Shoppers set aside inflation concerns to support Hawaii businesses

News admin June 14, 2026 0 Comments

Shoppers set aside inflation concerns to support Hawaii businesses

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – With inflation at its highest level in three years, everyone is feeling the pinch in their wallets.

But even with rising costs, consumers say there are things they’re willing to pay extra for. Like Aloha Marie Amarino, who was among hundreds of shoppers at the Hoomau Market at the Blaisdell Center this weekend.

“I actually just got a credit limit increase because I just got a new job recently,” said Amarino, who was waiting in line for the Iwi activewear booth.

“I’m contributing back to my community. I’m born and raised here and I am Hawaiian too, so it’s like I’m giving back to my own people and I love supporting small businesses or companies like that.”

It’s a sentiment echoed across the mission-based market, where every product has a story, and every transaction promotes Hawaiian culture. Even if it means breaking the budget.

“You also live once, so like you know what, why not treat yourself sometimes too, and that’s also really important,” said shopper Nai Derego. “We’re all going to die someday, so spend a little money here and there, you know, treat yourself.”

Federal data shows consumer prices rose 4.2% in May from a year earlier, fueled by higher gas prices and the Iran war.

Small business owners say they’re absorbing rising production and operating costs, with smaller profit margins.

“We have shipping and all these different factors that make it difficult to do it in the islands because we’re in the middle of the ocean but we’re really good in Hawaii about being creative and finding resources,” said Jackie Sabado-Eitel, owner of Paradise Now.

“Everybody’s looking for some sort of value in their life, so, just really communicating what your values are as a business, how you make your products or or how it can really impact people’s lives,” said Kailee Freitas, owner of Mahina Made and organizer of Hoomau Market.

For many, that Hawaii connection is worth paying a little more.

“There’s a lot of local people that just want to invest in other local people… that says a lot about our community,” said Kea Peters, founder/illustrator of Kakou Collective.