Hundreds of shoppers turned out at Honolulu's Hoomau Market this weekend, saying they were willing to pay more to support Hawaii-owned brands and Hawaiian culture.
Federal data showed consumer prices rose 4.2% in May from a year earlier, with higher gas prices and the Iran war adding to the squeeze on household budgets.
Local vendors said they are absorbing higher production, shipping and operating costs, leaving them with thinner profit margins in an island economy already burdened by distance.
Organizers and sellers said that pressure has made value and community identity more central to buying decisions, with many customers treating local spending as an investment in other local people.