Egg prices in Honolulu are on the rise, and data from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture gives a clear picture of what consumers are facing at the checkout line. According to the Office of the Governor's news release, the cost for a dozen of locally produced eggs has surged to $8.87, marking a significant 28.4% increase since December 2021. Meanwhile, a dozen of imported eggs from the mainland now comes at a steeper price of $8.35, up by a whopping 51.8% over the same period.
This price inflation, particularly with the mainland eggs, can be chiefly linked to the rampant avian influenza that's been wreaking havoc across poultry production in the U.S. mainland. The Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture chairperson, Sharon Hurd, emphasizing the growing importance of food security, said, "The avian influenza outbreak on the mainland is another example of why food security in Hawai‘i is so important." She further highlighted that supporting local producers is key to securing the state's food supply, as reported by the Office of the Governor's news release.
In a closer look at the year-on-year data, from 2023 to 2024, there's been a modest 2.7% increase in the price of local eggs. On the other hand, imported eggs have seen a sharper hike of 6.2%. These figures come as the industry battles the impacts of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has not only affected the mainland but also recently reached the shores of O'ahu, as stated by the Office of the Governor.
While HPAI was identified in two locations on O‘ahu last November, no subsequent detections have been confirmed, and it has not infected any Hawai‘i egg production facilities, as per the Office of the Governor. Migratory birds via the Pacific flyway are believed to be the culprits behind the late arrival of HPAI to the state. "The increase in local production of eggs has been closing the price gap with imported mainland eggs," Hurd stated, highlighting an economic silver lining amidst the crisis.
