Beef and Blooms
Kula
★5.0(3)Local beef supplier in Kula, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Quick Answer
Half a cow in Hawaii costs $2,000-2,500 ($10.00-11.00/lb per pound take-home). There are 21 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: May-July. Most farms offer grass-fed beef.
Hawaii's beef industry stands as a robust anomaly within the state's 90% food import dependency. Endowed with year-round grazing, diverse microclimates, and a ranching heritage predating the American West (cattle introduced 1793), Hawaii produces premium grass-fed beef without reliance on external feed inputs. The paniolo (cowboy) tradition began when King Kamehameha III invited Mexican vaqueros in 1832—Hawaiian cowboys won the 1908 Cheyenne World Championship before Hawaii was even a state. Parker Ranch, founded 1847, remains the largest producer of grass-fed beef in the state. Today, the shift from 'export commodity' to 'local sustenance' drives a vibrant direct-to-consumer market.
Half cow: $2,000-2,500
Hanging weight: $5.00-7.00/lb
Take-home: $10.00-11.00/lb
Peak season: May-July
The wet season (winter/spring) triggers lush grass growth and peak weight gain. Animals harvested at the end of the wet season (late spring/early summer) have the best fat cover and marbling. The dry season (summer/fall) produces leaner beef. Producers like Gavitt Family Grassfed explicitly schedule 'Spring' (May) and 'Fall' (October) harvest windows. Processing bottlenecks are severe—spring slots book fastest. Reserve 3-6 months ahead.
Black Angus, Corriente/Longhorn (heritage), Brahman crosses, Wagyu crosses
Typical practice: Grass-fed
When ordering, request 'strips for pipikaula' (Hawaiian dried beef) from the flank or round—a uniquely local preparation. Always request soup bones for bone broth. Hawaii electricity is the highest in the nation ($0.40/kWh)—a chest freezer costs $11-17/month to run. For inter-island shipping, Young Brothers cargo must be picked up same-day of arrival. Aggregators like Mauka Meats and Forage Hawaii handle logistics for Oahu consumers.
Kula
★5.0(3)Local beef supplier in Kula, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Honokaa
★5.0(4)Local beef supplier in Honokaa, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Kapolei
★5.0(6)Local beef supplier in Kapolei, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Honokaa
★5.0(5)Local beef supplier in Honokaa, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Naalehu
★5.0(9)Local beef supplier in Naalehu, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Kurtistown
★5.0(24)Local beef supplier in Kurtistown, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Kalaheo
★5.0(47)Local beef supplier in Kalaheo, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Kapaʻa
★5.0(10)Local beef supplier in Kapaʻa, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Honolulu
★4.9(42)Local beef supplier in Honolulu, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Kahului
★4.9(10)Local beef supplier in Kahului, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Waimea
★4.8(101)Local beef supplier in Waimea, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Waialua
★4.8(151)Local beef supplier in Waialua, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Captain Cook
★4.7(42)Local beef supplier in Captain Cook, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Hilo
★4.6(34)Local beef supplier in Hilo, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Wailuku
★4.6(169)Local beef supplier in Wailuku, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Honomu
★4.6(12)Local beef supplier in Honomu, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Waimea
★4.6(202)Local beef supplier in Waimea, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Honolulu
★4.5(43)Local beef supplier in Honolulu, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Hana
★4.3(16)Local beef supplier in Hana, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Waimea
★4.3(165)Local beef supplier in Waimea, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Makawao
★4.1(17)Local beef supplier in Makawao, Hawaii. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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A half cow in Hawaii costs $2,000-2,500 total. At $6.00/lb hanging weight (280 lbs half), you pay the rancher ~$1,680, plus $62.50 slaughter fee (half share) and $1.00/lb processing (~$280), totaling ~$2,022. Your take-home yield is about 190 lbs, making effective cost approximately $10.64/lb. While higher than mainland prices, it's a significant bargain compared to Hawaii retail grass-fed ribeye at $25-32/lb.
Grass-fed is the default standard in Hawaii due to economic necessity. Importing corn or soy to finish cattle adds $0.50-1.00 per pound of gain—prohibitively expensive. Conversely, Hawaii's subtropical climate allows year-round grazing, a competitive advantage over mainland ranchers who must feed costly hay in winter. This reliance on pasture finishing produces beef with higher Omega-3s and CLA.
Young Brothers inter-island barge is the primary carrier. Refrigerated cargo travels overnight in containers set to 0°F. Critical: You must pick up cargo immediately upon arrival (same day)—there's essentially no 'free time' for refrigerated items. Bring truck/SUV, valid ID, and coolers/blankets. If you can't handle logistics, use aggregators like Mauka Meats or Forage Hawaii who manage shipping for you.
Corriente and Longhorn cattle are direct descendants of the original 1793 Spanish introductions. These heritage breeds thrive on steep volcanic terrain where large-framed Angus would struggle. They're smaller, athletic, and produce very lean beef with intense, concentrated flavor. Expect smaller cuts (smaller ribeyes) and cook with care to prevent drying. They represent 200+ years of Hawaiian ranching genetics.
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