Honolulu residents pay an average of $10.06 for a dozen eggs, and local organic options cost even more, adding pressure to household grocery budgets across Hawai'i.
Here's what to know
According to KHON2, data from Hawai'i's Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity showed egg prices in Honolulu have climbed over 11%, pushing the average dozen price to $10.06.
Among the categories tracked, local organic eggs recorded the biggest increase: a dozen went from $10.81 in the first quarter to $13.19 in the second quarter, a 22% jump.
By comparison, eggs shipped from the continental U.S. changed very little. Their average price rose just over 1%, moving from $7.78 per dozen to $7.87, per KHON2.
These numbers reflect second-quarter pricing from April 1 through June 30 and measure changes across multiple egg categories.
More background
Not every carton became more expensive. The department said local 18-count cartons were a notable exception, dropping from an average of $14.05 to $13.24, a decline it called considerable, according to KHON2.
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Some imported categories from the U.S. continent also got cheaper than in the first quarter, with prices falling about 17% for a dozen eggs and about 20% for 18-count cartons.
Organic eggs from the continental U.S. also rose, but not as much as Hawai'i's organic eggs. The average price increased by under 7%, from $9.62 to $10.26.
Eggs remain a household staple, and even modest price changes can add up at checkout. The gap between a $7.87 imported dozen and a $13.19 local organic dozen is significant and can influence how families budget and weigh value.
What can be done?
State agriculture officials encouraged residents to buy from local farmers and producers when they can, pointing to the importance of keeping food production rooted in the islands.
"If you want the best, buy local. The money you spend on eggs stays in the islands, pays workers, generates taxes, and supports local food production," Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai'i Board of Agriculture, said, according to KHON2.
A household choosing among a $13.19 local organic dozen, a $13.24 local 18-count carton, a $10.26 imported organic dozen, and a $7.87 imported dozen may reach a different conclusion depending on whether quantity, price, or local sourcing matters most.
Where can I learn more?
For more context on rising food and household costs, these stories offer a closer look at related pressures in Hawai'i and beyond.
• At a Hawai'i shrimp farm, Hurricane Lowell left 120,000 pounds of shrimp at risk.
• Across Hawai'i, a HECO proposal could raise electric bills by $11 to $15 a month.
• In Utah, Alaska, and Idaho, an organic produce markup hit 59%, driving unusually high grocery bills.
• In Texas, food banks received seven million free eggs after a settlement over alleged price-fixing.
• In the U.K., the price of olive oil more than doubled as eggs and milk also surged.
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