Top 10 Things Made in Hawaii

Not all Hawaii coffee is the same. Much like Napa or Sonoma wines, Kona has a lot of brand recognition, but some sub-par quality products do slip under the radar just by being associated with the region. Only coffee marked “100% Kona Coffee” is reliable. Although Kona coffee has made the biggest name for itself in the global industry, all of the major Hawaiian Islands produce their own coffee, and a lot of it is award-winning Hawaii coffee. The mineral-rich volcanic soil in Hawaii provides the perfect scenario for growing coffee beans. There are about 800 coffee farms on the Big Island, and nearly 50 on the other islands.

Hawaii visitors and residents have the rare opportunity to buy beans directly from the grower. Some popular coffee plantations include Hula Daddy Kona Coffee, Maui Grown Coffee, Malulani Estate, Waialua Estate Coffee, Pele Plantations, and Rusty’s Hawaiian to name a few.

Hawaii has a thriving and expanding beer business that extends well beyond these three brands. There are currently about 15 Hawaii breweries, with new ones popping up regularly. As of 2012, Hawaii ranked 27th in the nation for craft breweries per capita. Other notable breweries include Big Island Brewhaus out of Waimea, Aloha Beer Company out of Honolulu, and Primo Brewing out of Honolulu and Maui Brewing Company.

For beer brewed in a tropical climate, most would assume the most popular beers to be light in style, like lagers and pilsners. Kona Longboard Lager is probably the most recognizable Hawaiian beer worldwide. However, some of the favorite Hawaiian beers include porters and stouts rich in Hawaiian flavors of coffee, chocolate, and coconut. Try the Coconut Hiwa Porter from Maui Brewing Co. or the White Mountain Porter from Big Island Brewhaus for a true taste of Hawaiian craft beer. Many of these brands are available throughout the Hawaiian Islands, on the mainland and even worldwide. If you’re a beer lover planning a trip to Hawaii, make sure to seek out beer tours and brewpubs in Hawaii.

Maui Babe is now sold internationally in Canada, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Japan, and even in Saudi Arabia. One would expect to find a giant warehouse with hundreds of employees on a visit to the Maui Babe HQ in Wailuku. Surprisingly, only six people run the show. Founder, Joe Rossi, started the company by mixing the lotion in his Maui home and passing out samples on Maui beaches. The entire production is still very mom-and-pop, adding to its Hawaii-made appeal. Maui Babe has since expanded its product line to include both indoor and outdoor tan accelerators, sunblock and after sun lotion.

Honolulu Cookie Company offers Hawaiian inspired flavors like lilikoi (passionfruit), Kona coffee, chocolate macadamia, mango, and pineapple. If this sounds tasty to you, visit one of their stores for a free sample! The company has grown considerably in the past 5 years, but their cookies are still baked fresh daily and individually packaged by hand at their Honolulu cookie factory.

What’s really cool to know is that the Honolulu Cookie Company began as a way to encourage Hawaiian hospitality. In fact, the pineapple is the international symbol for hospitality and dates back several centuries, also being the main logo for this Hawaii made product. Both visitors and locals love to purchase cookie themed Hawaii gift boxes from Honolulu Cookie Company. It’s such a great way to celebrate and share a little bit of the Hawaiian Islands with those back home. The cookies are now available at 13 locations on Oahu and Maui, two locations in Las Vegas, in Korea, and of course, online!

The most recognized of these distilleries is Ocean Vodka. Ocean Vodka produces Maui made organic vodka from sugarcane and deep ocean mineral water. This family business started in 2005, sells their vodka in 36 states, Canada, South America and Asia. Ocean Vodka has since expanded production to include rum, whiskey, and liqueurs and produced on Hawaii Sea Spirits Organic Farm and Distillery.

Other Hawaii distillers also produce a product from Hawaiian sugarcane, although they make rum, not vodka. Manulele Distiller’s popular Kō Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum is making waves in the craft cocktail industry. Kauai’s Kōloa Rum also produces seven local rums in award-winning Hawaiian flavors, like coconut.

Hawaii is also home to three other distilleries: Haleakala Distillers, Old Lahaina Rum and Island Distillers. The distillery industry in Hawaii is still in its infantile stage, but expect major global contributions in the next few years.

This family run Hawaii made company started in the North Shore of Oahu with one single product. They have since expanded their operation to include over 55 products. North Shore Goodies now sells a variety of other foods including flavored peanut butters, jams, salad dressings, coffee and syrups.They limit all products to 3-4 ingredient, specializing in Hawaiian flavors like coconut, lilikoi, guava, macadamia nut, pineapple, vanilla bean and ginger.

