About Us
Big Island Abalone
Big Island Abalone operates a 10-acre aquafarm 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. The abalone aquafarm 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 abalone food: kelp. Secondly, the aquafarm has access to a constant supply of pure, cold, nutrient-rich seawater, pumped from a depth of 3,000 feet in the Pacific Ocean near the Kona Coast. This seawater is also essential for growing both Kona Abalone and the kelp grown on the farm to feed the abalone.
Lastly, Hawaiʻi's location midway between Asia and North America allows us to ship fresh, live abalone to markets on both continents. The aquafarm currently produces about 100 tons of live abalone per year and houses nearly 4 million abalones in our grow out system.
About Our Abalone
Kowa Premium Foods Hawaiʻi Corporation (KPFHC) produces 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 founders of the company. From the outset, 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.
The system uses 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. KPFHC's facilities include a hatchery, a nursery and abalone grow-out tanks. In this way, KPFHC controls 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. KPFHC maintains five million abalone in inventory on its 10-acre site.
Farm Gate Sales
Try our premium Japanese “Ezo” abalone straight from the farm! Sold at our farm office. Farm office also provides various souvenirs from original cap, t-shirts and much more!
We are one of few distributer in Big Island for premium Japanese sake from Islander Sake, crafted in Big Island. Sake is a perfect match with Abalone!
Gate Sales is open from 8:00am to 16:00pm (Mon ~ Fri) and from 10:00am to 15:30pm (Sat & Sun).
Wholesale
We are accepting requests from anywhere in the world. Fresh abalone will be sent via FedEx Priority Overnight and should arrive within 1-2 days of shipment. Abalone will be packed with ice and oxygen to preserve freshness. Orders are charged by weight.
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 OPEN HOURS:
8:00 am-4:00 pm (Mon-Fri)
10:00 am-3:30 pm (Sat & Sun)
FOOD TRUCK OPEN HOURS:
9:00 am-3:30 pm (Mon-Fri)
10:00 am-3:30 pm (Sat)
CLOSE on Sunday
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！
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