Hawaii Cottage Food Law Labels: What to Put on Yours

On this page

1. What must be on the label
2. Permits, sales, and what to confirm
3. Nutrition labels and the question to ask

Label rules are easy to put off when you are baking, packing, and answering texts. Still, the label is the part a buyer sees before they taste anything. It tells them what the food is, who made it, where it came from, and how to reach you. If you also sell in another state, read that state’s guide before you print, such as current Texas cottage food law or Georgia cottage food laws.

What must be on the label

Hawaii cottage food labels must include the product name, the producer’s name and home kitchen address, a producer phone number or email, and all ingredients listed in descending order by weight. Those four pieces are the core of the label. Keep the wording plain and readable so a buyer can find your contact details without squinting. If you sell several bakes, make a separate label for each product so the ingredient list matches that item.

1. 1

   Name the product

   Start with the name a buyer will recognize, such as lemon loaf or chocolate chip cookies.

2. 2

   Add your name and home kitchen address

   Use the name you sell under and the address of the home kitchen where you made the food.

3. 3

   Add a phone number or email

   Give one contact method a buyer can use to reach you.

4. 4

   List ingredients by weight

   Put every ingredient on the label and list them in descending order by weight, heaviest first.

5. 5

   Match the label to the bake

   Use a separate label for each product so the ingredients and product name line up.

A label can be simple. A printed sticker or a folded card tucked into the box can carry the same details. What matters is that the product name, your name and home kitchen address, your phone number or email, and the ingredient list are all there. If you change a recipe, change the label too, because the ingredient order must follow the new weights.

Permits, sales, and what to confirm

Since Act 195 (2025), no permit is required for Hawaii cottage food sales, but the operator must complete a DOH-approved food safety course. Homemade Food Operations in Hawaii are exempt from the food establishment permit requirement and may use a home kitchen to produce homemade food products for direct sale. The Hawaii State Department of Health adopted amendments to the Hawaii Food Safety Code to allow sale of certain homemade foods, aligning with the 2022 FDA Model Food Code. Hawaii sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales, so growth is limited by the home kitchen and the operator’s time rather than a statutory cap.

The course requirement is not the same as a permit. You still need to complete the DOH-approved food safety course, and you still need to follow the direct, in-person sales rule. If you want to sell at a market, keep the label with each item and keep your contact details current.

Nutrition labels and the question to ask

Hawaii food labeling guidelines say each manufacturer must determine the nutrient content for a specified serving size of its food and present that information on the product label using an FDA-approved format. That is a separate question from the basic cottage food label. If you are unsure whether it applies to your bake, ask the Hawaii State Department of Health before you print. Keep your label simple, but do not guess on a rule you have not confirmed.

Common questions

Do I need a permit to sell cottage food in Hawaii?

Since Act 195 (2025), no permit is required for Hawaii cottage food sales, but the operator must complete a DOH-approved food safety course.

Can I ship my bakes or sell them online?

No. Hawaii cottage food sales must be direct and in person, with no shipping or online sales.

What order do ingredients go in?

List all ingredients in descending order by weight, heaviest first.

Do I need a nutrition label?

Hawaii food labeling guidelines say each manufacturer must determine the nutrient content for a specified serving size and present it using an FDA-approved format. If you are unsure whether that applies to your product, confirm with the Hawaii State Department of Health.

Is there a dollar limit on Hawaii cottage food sales?

No. Hawaii sets no dollar limit on cottage food sales, so growth is limited by the home kitchen and the operator's time rather than a statutory cap.

Sources

1. Hawaii cottage food laws
2. Hawaii cottage food law library
3. Hawaii cottage food label requirements
4. Hawaii homemade food operations
5. DOH adopts updates to food safety code
6. Hawaii food labeling guidelines

This is general information for home bakers, not legal advice. Confirm your label and sales rules with the Hawaii State Department of Health before you sell.