North Shore Goodies still holds a strong tie to their farmer’s market roots, making multiple appearances a week in Oahu, and handing out addicting samples religiously. Their products are available online and at over 50 stores in Hawaii, locations as far as Alaska, Connecticut and even Japan.

Hawaiians like to keep their surfboards local. Town & Country, Kazuma and SOS Surfboards (Sean Ordonez Shapes) are three of the best brands in the Hawaii made surfboards industry. Town & Country is an Oahu based surfboard shaping company founded in 1971, rich in the history and heyday of Waikiki longboard surf culture. Their characteristic yin-yang logo is respected worldwide in the surf community. SOS is probably the most recognized big wave board shaper in the world, and is the best place to go if you’re looking to get a custom Maui-made surfboard. Kazuma Surfboards, founded by owner and shaper Matt Kazuma, has been making custom surfboards in their Haiku, Maui store for over 25 years. The factory is open to the public and Kazuma encourages customers to come watch the shaping process firsthand.

There are dozens of other Hawaiian surfboard brands like Tropix and Hawaii Surf Factory, as well as countless amateur and semi-amateur surfboard shapers.

Aside from Dole, other pineapple plantations like Maui Gold Pineapples grow sweet and nutritious, vitamin C rich Hawaii pineapples. Hawaiian pineapple is known for its extra sweet flavor and low acidity. Both the Dole Pineapple Plantation on Oahu and Maui Gold Pineapple offer tours highlighting the historical significance of pineapple in Hawaii, and fun facts about pineapple history and production. For example, it takes about 19 months to grow a pineapple, but only has a 2-3 day window of prime ripeness.

Hawaiian pineapple is available in pre-inspected boxes for those who want to take some Hawaii sweetness home with them. It makes a great gift, and while pineapple is no longer a big cash crop in Hawaii, it still remains as the most identifiable symbol of the Hawaiian Islands. Check with your airlines, most will check pre-inspected pineapples for free.

Mauna Loa has made a name for itself as the tastiest source for anything made with Macadamia Nuts in Hawaii. Since 1976, they have been making a huge impact in the Hawaii-made foods industry. Also, Oahu’s Hawaiian Host produces Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts roasted with Maui onion, Hawaiian honey, Kona coffee and other sweet and savory flavors. Throughout all Mac Nut brands, chocolate covered Macadamias are among the top sellers, and on that note, Hawaii is the only US State that also grows its cacao.

There are also countless smaller macadamia nut businesses like Kona Coast Macadamia Nut, Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company and Bad Ass Macadamia Nut Company. Today, Macadamia Nut production in Hawaii includes 700 farms and eight processing plants. Hawaii made Mac-nut goods are readily available at farmer’s markets, ABC Stores, Foodland, Safeway, Costco, Walmart, select mainland retailers and online.

Some of the most popular Hawaii made items include locally made beauty products, soaps, candles, honey, bikinis, and more. Keep your eyes peeled as you visit popular sights and in-the-know locales throughout Hawaii; Maui, Oahu, Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai.

For example, when visiting Hawaii spas, make sure to check out their gift shops. You’ll most likely find that many of the Hawaii made spa products used in their treatment menus will be available. A few popular Hawaii made spa products include Malie Organics of Kauai, Queen Bee of Maui, and Lanikai Bath & Body from Oahu.

When you find yourself perusing hotel and resort gift shops, locally owned boutiques, and even big box retailers like Target or Walmart, check out their “Hawaii” sections to find locally made candles made by companies like Paradise Garden, or Hawaii made soaps made by North Shore Soap Factory. In fact, if you find yourself on Oahu’s North Shore, plan ahead and visit the North Shore Soap Factory store in Waialua.

Last, but not least, there are two more Hawaii made products that you must seek out when in the islands. Locally made honey, and bikinis! Two of the most popular items for Hawaii residents are surely these two things. There’s a slew of beekeepers and bikini makers throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Head to any small town and find organic grocery stores and bikini shops lining the roads.

For local honey, definitely try to find Big Island Bees. Their products can be found at small grocery shops like Down to Earth and Mana Foods on Maui, or at Whole Foods store locations.

If you’re seeking a new fit for the beach, we love Pakaloha Bikinis. They have two storefront locations on Maui, and two on Oahu. What makes their Hawaii made bikinis so awesome is that #1) they’re sold as separates, and #2), they have the most comfortable and durable fabrics. Whether you’re looking for a bikini to surf in, or one to suntan in, they’ve got you covered.

For more information about these Hawaii Made products, please visit each vendor online:

• Malie Organics
• Queen Bee Maui
• Lanikai Bath & Body
• North Shore Soap Factory
• Paradise Garden Soaps and Candles
• Big Island Bees
• Pakaloha Bikinis