15+ Native Hawaiian Owned Businesses on Big Island Hawai’i

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Before we get into it, I have to do a little story time on why I specifically focus my Hawai’i trips around supporting Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island.

Hawai’i was the destination that made me fall in love with travel. O’ahu, specifically, on a week long trip back in 2017 where I visited a friend attending grad school there and she let me crash on her couch and hang out with her and her cohort on my first (and probably last) budget trip to the Hawaiian islands. That week passed so so fast, and yet ever second felt so full.

It wasn’t that the water was a dazzling blue – though it was.

It wasn’t that the food deliciously hit every flavor note – though it did.

It wasn’t that the scenery was one of the most beautiful I had ever seen – though it remains as such.

It was because I finally felt…home. And I don’t mean in the sense of wow there was such amazing hospitality and residents were welcoming. That too, yes, but it one little thing that was much much much smaller.

Everyone in Hawai’i pronounced my name right.

Surprise, my government name isn’t Kay hahah. But it wasn’t until that moment that I realized I could find “home” somewhere else in this wide wide world. That I could see myself reflected in another community, with parallel histories, struggles, resilience, and joy.

I will always love Hawai’i, which is why I will always be an advocate for Hawaiian businesses. I do not think that Hawai’i NEEDS tourism. It doesn’t. In fact, if all tourism to the Hawaiian islands stopped cold turkey, it would probably alleviate a lot of the concerns of residents and the economic would be able to shift to a different industry.

But if we are going to visit, then we should reinvest our tourist dollars back into the Native Hawaiian community! It’s the literal LEAST we could do.

There is no Hawai’i without Native Hawaiians.

Anyways, all of that to say that I visited the newly renamed Hawai’i Island, aka the Big Island, and spent a WAYYY too short time, but I was able to experience so much rich culture by supporting Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island.

None of my trip was sponsored, gifted, or hosted, by the way. So as you craft your own Hawai’i itinerary, I encourage you to have Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island at the forefront!

Where to Stay

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any Hawaiian owned hotels on Hawai’i. I was disappointed, but not surprised. Various American and foreign real estate firms often buy up land in Hawai’i, majorly contributing to the devastating housing crisis on the islands. Some hotels and resorts lease their land from Kamehameha Schools, which has a land trust that stewards about 373,000 acres dedicated to nurturing Native Hawaiian culture.  

However, there are a few hotels that are OPERATED by Castle Resorts & Hotels, the islands’ only Native Hawaiian owned hotel and resort operator and vacation rental management services!

Castle Resorts manages properties on O’ahu, Kaua’i, Maui, Moloka’i, and Hawai’i Island (and also New Zealand and Nevada lol). If you’re unable to find a Native Hawaiian owned hotel for your trip, or maybe they’re all booked up, I’d recommend at least going with a Castle Resorts property because at least more of your tourist dollars are circulating within the local community.

On Hawai’i Island, there are four Castle Resort properties that can fit any style of traveler (plus they all offer free parking!!!) so be sure to book one (or more!) as you plan your Big Island itinerary.

• Castle Haliʻi Kai at Waikoloa: great for those who want the classic resort experience.
• Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham: a more humble resort option on the Hilo side, still with free parking! A little dated, but still one of the best in the area imo.
• Castle Kanaloa at Kona: another humble resort but closer to Kona, so convenient in that aspect! Could also use some updates, but close to a lot of water activities (like the manta rays, more on that later).
• Castle Waimea Country Lodge: for those looking for a quieter escape, but just know it’s more of a motel style lodging option. Also a great homebase if you want to travel around Pololu Valley, Hawi, and others

What to Eat

I absolutely love Hawaiian food, so I’m always pumped to eat when I visit the islands. I enjoy a wide range of foods and cuisines and a lot of “modern Hawaiian food” includes dishes that showcase the blend of cultures that make up today’s residents of Hawai’i. You’ll often find nods to Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, and Japanese dishes, flavors, and presentation in Hawaiian cuisine.

In this section, I’m listing a few of the Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island that are restaurants and food establishments. I also ate at other restaurants, but these were ones that really highlighted flavor of the Hawaiian islands and I recommend to plan your foodie adventures around these Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island!

