Hawaii Cottage Laws – The Cottage Law Kitchen

Aloha to cottage food opportunities in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands!

Welcome to Hawaii, where the spirit of aloha extends to cottage food laws that are finally opening doors for home-based food entrepreneurs! While Hawaii was one of the last states to adopt cottage food regulations, the islands now offer real opportunities for turning your culinary talents into income. With exciting new changes in 2024 that expand sales opportunities, Hawaii's cottage food scene is heating up faster than a luau pit. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to start your legal home food business in paradise.

Exciting 2024 Changes: The Game-Changer

The 2024 legislation brings transformative changes that make Hawaii much more entrepreneur-friendly:

New Sales Channels Allowed:

Online sales – finally allowed!
Telephone orders – phone-based sales permitted
Third-party sales – partner with coffee shops and retailers
Inter-island shipping – mail products between islands

Expanded Food Categories:

Pickled foods – previously prohibited
Fermented foods – like kimchi and fermented vegetables
Acidified foods – jams, chutneys, and preserves
Additional preserves – broader range of preserved products

Streamlined Operations:

Clearer labeling requirements
More flexibility in business operations
Better support for small-scale food entrepreneurs

What Foods Can You Make and Sell?

Hawaii allows “not potentially hazardous” foods – items that don't require time or temperature control for safety.

Traditional Allowed Foods:

Baked Goods:

Bagels, biscuits, and breads
Brownies, cakes, and cookies
Donuts, muffins, and rolls
Scones, sweet breads, and tortillas
Pastries and baked treats

Confections and Snacks:

Candies and chocolates
Popcorn and nuts
Granola and trail mixes
Dried fruits and vegetables
Nut butters and spreads

Preserved Foods:

Traditional jams and jellies
Honey and syrups
Vinegars and oils
Dried herbs and spices
Coffee beans and tea

Hawaiian Specialties:

Hand-pounded poi (specifically allowed in Hawaii's rules!)
Traditional Hawaiian baked goods
Island-style snacks and treats

New 2024 Additions:

Pickled vegetables (including pickled mangoes!)
Fermented foods like kimchi
Acidified preserves and chutneys
Expanded jam and jelly varieties

What You CANNOT Make:

Time/temperature controlled foods requiring refrigeration
Fresh dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt)
Meat and seafood products (including dried meats)
Low-acid canned foods
Garlic in oil preparations
Fresh cut fruits and vegetables

Special Note on Ingredients:

You can use eggs, milk, and dairy as ingredients in your allowed baked goods, even though you can't sell these items directly.

How to Get Started: Step-by-Step Guide

Getting started with Hawaii cottage food is simpler than ever, especially with the 2024 improvements.

Step 1: Complete Food Safety Training

Hawaii requires food safety education before you can sell. You have two options:

Option 1: Free DOH Workshops

Attend a Food Safety Education Workshop on your island
Offered by Hawaii Department of Health
No cost but limited scheduling and locations

Option 2: ANSI-Accredited Online Course

Complete an online course (like FoodSafePal or Learn2Serve)
Cost: $10-15 typically
Takes 2-3 hours to complete
Valid for 3 years

Step 2: Set Up Your Home Kitchen

Use your primary residence kitchen only
No commercial kitchens allowed under cottage food rules
Maintain good sanitation practices
Ensure proper storage for ingredients and finished products

Step 3: Create Proper Labels

Hawaii has specific labeling requirements that must be followed exactly:

Required Label Information:

Product name (common or usual name)
Ingredient list in descending order by weight
Allergen information per federal requirements
Contact information (business address, email, or phone – PO boxes allowed)
Two required statements in at least 10-point font:
- “This food product is home-produced and processed”
- “This food product was not produced or packaged in a Department of Health-inspected facility”

Step 4: Choose Your Sales Strategy

With 2024 changes, you now have multiple options:

Direct Sales:

From your home
At farmers markets and events
Roadside stands
Home delivery and pickup

New 2024 Options:

Online sales and orders
Phone-based sales
Third-party partnerships (coffee shops, stores)
Inter-island shipping

Step 5: Start Selling!

No permits or licenses required – just complete training, label properly, and begin selling!

Where and How Can You Sell?

Traditional Sales Venues:

Your home – direct sales to customers
Farmers markets – popular venues throughout the islands
Special events – craft fairs, festivals, fundraisers
Roadside stands – especially popular in rural areas
Bake sales – school and community fundraisers

New 2024 Opportunities:

Online platforms – create websites or use social media
Third-party retailers – partner with local coffee shops and stores
Telephone orders – take orders by phone
Inter-island sales – ship to other Hawaiian islands
Consignment arrangements – work with local businesses

Geographic Restrictions:

Hawaii only – cannot ship to mainland or other states
Inter-island shipping now allowed (2024 improvement)
All sales must ultimately be to end consumers

Income Potential: No Sales Limit!

Unlimited Earning Potential:

One of Hawaii's best features is no annual sales cap. Unlike states that limit cottage food earnings to $25,000-$50,000, Hawaii allows unlimited income from cottage food sales.

