About The Farm
Big Island Abalone operates a 10-acre aqua farm to serve the world market for premium, live abalone.
The facility is located on Hawaiʻi's Big Island on the Kona Coast, near the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
Our abalone aqua farm is the largest in the USA!
The Kona Coast of Hawaiʻi Island was chosen as the ideal location to produce abalone for several reasons.
First, the Kona Coast receives more sunlight per year than any other coastal location in the USA. Such sunlight is critical for growing large volumes of kelp, our abalones favorite food.
Secondly, our aqua farm has access to a constant supply of pure, cold, and nutritious seawater. The seawater is pumped from a depth of 3,000 feet in the Pacific Ocean near the Kona Coast. Like sunlight, the seawater is essential for the growth of our abalone and kelp.
Lastly, Hawaiʻi's location is midway between Asia and North America which allows us to ship fresh, live abalone to markets on both continents. The aqua farm currently produces about 100 tons of live abalone per year and houses nearly 4 million abalones in our grow out system.
Who We Are
We are Kona Aquaculture Inc (K.A.I.) and we produce Kona abalone, a premium stock of Ezo (Japanese Northern) abalone.
Kona abalone is the result of over 15 years of research, intensive study, and experiments by the original founders of the company. From the beginning, the objective was to develop ways to simulate the positive elements of the natural ocean environment in which abalone flourish. The experiments and research led to important findings about abalone habitat, innovations in farm feeding practices, and a patented algae.
We use a constant supply of pure, cold, nutrient-rich seawater, pumped from a depth of 3,000 feet in the Pacific Ocean. The result is a near-perfect environment for growing Kona abalone.
KAI’s facilities include a hatchery, nursery and abalone grow-out tanks. With this, we control the quality of the abalone from the very start of the growth cycle.
A blend of algae is used to feed the abalone, optimizing abalone taste, texture, color, nutrition, and shell characteristics.
Trying Our Abalone
Try our premium Japanese “Ezo” abalone straight from the farm!
Food trailer now open Monday-Friday, 11:00am to 4:30pm.
Samples offered to farm tour participants, 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm.
Live abalone is also sold at our farm office, 8:30am to 5:00pm.
No online sales/wholesale at this time with the exception of Big Island based restaurants.
Please contact us below for more information!
Wholesale
With respect to our whole sales through online, we regret to inform you that they will be placed on hold for the time being as we conduct a review of our production system and carefully assess sales forecasts and inventory levels. We will inform you once it is resumed. Thank you for your understanding!
Contact Us
Directions
From Kona International Airport, head one mile south toward Kailua Kona on the Queen Kaʻahumanu Hwy (Route 19) and take a right exit on Makako Bay Drive, following the sign for the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), and through the NELHA gate. (You will see two big solar panels on the right side of the highway). Drive about one mile toward the ocean. Big Island Abalone Corporation is on the left just before the beach.
ADDRESS: 73-357 Makako Bay Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
PHONE: (808) 334-0034
OFFICE HOURS:
8:30 am-5:00 pm (Mon ~ Fri)
Closed on weekend.
Effective October 2026
Media Coverage
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NHK TV “Sekai wa Hoshiimono ni Afureteru” (2022)
「世界はほしいモノにあふれてる 新春ハワイSP」
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Food Network “Guy and Hawaiian style” (2021)
Season 1, Episode 3, Islands of Adventure
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“GOETHE” Magazine (6/2024)
「魂のハワイ」 コナ産高級アワビ、一度食べたらヤミツキ！
What’s New
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