Kona/Waikoloa

• Kanaka Kava: If you’re so inclined, you’ve gotta add kava to your Big Island itinerary, it’s an activity in itself! Kava, or ‘awa in Hawaiian, is traditionally a ceremonial drink from the Pacific Islands (Hawai’i, Micronesia, Fiji, the Samoas, Tonga, and Vanuatu)
• Ola Brew: A very fun environment with typical pub food and great beers. I visited during a trivia night! I believe there’s also a location in Hilo, but I went to their Kona location.
• Napua at Mauna Lani Beach Club: Napua is owned and operated by two brothers raised in Honoka`a, HI, and Chef Keoni Regidor is a very acclaimed chef! The menu was definitely on the more upscale/fine dining or restaurants on the Big Island, but whatever you do, order the fish!!!

Hilo

• So Juicy Hawaii: You know I HADDD to grab a juice, and I was able to visit so many cafes in Hilo, Hawai’i during my trip! The best juice hands down and a great pick-me up after a day of exploring.
• Liko Lehua Cafe: This was probably the tastiest surprise from the list and the perfect lunch spot. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, and insider tip: you’ll want a jar or two of their homemade butters to take home!
• Lani’s Island Snack Shack: Very homestyle Hawaiian food, and a real comfort to the soul. They also carry lots of snacks which was nice as we headed to the National Park the next day!
• Lehua Restaurant: One of the best restaurants on the entire island, and also skews more on the fancier side, it’s hard not to over-order because everything sounds (and tastes!) so delicious! I need more restaurants with a poke board STAT!!!!

Waimea

• Ippy’s Hawaiian BBQ: A real down-to-earth restaurant that packs a punch with flavor. The staff were all sooo so sweet and this is easily the best restaurant I ate at in Waimea!

Things to Do

Now I know most Big Island itinerary posts give you all THE BEST THINGS TO DO ON BIG ISLAND with literally every single cool thing on the island. Which, yes, is super great and helpful, but since I want to keep this post focused on Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island, I’m going to do something a little different.

Instead of giving you in-depth suggestions on everything there is to do on Hawai’i Island, I’m just going to cover a few of the Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island in the tourism sector so that you can prioritize these experiences and tour operators.

As you’re making your way around the island, you should be aware that Hawai’i is 100% a road trip destination. While it’s still not a HUGE place, the different points of the island are a considerable drive and the speed limits are slow. Unless you’re spending your entire trip on one resort, I’d recommend renting a car.

Aiona U-Rent Car, located in Hilo, is the only Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island in the rental and used car space. However, their website is currently down and their last social media activity was over a year ago, so I’m unsure if they’re still in operation.

Okay, so without further ado, let’s get into some of these fun activities that are Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island!

Maku’u Farmer’s Market

I absolutely loveeeee farmer’s markets on Hawai’i. They’re always full of delicious food, unique crafts, and trinkets you didn’t even know you needed. And cut fruit. There’s always cut fruit somewhere.

Anyways, I’m mentioning this specific farmer’s market because the Maku’u Farmers Association is to promote Native Hawaiian cultural values and traditions, to provide educational and employment opportunities while also developing small businesses. It only happens on Sunday, 8am to 2pm.

While many of the vendors are Native Hawaiian, just know that it’s not exclusive to Native Hawaiians. That said, if the vendors aren’t aware of the organization’s approach or Hawaiian culture, the elders are QUICK to check them.

That’s energy I can get behind. Also – cut fruit. I’m in.

Imu Mea ‘Ai Food Tour

This is one of the DOPEST activities you can do on Hawai’i. When you look up the “best things to do in Hawai’i” 9/10 a luau suggestion comes up.

Now, full disclosure. I’ve personally never been to a lu’au haha. So I won’t say any thoughts on that, but I have heard from people that they can be a bit touristy. Yes, there are lu’aus that are “better” or “more authentic,” but in my limited knowledge they don’t seem to give much deeper insight on the culture.

This will.

If you want a holistic introduction to Hawaiian culture through a food lens, take the Imu Mea ‘Ai food tour. It’s one of the Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island that is truly bringing something special.

To start, “Imu” means underground oven and “Mea ‘Ai” means food, so this immersive tour invites guests into the experience of building an imu with community. You get to learn about how materials are sourced for the imu and the cultural significance of regenerative tourism (especially when it comes to Hawai’i). As the feast is cooking, guests are taught how to ask permission to enter sacred spaces.

Then you get to eat the food and share stories about Hawai’i (and beyond) in a backyard style lu’au. Very down-to-earth and insightful and so so fun. The CATCH is that this tour is only offered every other Wednesday.

So make sure you plan your Big Island itinerary around this!!! In fact, plan your whole trip around it! If you can’t change your flights though, they also do events around the island so you may be able to catch them at an event!

4D Quarter Horses

I’ve recentlyyyy become more of a horseback riding fan, so once I learned Hawai’i has its own cowboy culture (paniolo), I knew I had to add it into my itinerary.

