Resources

Tools, guides, and connections for Big Island producers and entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneur Resources

Guides, Programs, and Connections

Starting a Food Business in Hawai'i

Step-by-step guide to licensing, permits, and regulations for food businesses on the Big Island.

Hawai'i Dept. of Health

Commercial Kitchen Directory

Licensed commercial kitchens available for product development and small-batch production on Hawai'i Island.

Keaau Network

USDA Organic Certification

Requirements and process for obtaining organic certification for Big Island agricultural products.

USDA

Made in Hawai'i Festival

Annual trade show featuring Hawaiian-made products with buyer meetings and retail placement opportunities.

Made in Hawaii Festival

Small Business Development Center

Free counseling, training, and technical assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Hawai'i.

Hawai'i SBDC

Hawai'i Agriculture Loans

Low-interest financing for agricultural operations, equipment, and value-added product development.

Dept. of Agriculture

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

Compliance requirements for food manufacturers, including preventive controls and produce safety.

FDA

Hawai'i Good Label

State certification program verifying products made, grown, or produced in Hawai'i.

DBEDT

Product Categories

Big Island Crops and Products

A comprehensive guide to Hawai'i Island's agricultural diversity and value-added product opportunities.

High-Value Specialty Crops
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High-Value Specialty Crops

Premium crops commanding high market prices, concentrated in Kona and East Hawai'i. Coffee and macadamia are the island's signature exports.

CoffeeMacadamia nutsCacaoVanilla
Tropical Fruits
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Tropical Fruits

The Big Island's diverse microclimates support an extraordinary range of tropical fruits, many of which can't be grown commercially on the mainland.

PapayaApple bananaRambutanLycheeAvocadoStarfruitLilikoi
Heritage Crops
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Heritage Crops

Traditional Hawaiian crops with deep cultural significance and growing market interest in heritage food products.

Taro (kalo)Breadfruit (ulu)Sweet potato ('uala)
Livestock & Value-Added
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Livestock & Value-Added

The Waimea highlands support cattle ranching, while bee operations and small dairy farms produce specialty products across the island.

Grass-fed beefArtisanal cheeseHoneyFree-range eggs
Floriculture
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Floriculture

Hawai'i Island is the state's floriculture center, shipping tropical blooms to the mainland and internationally.

OrchidsAnthuriumsTropical heliconiaBird of paradise
Emerging Products
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Emerging Products

New product categories gaining traction on the Big Island, driven by innovation and growing consumer interest in functional and specialty foods.

Oyster mushroomsSeaweedFermented foodsHemp products

External Resources

Programs, Agencies, and Partners

State and federal programs supporting Big Island agricultural and product development.

Hawai'i Department of Agriculture

State agricultural programs, grants, and regulatory guidance.

DBEDT

Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism — business support and trade programs.

Hawai'i SBDC

Free business counseling and training for Hawaiian entrepreneurs.

Hawai'i Island Economic Development Board

Regional economic development, innovation grants, and business support.

UH College of Tropical Agriculture

Agricultural research, extension services, and technical assistance.

Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority

Technology park and business incubator for ocean-based and agricultural enterprises.

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