Let’s get this out of the way first: this is not an excuse to day-drink or impulse-buy twelve jars of macadamia nuts. This is civic duty. Hawaii makes an absurd amount of excellent stuff, and right now a lot of it is having trouble making the journey from island paradise to the mainland. Not because it isn’t good enough—quite the opposite—but because shipping logistics are doing what shipping logistics do best: absolutely fumbling the bag. So here’s the big idea, presented with zero economic credentials but total confidence: if enough of us start buying Hawaiian products, someone with ships, planes, and a calculator will notice the demand and say, “Oh wow, there’s money here,” and suddenly the problem gets solved. History shows this works shockingly often.

You see, there’s the very un-fun reality of the Jones Act, which is basically a shipping rule that makes it cost way more to move goods from Hawaii to the mainland than it reasonably should. Koloa Rum pushed for reform because the law can double their shipping costs—yes, double, as in “that bottle suddenly got way more expensive for no good reason.” The upside? Shipping gets cheaper with volume. More demand means bulk shipping, and bulk shipping means lower costs. So the solution is obvious: buy more Hawaiian products and let math do the rest.

Luckily, supporting Hawaii is extremely easy and, frankly, delicious. On the drinks side, you’ve got island-made spirits like Kōloa Rum, distilled from heirloom sugarcane grown in Hawaii and pristine, filtered rainwater sourced from Mount Wai'ale'ale on Kauai, which tastes like sunshine but stronger. There’s also Ocean Vodka, which leans fully into its ocean credentials and somehow manages to be both smooth and morally persuasive. Beer fans already know Kona Brewing, but it still counts, and yes, you’re allowed to feel smug about drinking something with a volcano on the label. Coffee people can go full snob with Kona coffee or Big Island Coffee Roasters, which will immediately make your office coffee setup feel embarrassing.

And if alcohol isn’t your lane, Hawaii has you covered. Macadamia nuts from brands like Hawaiian Host or Mauna Loa are elite-tier snacking and dangerously easy to finish in one sitting. Hawaiian sea salt instantly upgrades whatever you sprinkle it on, including foods you probably shouldn’t be salting. Add in locally made hot sauces, chili pepper waters, island honey, or even Hawaiian-made apparel and skincare, and suddenly your everyday shopping habits look like a very chill act of solidarity.

The takeaway is simple: buying Hawaiian products helps real people, real businesses, and eventually nudges the shipping industry to get its act together. You’re not just shopping—you’re participating in a gentle, consumer-driven intervention. So the next time you’re browsing online or wandering the liquor store, reach for something from Hawaii. Do it for the islands. Do it for logistics. Do it because it’s good. Buy Hawaiian.