Hawai’i Pasture-Raised Beef
The Big Island produces the lion’s share of Hawai’i’sbeef. The statewide cattle industry is basically divided into two operations: the cow-calf setup where the calf is produced to be exported out-of-state for finishing and second, the local slaughter operation, where cattle is raised entirely in Hawai’i for commercial slaughter. While some ranches do one or the other, numerous do both simultaneously.
Although USDA Hawaii Field Office stats are no longer available, typically, one-fourth of the state’s cattle marketings (sum of exports and local slaughter) are for local consumption.
Where’s the Beef?
Big Isle ranches producing pasture-raised beef sell their product to restaurants and retailers. A handful of ranchers sell direct to consumers or at farmers markets.
Pasture-raised beef is marketed under various brands at grocery stores: Mountain Apple, Hawaii Big Island Beef, Island Fresh, Hawai‘i Ranchers, etc. Don’t hesitate to ask your butcher or grocer to identify it for you when shopping.
Big Isle Pasture-Raised Beef Producers
The following ranches are producing pasture-raised beef for local consumption on the island. It is not a complete list. If you are a Big Island beef producer and not listed below, kindly contact us so we can include you: ferng@hawaii.rr.com. Mahalo!
| 4 Boys Ranch, Volcano Agee Inc, Pa‘auilo Alfonso Ranch, Kalopa Botheilo Dairy, Hawi Clarence Rapoza Ranch, Kona Daleico Ranch, Kailua-Kona Double D Ranch, Lapahoehoe Egami Ranch, Kealakekua Ernest DeLuz Ranch, Hamakua Ernest Pung Ranch, Hamakua F Ranch Five O Cattle Company, Kamuela FR Cattle Company, Kamuela Jack Ramos Ranch, Honoka’a John Rapoza Ranch, Kailua Hale Kea Farms Hualalai Ranch, North Kona Kahua Ranch, Kohala Kapapala Ranch, Pahala |
Kealia Ranch-South Kona KK Ranch, Pa‘auilo Kukaiau Ranch, Hamakua Kuahiwi Ranch, Na’alehu Kukuipahu Ranch, North Kohala Lowline Cattle Company, Ahualoa McCandless Ranch, Captain Cook Mealani Research Station, Waimea Onaka Ranch, Honaunau Paniolo Cattle Company, Waimea Palani Ranch, North Kona Parker Ranch, Waimea Ponoholo Ranch, North Kohala Pu‘uwai Ranch, Hamakua RJ Ranch, Hamakua SC Ranch, Pa‘auilo Sheldon Mattos, Hilo Triple D Ranch, Honoka‘a Waikoekoe Cattle Wall Ranch, Kealakekua |