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About
Local I’a was established to increase the awareness of where our seafood comes from, highlight our hard working pono fishers, and provide healthy local seafood to our community. 
We take a quadruple-bottom line approach, seeking to create positive environmental, social, economic, and cultural changes in our island community. The overarching goal of our business is to support sustainable fishing livelihoods by increasing the value of local fisheries, improve consumer access to fresh, local, responsibly caught seafood, and preferentially source from sustainable fisheries that are well-managed and can provide seafood for future generations.

We distribute directly to consumers as well as a select few chefs around the island. Fete and Chef Robynne have been using our fish for years, as has Chef Ed Kenney. 

Using the fish in its entirety is the most sustainable way. Local I'a empowers individuals to do so  and creates product lines using parts other than the filet. Our pet treat line of Fish Candy and Mahi Skins are high quality dehydrated fish with no additives- a nutritious treat for your four-legged friend and an excellent way to use parts of the fish that would otherwise be thrown away!

"The mission of Local Iʻa is to increase accessibility and consumption of locally sourced seafood while improving profitability for producers and sustainability in our local fisheries."

Production

lokahi lawai'a pono
Encouraging fisher commitments to sustainable, culturally relevant fishing practices
investing in sustainable aquaculture
including traditional Hawaiian fishponds to reduce pressure on marine resources

Distribution

reduce supply chain complexity
eliminate additional layers of handling and transport
reduce costs
reduction in complexity reduces costs, enabling a more equitable distribution of price premium benefits
provide a more direct pathway
from boat to plate

Consumption

educate + build awareness
of seafood sources, harvesting practices, and the people who harvest seafood
shift consumer demand
toward more sustainable, local, seafood options
Our Logo
Our logo was designed by Kuhao Zane of Sig Zane Designs. The central feature of our logo depicts the magical and legendary fishhook Manaiakalani. Manaiakalani was once used by Maui (a Hawaiian demigod) in an attempt to unite the islands. As a symbol of unity, Manaiakalani calls on fishermen across the pae‘āina to collectively steward our fisheries resources.

Attached to the Manaiakalani is the traditional cordage, or aho, that represents the connection to our ocean environment, that which binds us to our ‘āina. The shape of the cordage references an ‘umeke, or calabash, which reminds us of the important role our fisheries play in supporting food security. If we harvest in a pono (responsible) way, the ‘umeke will remain full in perpetuity.

Lastly, the four lines of cordage pay homage to the traditional fishers of Miloli‘i, who count their ‘ōpelu (Mackerel scad) in units of four, following traditions of their ancestors.

Aloha!

We proudly source local, in-season seafood and distribute it directly to consumers islandwide.
 
 
Visit our kitchen in Kaimuki on Saturdays or our farmers' market booth on Sundays in Mililani. You can also enjoy our fish prepared by a select few chefs and restaurants on Oahu!