Something extremely unique about 4D Quarter Horses and their tours is that they do open range horseback riding, basically no nose to tail riding. Honestly, the cramped atmosphere is worst part of any standard horseback riding tour – and don’t get me started on when the horses start nipping out each other.

So it’s beginner friendly, but also a lot more comfortable, especially for advanced riders. Though, since the ranch isn’t flat, absolutely no running with the horses!

Howeverrrr, up to the expert professional guides, they may allow riders to lope on the longer rides. Follow the guides and their instructions and you’ll be good! Plus, the ranch has stunningggg views of the coastline. There’s not a lot of Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island that offer horseback riding, but I’m hoping they pave the way for more!

Anelakai Adventures

Another must-do to add to your Hawai’i trip is to go snorkeling with manta rays. It’s REALLY cool and while it doesn’t inherently harm the manta rays or anything, there are some tour companies who…take that and just run with it.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise the only Native Hawaiian owned tour (for now) also happens to be the most eco-friendly. Anelakai Adventures is lightyears ahead of the other mantra ray companies because it is the only non-motor powered manta ray tour, meaning the wildlife (manta ray and otherwise) are not disturbed during your tour with loud motorboat engines, gas, and fuel.

Instead, you go out on their double hull canoe (Wa’a kaulua) that is eco friendly, non invasive, and sustainable for the ocean and its inhabitants so you can leave no trace while you’re also having an incredible experience snorkeling with such beautiful animals. For people who are like me and don’t like going in the open ocean (and it’s the Pacific Ocean at that – cold!), you can still enjoy the view from the dry canoe!

Again, I’m hoping more manta ray tour operators follow the leads of Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island!

Hawaiian Sails

Anelakai Adventures is located in Kailua-Kona, but if you want to take your canoeing north for a different but just as beautiful view, Hawaiian Sails has your back in the Kamuela area.

Honestly, do both!! But let me gush about how amazing Hawaiian Sails is real quick. If you’re visiting Hawai’i during December – May, then add this to your Big Island itinerary IMMEDIATELY because it’s whaling season.

There’s truly nothing like seeing breeching whales from a Hawaiian double hull sailing canoe. They are open 8am-5pm and have multiple tours most days, so it’s easy to work it into your itinerary supporting Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island.

Kanaka Ocean Experience

If you want to enjoy the ocean a little farther out, then Kanaka Ocean Experience has you covered with their wide variety of tours that range from whale watching, fishing, and even historical cruises (amazing btw).

On top of it all, Captain Ikaika Vivas story is incredible. Sailing Hawai’i since he was five, you get a very deep overview of the tours, especially if you do one of the historical cruises. The Captain even spent two years sailing through Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands, so you never run out of stories haha. Another great Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island!

Shopping

And last but certainly not least, you’ve gotta check out some of the small shops while you’re on the island! Naturally, with Hawai’i being less populated than O’ahu or Maui, there are less shops and malls. But I still had a great time browsing the shopping centers during my trip. Be sure to visit these Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island (or shop online)!

• WannaBee Pono Honey Emporium (Kealakekua)
• Basically Books* (Hilo): not Native Hawaiian owned, but they do stock a lot of books about Hawai’i, its Indigenous history and culture, and books by Native Hawaiian authors!
• Hoʻōla Honey (pop-ups)
• Arii Hawai’i Jewelry & Mea (pop-ups)
• Kumumea (pop-ups)
• Nā Maka Kahiko (pop-ups)

There’s probably a lot more that I wasn’t able to find, so if you know of any Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island that have storefronts, let me know in the comments below!

Native Hawaiian Content Creators

Last but not least, I want to give a big shoutout to Kaliko from bigislandfoodieandtraveler. His content is amazing and gave me so so many recommendations for my trip! Not only did he showcase many Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island, but also a lot of hidden gems in general on Hawai’i. Thank you so so much for your content and I hope you continue to thrive!!!

Conclusion

This post was originally also going to include a day-by-day itinerary…but it started to get long hahah. If you would like a bit more guidance on planning your trip, but still focus on supporting Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island, then please check out my 5 day Big Island itinerary blog post!

YESSSS, I know 5 days is a super short amount of time for the Big Island, but ya girl has limited PTO okay??

In the meantime, thank you for making it this far! Hopefully you add these amazing Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island to your travel plans and keep listening, supporting, and uplifting Indigenous voices!

Have you been to any of the spots on this list? Do you know of any other Native Hawaiian owned businesses on Big Island? Let me know in the comments below!

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