Hawaii — the rules

Selling Food From Home in Hawaii: Cottage Food Rules (2026)

Yes — you can legally sell food made in your home kitchen in Hawaii, under the Homemade Food Operation (HAR 11-50, Act 195 SLH 2024). There is no state sales cap on the books. Here is exactly what that means.

Hawaii at a glance

Home food salesAllowed
ProgramHomemade Food Operation (HAR 11-50, Act 195 SLH 2024)
Annual sales capNone specified
Sales channelsDirect to consumers AND through retail/indirect channels

What foods are covered

non-TCS only: baked goods without custard/cream fillings, jams and jellies, candies, mochi, hand-pounded poi, juice (direct only), plus pickled/fermented/acidified plant foods with pH <= 4.2 or Aw < 0.88; no dried meats/seafood, no melon-family fruits, no vacuum packaging, no canning except jams and jellies

Permits and registration

Exempt from DOH food establishment permit (no permit, registration, or fee). DOH-approved or ANSI-accredited food safety training certification required. Labeling with home-kitchen disclosure statement required; remains subject to DOH inspection. Wholesale to permitted food establishments (restaurants, grocery stores) and online sales allowed since HAR 11-50 update effective Aug 24, 2025.

Going legal in Hawaii: the plate-seller checklist

  1. Read the primary source (linked below) — caps and food lists are specific and they change.
  2. Label honestly — most programs require your name, address or registration, and a made-in-a-home-kitchen disclosure on packaging.
  3. Get your free EIN at irs.gov and open a separate account for food money.
  4. Take payment at order time — prepaid orders with a weekly cutoff are how home sellers stay profitable AND within caps.
  5. Build the storefront — a menu page, order-ahead with cutoffs, your own business line. Our free guide covers the whole playbook.

Sources and verification

Verified 2026-07 against: health.hawaii.gov · health.hawaii.gov · health.hawaii.gov · health.hawaii.gov. Rules change — confirm with the primary source before acting; this guide is information, not legal advice.

Questions people ask

Is it legal to sell food from home in Hawaii?

Yes — under Homemade Food Operation (HAR 11-50, Act 195 SLH 2024). Allowed foods and channels are specific; check the primary source.

How much can you sell under Hawaii's cottage food law?

Hawaii does not specify a state sales cap in the current rules.

Do you need a permit to sell food from home in Hawaii?

Exempt from DOH food establishment permit (no permit, registration, or fee). DOH-approved or ANSI-accredited food safety training certification required. Labeling with home-kitchen disclosure statement required; remains subject to DOH inspection. Wholesale to permitted food estab