If it feels like everything costs more in Hawaii, here's another reason why.
Young Brothers, the state's primary interisland cargo shipping company, raised its rates another 3% on July 1. It's the second increase this year, following a 25.75% hike that took effect in January.
The company says the increases are needed to keep its operations financially stable. A new state law also allows Young Brothers to adjust rates annually, with increases capped at 5%.
For many businesses, especially on the Neighbor Islands, the timing is frustrating.
Retailers, farmers, and wholesalers rely on Young Brothers to move everything from groceries and construction materials to farm supplies between islands. Higher shipping costs often work their way into the price consumers ultimately pay.
The latest increase also comes after recent service disruptions left Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi without scheduled cargo deliveries, leading to empty grocery shelves and renewed questions about the company's reliability.
Supporters of the new law say smaller, predictable increases are better than the large, one-time rate hikes seen in the past. Critics argue businesses are paying more without seeing meaningful improvements in service.
For Hawaii businesses, the question isn't just how much shipping costs. It's whether they're getting dependable service in return.