Volume 2, Number 7
FREE
January, 2026
Maui Turns To Local Food As Shipping Costs Rise By Taryn Kama
“One way consumers can help navigate rising food costs is by supporting local farmers and producers.”
A
s the cost of living continues to climb on Maui, residents, farmers and community leaders are increasingly focused on solutions rooted close to home—strengthening local food systems, supporting one another and reducing reliance on costly inter-island shipping. For Kahului resident Angel Nieves, those solutions are deeply personal. Nieves, who is disabled and receives HUD assistance, lives with her 19-year-old son and says the past few years have brought compounding challenges. “We were affected by a fire in our building, and at the same time we’ve been trying to keep up with rising costs—food, transportation, gas and maintaining our car,” Nieves said. While grateful for the services she receives, she said staying financially stable has become increasingly difficult. Despite the strain, Nieves said Maui remains a place she loves. “I’m grateful to be here,” she said, reflecting on how many families and generations are being forced to leave the island in search of jobs and stability. To cope, she looks for volunteer opportunities, stays informed about available services and seeks ways to give back. “Building community is important to me,” she said. That sense of community-driven resilience is becoming increasingly critical as Maui prepares for another increase in inter-island shipping costs. The Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a 25.75 percent rate hike for Young Brothers, effective Jan. 1, 2026. (The new rate replaces, rather than adds to, the temporary 18.1 percent rate increase granted earlier in 2025.) While the decision is intended to sustain inter-island shipping services and increase oversight, it is expected to drive up prices for goods statewide. The rising cost of goods on Maui is not driven by shipping alone, but by a convergence of
Buying local produce, such as from the Napili Farmer's Marketplace, can reduce food costs. economic pressures reshaping how residents and businesses navigate daily life on the island. Residents, restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses are likely to feel the impact as cost increases. Some businesses have already adjusted prices. At Momona Bakery and Coffee Shop in Kahului, for example, the price of an almond croissant recently increased from $6.95 to $7.95. “There are certainly concerns about how sustainable inter-island trade among Hawai‘i farms and distributors will be if prices continue to rise,” said Cameron Leising, operations manager of Local Harvest Island Fresh Delivery. “We plan to absorb most of the rate increase and not pass it along to our customers until it becomes unsustainable.” Hawai‘i imports nearly 90 percent of its food, leaving the state highly dependent on ocean and inter-island shipping. According to The State of Food Insecurity in Hawai‘i 2024–2025, produced by the Hawai‘i Foodbank Hui, rising shipping
costs have compounded grocery price inflation and contributed to food insecurity, particularly on neighbor islands such as Maui. Between 2020 and 2025, inter-island shipping costs rose by approximately 46 percent. Local leaders say part of the solution lies in strengthening Maui’s on-island food economy. “One way consumers can help navigate rising food costs is by supporting local farmers and producers,” said Brandi Sagon, general manager of Maui Hub. “Maui Hub provides a centralized platform for Maui-based farmers to sell directly to residents, increasing access to locally grown food while reducing dependence on interisland shipping.” Food banks are also seeing the downstream effects of rising costs. Lisa H. Paulson, chief executive officer of Maui Food Bank, said demand for assistance continues to grow across Maui County. “Distribution has increased significantly, and we saw a 35 percent surge as the holidays approached,” Paulson said. “We remain committed to ensuring that no one in Maui County goes hungry and that every family has access to healthy, nutritious food.”
Article Continues On Page 7. >
What's Inside:
Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. ...................3 Aloha Mixed Plate Food Review.............................5 News Round up ..........................................................6 Events Calendar .........................................8-9 Classified Ads................................................12