30-04-2025
Top 5 things you never knew about Hawaiʻi's hidden lifeline
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Most people don't think much about how their food, clothes, automobiles or electronics get to them. But behind every item we use, there's a long, complex journey.
April 29 is National Supply Chain Day, and it's a great time to learn more about how products move around the world and why this system matters so much.
In Hawaiʻi, the supply chain is especially important. The islands depend on imports for almost everything since about 98% of all goods used in Hawaiʻi come from somewhere else. This makes the state one of the most supply chain–dependent places in the United States.
National Supply Chain Day reminds us how fragile and powerful this system is and how each link in the chain affects everyone.
Here are the top five things to know about the supply chain and why this day matters more than you might think.
A supply chain is the system that moves goods from where they're made to where they're used. That includes packing, shipping, storing and delivering. Every item you use — whether it's your toothbrush, slippers or school lunch– got to you through this process.
Even products made in Hawaiʻi often rely on materials being imported via the supply chain.
The day's message is simple: 'Every link in the supply chain matters.' If even one part breaks down, it can affect the whole system.
Hawaiʻi is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That places us more than 2,000 miles from the nearest continental port. Because of this, almost everything here is imported, often by cargo ship.
That includes food, gasoline, building supplies, clothes, automobiles, medical equipment/supplies/pharmaceuticals and even school supplies. Most of these goods come through Honolulu Harbor, the busiest port in the islands. From there, products are shipped by barge to other islands.
This system works well most of the time. But when there's a problem — like a storm, port delay or global shortage — Hawaiʻi can feel the effects quickly. Stores might run low on items, and prices can go COVID-19 pandemic showed how fragile the supply chain can be. Shipping delays and labor shortages caused backups all over the world. In Hawaiʻi, residents noticed longer wait times for items like furniture, bicycles and even toilet paper.
One reason Hawaiʻi's supply chain is more complicated than most is a law called the Jones Act. Passed in 1920, this law says that only U.S.-built, U.S.-owned and mostly U.S.-crewed ships can carry goods between U.S. ports.
That means if something is shipped from California to Hawaiʻi, it must be on a ship that follows these rules. Supporters of the Jones Act say it protects American jobs and national security. But critics say it limits competition and raises prices, especially in places like Hawaiʻi and Puerto Rico.
Some lawmakers have suggested making exceptions for non-contiguous states and territories, but no major changes have been made. The law is still a big part of Hawaiʻi's supply chain story and an important part of the debate over cost of living in the islands.
Large ships and trucks are part of the reason products can travel across the world. But they also cause pollution. Cargo ships burn heavy fuel, which releases carbon into the air. Plastic packaging and spilled cargo can also end up in the ocean.
Some companies are trying to fix this. They're using cleaner fuels, creating zero-emissions ships, and reducing wasteful packaging. Ports like Honolulu are exploring ways to become more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
On National Supply Chain Day, people are encouraged to think about how to make the system more sustainable. That means finding ways to meet the needs of today without hurting the planet for future generations.
Even though you might not work on a dock or drive a delivery truck, you're still part of the supply chain. Every time you buy something, you create demand. And every time you recycle, reuse or reduce what you throw away, you help the system work better.
You can also make a difference by choosing local products. Supporting Hawaiʻi-grown food or locally made goods helps shorten the supply chain, reduce emissions and build a stronger local economy.
National Supply Chain Day is a good time to learn, reflect, and take action. The more we understand how this global system works, the better we can improve it for ourselves, our communities and our ʻāina.
In Hawaiʻi, we rely on ships and planes to bring us most of what we need. That means the supply chain isn't just some faraway system, and it's something that affects us every day.
April 29 is a chance to say mahalo to the workers who make it all happen. It's also a reminder that we need smart, fair and sustainable systems to keep our islands thriving.
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So, next time you open a box or grab something off a shelf, remember that it took a whole chain of people and processes to get it to you. And you're part of that story, too.
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