A Brief for Merchants & Policymakers

Keep Hawai‘i Dollars Local is a merchant-led coalition working to lower payment costs, strengthen local businesses, and keep more of Hawai‘i’s dollars circulating here at home — not leaving the islands in processing fees.

This page explains, in plain language:

• Why payment fees are hitting Hawai‘i especially hard

• What the coalition actually does

• What it means for your business if you join

• How this helps policymakers and their staff

• How we handle data, privacy, and trust

1. The Problem: High Payment Costs in Hawai‘i

Running cards is part of doing business. But in Hawai‘i, those costs are higher than almost anywhere else in the country:

• Every card transaction includes multiple fees (interchange, network, processing, etc.).

• For many small businesses, these total 2–4% of every sale.

• On tight margins, that’s the difference between hiring another employee, upgrading equipment… or cutting back.

Because we’re an island economy, many national providers see Hawai‘i as high-risk and high-cost. That often means:

• Fewer choices

• Less negotiating power

• Higher average fees than the mainland

Most merchants know they’re paying a lot — but don’t know how their fees compare or what can actually be changed.

2. Who We Are: A Merchant-Led Coalition

Keep Hawai‘i Dollars Local is not a bank, processor, or outside vendor.

We are:

• Local merchants who want fairer, more transparent payment costs

• Community partners who care about keeping dollars circulating in Hawai‘i

• Policy and research collaborators who can translate merchant experience into clear, practical ideas for lawmakers

Our goal is simple:

Organize local businesses, document the real cost of payments, and support practical solutions that keep more money in Hawai‘i’s economy.

3. What the Coalition Actually Does

We focus on three core jobs:

A. Organize & Listen to Local Merchants

• Invite Hawai‘i businesses to join the coalition at no cost and no long-term commitment

• Collect real stories and examples of how payment fees affect hiring, prices, and growth

• Keep merchants informed about what’s happening with fees, technology, and policy

B. Collect Clear, Anonymous Fee Data

• Provide simple templates so merchants can share their processing statements or key numbers

• Standardize and anonymize this data (no public call-outs of individual businesses)

• Build a clear picture of:

  
  

  • Average fees by industry and size

  • Hidden costs and add-on charges

  • Where Hawai‘i differs from mainland markets

C. Support Practical, Well-Guarded Solutions

• Share findings with policymakers and regulators in plain, non-technical language

• Evaluate modern payment options that could lower costs and reduce leakage from Hawai‘i’s economy

• Help design pilot programs and guardrails that protect consumers and merchants while allowing innovation

4. What It Means for Merchants Who Join

Joining the coalition is simple and low-pressure.

Step 1 – Add Your Business

You share basic details (business name, location, contact, industry). There is no fee to join and no obligation to switch providers.

Step 2 – Share Your Fee Data (Optional but Powerful)

If you choose, you can securely share:

• A recent processing statement, or

• A few key numbers (total card volume and total fees over a period)

We turn this into anonymous data that helps everyone understand the real market in Hawai‘i.

Step 3 – Receive Insights & Updates

In return, you get:

• Simple, clear benchmarks: “Here’s how your fees compare to other businesses like yours.”

• Updates on coalition progress, upcoming meetings, and any proposed pilots or programs

• Opportunities to give input before new initiatives are launched

You stay in control at all times. If you ever want to pause or stop sharing data, you can.

5. Why Policymakers & Staff Are Paying Attention

Policymakers hear complaints about “high fees” all the time — but often lack organized, verifiable data specific to Hawai‘i.

The coalition helps by providing:

• Aggregated, anonymous numbers showing the true impact of payment costs across sectors

• Real stories from local businesses that put those numbers in context

• Practical options, not buzzwords — focused on:

  • Lowering costs safely

  • Reducing leakage of local dollars

  • Maintaining strong consumer protections

For staff and committees, the coalition becomes a single, credible point of contact for Hawai‘i merchants on payment issues.

6. Data, Privacy & Trust

We take trust seriously. Our basic rules:

1. No selling or renting merchant lists.

2. No public shaming of individual businesses, banks, or processors based on their fees.

3. Anonymized analysis only. When we share results, they are grouped and de-identified.

4. Opt-in data sharing. You decide if and how you share your information, and you can change that decision at any time.

The coalition exists to help merchants — not to create new risks for them.

7. How You Can Get Involved

Whether you’re a merchant, policymaker, or community partner, there’s a simple next step:

For Merchants

• Join the Coalition – Add your business to the list of Hawai‘i merchants calling for fairer payment costs.

• Share Your Fee Data – If you’re comfortable, contribute anonymized numbers so we can build a clearer picture for everyone.

For Policymakers & Staff

• Request a Briefing – We can share anonymized data, merchant stories, and potential pilot ideas tailored to your district or committee.

• Stay in the Loop – Sign up for short, periodic updates on coalition findings and initiatives.

Keep Hawai‘i Dollars Local is about more than processing fees. It’s about giving local businesses a stronger voice, making sure payment systems work for Hawai‘i — and keeping more of every hard-earned dollar circulating in our own communities.