Label Requirements in Hawaii

Required Label Elements

Hawaii requires five specific elements on every homemade food product label. These rules are spelled out in the Department of Health's homemade food guidance and are mandatory — labels missing any of these elements are out of compliance.

1. Common name or descriptive name of the product

   Use a name that clearly identifies what the product is. "Lilikoi Jam" works; "Aunty's Special Spread" alone doesn't. If your brand name is fanciful, pair it with a descriptor.

   Example: "Island Preserves — Lilikoi Passion Fruit Jam"

2. Ingredient list (if 2 or more ingredients)

   List every ingredient in descending order of predominance by weight — heaviest ingredient first, lightest last. Use common names so customers can understand what they're eating. Single-ingredient products (like raw honey) don't need an ingredient list.

   Example: Ingredients: Lilikoi pulp, cane sugar, lemon juice, fruit pectin.

3. Major food allergen identification

   If your product contains any of the nine major food allergens recognized under federal law, you must clearly identify them on the label — either within the ingredient list or in a separate "Contains:" statement.

   Example: Contains: Wheat, Eggs, Milk.

4. Name and contact information of the operator

   Include your name (or business name) plus contact information so customers can reach you. Hawaii allows flexibility here — an address, PO box, email, or phone number all count. You don't have to publish your home address if you'd prefer not to.

   Example: Made by Maile Kahale · maile@islandpreserves.com

5. Required Hawaii disclaimer statement

   Every homemade food label must include the exact disclaimer required by the Department of Health, identifying the product as a home kitchen production not subject to routine inspection. The wording is shown in the next section and must appear on every product you sell.

The Required Disclaimer

This is the single most important element on your label. Hawaii's Department of Health requires specific wording that must appear on every homemade food product sold in the state:

Use a font size and contrast that ensures the disclaimer is easy to read. While Hawaii doesn't currently mandate a specific font size or color requirement for the disclaimer, the spirit of the rule is clear: customers need to be able to see and understand this notice. A safe practice is to use the same font size as your ingredient list, with strong contrast between text and background.

Allergen Labeling — The Nine Allergens

As of January 1, 2023, federal law recognizes nine major food allergens. Hawaii's homemade food rules align with this federal list, and you must clearly identify any of these nine allergens that appear in your products:

Sesame is the newest addition — it became the ninth recognized major food allergen on January 1, 2023, and is fully incorporated into Hawaii's labeling rules. If you use sesame seeds, sesame oil, tahini, or any sesame-derived ingredient, you must call it out on the label.

Two Ways to Disclose Allergens

You can identify allergens either inline within your ingredient list using bold text or parentheses, or in a separate "Contains:" statement directly below your ingredient list. Both approaches are acceptable. The "Contains:" statement is generally clearer and easier for customers to scan, so it's the preferred approach for most homemade food sellers.

Net Weight & Measurement

While Hawaii's homemade food rules don't explicitly mandate net weight labeling on every product, FDA labeling standards do — and following those standards is best practice for any packaged food product you sell. Net weight should appear on the principal display panel in both U.S. customary units and metric units.

Use ounces and grams for solid foods, fluid ounces and milliliters for liquids and semi-solids. Place the net weight in the bottom 30% of the principal display panel, and use a font size proportional to the size of the package — larger packages need larger net weight type.

Sample Hawaii-Compliant Label

Here's what a complete, compliant Hawaii homemade food label looks like for a hypothetical lilikoi jam product:

Notice how every required element is present: product name, brand, net weight, ingredient list in descending order, allergen statement (even when no allergens are present, stating "none" is good practice), the required disclaimer, and contact information. This label would pass any Hawaii compliance check.

Font Size & Contrast

Hawaii's homemade food rules don't currently specify minimum font sizes for label elements, but FDA general food labeling rules do — and following them keeps your labels professional and legible. As a rule of thumb: keep all required text at 1/16 inch (about 6 point) or larger, use high contrast between text and background, and avoid decorative fonts for required elements like the disclaimer and ingredient list. Save the fancy typography for your brand name.