Built for Hawaiʻi merchants.
Lower payment costs. More transparency. Stronger local businesses.
Hawaiʻi merchants face some of the highest card payment costs in the country—driven by visitor volume, card-present transactions, and limited negotiating power. The Hawaiʻi Merchants Coalition exists to change that through data, coordination, and policy-aligned solutions.
Join The CoalitionFree to join. No payment product required. No obligation.
The payment system works against local businesses
High fees, thin margins
Card processing fees take a larger share of revenue for small, local businesses—especially in food, retail, and hospitality.
Visitor-driven volume
A large share of transactions come from non-residents, increasing total fees while national models understate the burden on Hawaiʻi merchants.
No negotiating power
Most small businesses accept standard pricing with little visibility into how fees are set or how to reduce them.
What joining the coalition gives you
Collective visibility
We aggregate anonymized merchant data to show the real cost of payment fees in Hawaiʻi—something individual businesses cannot do alone.
Safer paths to lower costs
We evaluate compliant, transparent payment options that reduce fees without adding risk or complexity for merchants.
A unified merchant voice
Fragmented businesses lack leverage. Coordinated merchants shape outcomes.
Evidence-based advocacy
We use real data to inform policymakers, regulators, and financial institutions—grounded in consumer protection and existing law.
What joining does — and does not — mean
Does mean:
- ✓ You are a Hawaiʻi-based business or stakeholder
- ✓ You accept card or digital payments today
- ✓ You want payment-cost data in Hawaiʻi to be accurately measured
- ✓ You support evidence-based analysis of merchant fees
- ✓ You want a seat at the table as payment policy evolves
Does NOT mean:
- × You are endorsing any specific payment product or provider
- × You are committing to use crypto, stablecoins, or new technology
- × You are taking a political position or supporting legislation
- × You are publicly identified or individually disclosed
- × You are opting into marketing, sales, or advocacy campaigns
Ready to join?
Add your business to the coalition record. Free, no commitment required.
Join the Coalition