Young Brothers missed shipments to Molokaʻi three times in 21 days, and the disruptions are rippling through island households and businesses that depend on twice-weekly barges from Oʻahu for everything from ice cream and produce to medical supplies and building materials.

The barge did not arrive on Monday and Thursday last week, and there was another miss last month, according to the company and affected businesses. Young Brothers, which is the only ocean shipper serving Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi, attributed the cancellations to large south swells and a tugboat breakdown. The company said in an email it is working to recover service as quickly as possible and takes its responsibility seriously.

On Molokaʻi, empty shelves and long waits have reignited frustration over rising shipping costs and recent state approvals allowing automatic annual price increases. Residents questioned what value they are getting as stores ration inventory and families turn to their freezers.

At Kamoi Snack-n-Go, the freezer case that normally holds 48 flavors is empty. Friendly Market Center reported bread and milk cleared out by Monday evening, while fresh produce supplies dwindled.

Some businesses are paying more than double to move goods by air. Others are simply running out. A lack of timely communication from the shipper has added to the strain, several business owners said.

The situation brought back pandemic-era anxieties about Hawaiʻi’s food security. Imports account for an estimated 80% to 90% of the state’s food supply, and Molokaʻi’s 7,000 residents feel the pinch quickly when the barge does not sail. For some local grocers, the current crunch is even worse than the early Covid-19 period.

Glenn Teves, a retired University of Hawaiʻi agriculture extension professional, said canceled sailings happen each year, but two in a row is unusual. He said five interisland shipments have been cut so far this year. He called for stronger accountability given recent rate increases and state support.

Young Brothers missed shipments create glut after scarcity

Friendly Market Center orders produce frequently to keep items fresh. When barges are canceled, the next boat often arrives carrying multiple cycles of orders, creating a short-lived glut. By then, much of the perishables are 9 to 10 days old after traveling from the mainland via Honolulu, and significant portions may spoil en route or shortly after arrival.

Store co-owner Kit Okimoto said the market will likely absorb the loss when delayed produce must be discarded. He added that years of higher shipping costs have not translated into better reliability, and those added expenses are pushing grocery prices higher for customers despite efforts to cut costs elsewhere.

Okimoto is tracking remaining inventory closely as he awaits the next scheduled sailing. Mondays and Thursdays are typically the best shopping days on Molokaʻi because that is when fresh produce arrives. After the recent cancellations, he said Thursday morning’s selection could be minimal.

If not by sea, by air

With the ocean route unreliable, some producers are turning to air cargo. Jonathan Jefts of Akea Farms is flying cucumbers to Oʻahu despite the higher price and smaller loads. By barge he can ship about 26 pallets at once, but by air he is limited to around four due to aircraft capacity. He said air freight costs roughly twice as much, but he has absorbed the expense to keep customers supplied.

Jefts said he has flown 92,000 pounds of produce so far this year because of delays, and that last-minute notices about tug issues or weather have eroded confidence. He credited Kamaka Air as a stopgap for businesses trying to meet demand.

Kamaka Air President and General Manager George Kaanana said the company has seen a 20% to 30% jump in demand in the past week, a familiar spike whenever a barge is canceled. He acknowledged that ocean shipping is generally cheaper, but said his team will keep supporting shippers while the disruption continues.

Air is rarely an option for livestock. At Molokaʻi Livestock Cooperative, a slaughterhouse that handles animals from other islands, general manager Randy Cabreros said operations have been pushed back more than a week, delaying meat deliveries to Oʻahu customers. He noted weather is beyond anyone’s control but said the situation underscores the fragility of the food system and the limited cushion built into interisland logistics.

Molokaʻi’s community prides itself on self-sufficiency, but many residents still rely on regular barge service for staples. Teves cautioned that while Molokaʻi accounts for less than 1% of the state’s population, the island’s current hardship could foreshadow broader challenges for Hawaiʻi if interisland shipping reliability falters.