Jocelyn Linnekin

Jocelyn Linnekin
Name	Jocelyn Linnekin
Occupation	Lawyer; Policy Advocate; Nonprofit Executive
Known for	Food, agriculture, land use, regulatory reform in Hawaii
Alma mater	Colgate University; University of Virginia School of Law
Nationality	American

Jocelyn Linnekin is an American attorney and policy advocate noted for work on land use, food policy, and regulatory reform in Hawaiʻi. She has directed nonprofit organizations, led campaigns on sustainable agriculture and community-based food systems, and served as a public commentator on state regulatory processes. Linnekin's career bridges legal practice, nonprofit leadership, and policy advocacy, engaging with stakeholders across state agencies, tribal entities, academic centers, and philanthropic organizations.

Early life and education

Linnekin was raised in the United States with ties to New York City and later relocated to Hawaiʻi for professional and public interest pursuits. She earned an undergraduate degree from Colgate University and obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she studied land use and administrative law alongside coursework connected to environmental and agricultural regulation. During her studies she interacted with faculty and visiting scholars from institutions such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and the University of California, Berkeley who specialize in land use, coastal resources, and indigenous rights.

Career

Linnekin began her professional career practicing law in arenas that involved land use, zoning, and regulatory compliance, working with legal teams that interfaced with entities like the Hawaiʻi State Legislature and the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources. She transitioned into nonprofit leadership roles, serving as executive director of the Hawaiʻi Food Policy Forum and later directing the Hawaiʻi Farm to School Hui, where she coordinated programs linking schools, farms, and institutional procurement. Linnekin also led the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation and worked with regional networks including the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Trust for Public Land on projects related to farmland access and conservation.

Her practice has involved collaboration with municipal and state planning bodies such as the City and County of Honolulu planning department, and engagement with federal agencies including the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on coastal and food system resilience. Linnekin has consulted for academic centers including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and partnered with research initiatives at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and the Island Institute to translate policy analysis into applied programs.

Advocacy and public policy work

As an advocate, Linnekin has been active in campaigns addressing regulatory barriers to small-scale agriculture, land tenure, and community food security, engaging with policy institutions such as the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and county councils across Oʻahu, Maui, Hawaiʻi (island), and Kauaʻi. She has testified before committees on bills related to agricultural land classifications, water rights, and local procurement ordinances while coordinating coalitions including farmers, chefs, educators, and health advocates from organizations like Slow Food USA, National Farm to School Network, and the Food Policy Action network.

Linnekin’s work has addressed intersections with indigenous and cultural resource stewardship, collaborating with Native Hawaiian organizations and entities such as the Kamehameha Schools and the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation to align food policy with cultural practices. She has worked on initiatives tied to disaster preparedness and food resiliency in partnership with Federal Emergency Management Agency programs and regional climate adaptation projects associated with the Hawaiʻi Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

Publications and media appearances

Linnekin has authored policy briefs, op-eds, and analytic pieces published in outlets and platforms including regional newspapers such as the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and national compilations associated with the Island Press and Civil Eats. Her commentary has been featured on broadcast and podcast programs connected to NPR, local public radio stations like Hawai‘i Public Radio, and television segments involving KITV and KHON2 where she discussed food systems, land use reform, and school food procurement. She has contributed chapters and case studies to edited volumes produced by scholars at the University of California Press and policy researchers at the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute.

Linnekin has also presented at conferences hosted by organizations such as the American Planning Association, the National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity (NPLAN), and the Center for Food Safety, and has been a guest lecturer at universities including the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Colgate University, and University of Virginia.

Personal life and recognitions

Linnekin resides in Honolulu and is active in community initiatives that link culinary professionals, educators, and farmers. Her work has been recognized with awards and honors from local and regional bodies including acknowledgments from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau Federation, community leadership awards presented by civic organizations in Hawaiʻi County, and fellowship support from institutions such as the Soros Foundation and regional philanthropic programs. She maintains affiliations with professional associations including the American Bar Association and nonprofit networks like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Category:American lawyers Category:People from Honolulu Category:Food policy advocates