will also transform the way urban planning is done on Oʻahu. By incorporating innovative solutions to the city’s most pressing issues regarding affordability, housing, and local food access, we imagine a city that is more intentional and innovative in meeting resident needs.”

The City and County of Honolulu’s idea was one of 50 selected as a finalist from 630 submissions.

“Local government is where people meet policy — and where government improves lives and builds trust,” said James Anderson, who leads the government innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, in a written statement. “That’s why municipal innovation isn’t about grand gestures — it’s about solving hard problems under pressure, often with imperfect tools and finite resources. These Mayors Challenge finalists stand out because they’re not just thinking creatively — they’re designing solutions that reckon with the complexity of implementation and the urgency of their residents’ needs. Their proposals reflect a new standard for public sector achievement: ambitious, yes, but also grounded, disciplined and ripe for real impact.”

Here is the entire list of cities that are finalists in the competition:

Abha, Saudi Arabia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ansan, South Korea

As-Salt, Jordan

Barcelona, Spain

Beaverton, U.S.

Beira, Mozambique

Belfast, United Kingdom

Benin City, Nigeria

Boise, U.S.

Boston, U.S.

Budapest, Hungary

Cap-Haïtien, Haiti

Cape Town, South Africa

Cartagena, Colombia

Cauayan, Philippines

Choma, Zambia

Cuenca, Ecuador

Detroit, U.S.

Fez, Morocco

Fukuoka, Japan

Ghaziabad, India

Ghent, Belgium

Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, India

Helsinki, Finland

Honolulu, U.S.

Kanifing, Gambia

Kyiv, Ukraine

Lafayette, U.S.

Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Maceió, Brazil

Marseille, France

Medellín, Colombia

Mexico City, Mexico

Naga, Philippines

Ndola, Zambia

Netanya, Israel

Nouakchott, Mauritania

Pasig, Philippines

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

San Francisco, U.S.

Seattle, U.S.

Seoul, South Korea

Sialkot, Pakistan

South Bend, U.S.

Surabaya, Indonesia

Taipei, Taiwan

Toronto, Canada

Turku, Finland

Yonkers, U.S. 

Read more about the other finalistsʻ projects.

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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.