Business Growth Opportunities:

Start with direct sales and farmers markets
Expand to online sales (new in 2024)
Develop third-party partnerships (new in 2024)
Scale to significant income levels
Consider inter-island distribution

Island-Specific Advantages:

Tourism market – visitors love local specialties
Inter-island shipping – serve multiple islands from one kitchen
Unique Hawaiian products – poi, tropical preserves, island treats
Year-round growing season – fresh ingredients always available

Special Considerations for Hawaii

Island-Specific Challenges:

Limited commercial kitchen access – especially in rural areas
High ingredient costs – shipping to islands increases prices
Distance between islands – requires shipping for inter-island sales
Tourist vs. local markets – different customer bases and needs

Advantages of Island Life:

Strong local food movement – consumers value local products
Unique Hawaiian ingredients – access to tropical fruits and specialties
Tourist interest – visitors seek authentic Hawaiian food experiences
Community support – island communities often support local businesses

Regulatory Environment:

No routine inspections – but DOH can investigate complaints
State-level regulation – consistent rules across all islands
Growing support – recent legislation shows government backing

Food Safety Best Practices

While Hawaii doesn't require permits or regular inspections, following good practices protects your business:

Kitchen Safety:

Maintain clean work surfaces and equipment
Wash hands frequently during food preparation
Store ingredients properly to prevent contamination
Keep pets away from food preparation areas

Hawaiian Climate Considerations:

High humidity – store dry goods in airtight containers
Tropical environment – extra attention to pest control
Temperature fluctuations – proper storage becomes more critical
Salt air exposure – protect ingredients from moisture

Customer Safety:

Use quality, fresh ingredients
Follow tested recipes consistently
Label products clearly with allergen information
Respond promptly to any customer concerns

Making the Most of Hawaii's Unique Market

Embrace Local Flavors:

Tropical fruits – mango, passion fruit, guava preserves
Hawaiian specialties – poi, haupia-flavored treats
Island fusion – combine local and international flavors
Seasonal specialties – highlight different harvest seasons

Target Multiple Markets:

Local residents – focus on convenience and regular customers
Tourists – emphasize authentic Hawaiian experiences
Special events – luaus, weddings, cultural celebrations
Corporate clients – hotels, restaurants seeking local products

Leverage 2024 Improvements:

Develop online presence – now legally allowed
Partner with local businesses – coffee shops, gift stores
Expand to other islands – use shipping for broader reach
Create subscription services – regular delivery of specialties

Getting Help and Resources

Official Resources:

Hawaii Department of Health: health.hawaii.gov/san/
Food Safety Branch: For regulations and guidance
Environmental Health Offices by Island:
- Hawaii Island: (808) 933-0917 (Hilo), (808) 322-1507 (Kona)
- Maui: (808) 984-8230
- Kauai: (808) 241-3323

Training Resources:

Hawaii DOH Food Safety Workshops: Free but limited availability
ANSI-Accredited Online Courses: FoodSafePal, Learn2Serve, ServSafe

Business Support:

Small Business Development Centers: Business planning assistance
Local farmers markets: Networking and customer development
Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers: Support for fruit-based products
Food innovation centers: Maui Food Innovation Center, Wahiawa Value-Added Product Development Center

Looking Ahead: Hawaii's Cottage Food Future

Continued Growth Expected:

The Institute for Justice gave Hawaii a C grade (43rd out of 69) for cottage food laws, but the 2024 improvements show positive momentum. As Meagan Forbes from the Institute noted: “I think they wanted to take an incremental approach, slow and steady, to expand it a bit first to see how that goes and then in a couple of years look again and consider expanding it further.”

Potential Future Improvements:

Further expansion of allowed foods
Mainland shipping permissions
Additional sales venue options
Streamlined training requirements

Ready to Start Your Hawaii Cottage Food Adventure?

Hawaii's cottage food laws have transformed from restrictive to promising, especially with the 2024 improvements. The combination of no sales limits, beautiful local ingredients, strong community support, and new sales opportunities makes Hawaii an increasingly attractive place for cottage food entrepreneurs.

Hawaii's Key Advantages:

No annual sales limit – unlimited earning potential
2024 expansions – online sales, third-party partnerships, expanded foods
Unique Hawaiian products – poi, tropical preserves, island specialties
Tourist and local markets – diverse customer base
Inter-island opportunities – serve multiple islands
Strong local food movement – community support for homemade products

Your Action Plan:

Complete food safety training (online or in-person)
Identify your specialty products using local Hawaiian flavors
Set up your home kitchen with proper sanitation
Create compliant labels with required statements
Choose your sales strategy – farmers markets, online, or partnerships
Start with local sales then expand to other islands
Build relationships with local businesses and customers

The Aloha Advantage: Hawaii offers something special for cottage food entrepreneurs – the opportunity to create authentic island products in a supportive community environment. Whether it's hand-pounded poi, tropical fruit preserves, or innovative fusion treats, Hawaii welcomes your cottage food dreams with the spirit of aloha and increasingly favorable laws.

From Kauai to the Big Island, from traditional Hawaiian treats to innovative fusion creations – Hawaii's cottage food opportunities are as beautiful and diverse as the islands themselves.

E komo mai (welcome) to your Hawaiian cottage food journey!

Disclaimer: This information reflects Hawaii's cottage food laws as of 2024-2025, including recent improvements from House Bill 2144. Always verify current requirements with the Hawaii Department of Health and check for any additional local regulations. Laws can change, and individual circumstances may vary. For the most current information, visit health.hawaii.gov/san/ or contact your local Environmental Health office.