Honolulu, HI is serving pricier plates this quarter
Q1 2026: Honolulu, HI sees a 5.9 percent rise in typical plate to $22.75. Waikiki steak and seafood lead increases. Federal dollars focus on school meals, WIC a
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Policy Regulation
Key points
- Typical plate in Honolulu, HI is $22.75 in Q1 2026, up 5.9 percent citywide, versus a national movement of plus 7.2 percent.
- Biggest menu jumps are in Waikiki: steakhouse and seafood up 12.4 percent, poke and bowls up 10.2 percent, sushi and ramen up 9.2 percent.
- Federal funds on file prioritize school meals, WIC food expense, and SNAP administrative costs, with the Hawaii State Department of Education receiving the largest single awards.
- No federal awards on file for farms, markets or small operator support, and no city-level food budget line is published in the records we have.
- Fuel, shipping and island-specific input cost increases are the main drivers behind the menu inflation, and the recorded public money does not directly offset those specific costs.
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