Reusable Foodware Program Launches in Hilo on Nov. 9
News Release from County of Hawaiʻi, October 30, 2026
The County of Hawaiʻi and its partners announce the launch of the Hoʻi Returnable Dish Program, a city-wide municipal reuse system, in Hilo on Nov. 9.
In preparation for the launch, community members will see the outdoor Return Points getting installed around Hilo. A map of the installed Return Points can be found on the program website www.hoi-return.com.
Administered by the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management, the voluntary program is funded by $2.1 million in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants and $1.8 million in private contributions, and will be operated by VYTAL, a global reuse service provider.
"We know that residents and businesses want more options for reducing waste," said Mayor Kimo Alameda. "Hoʻi is designed to offer an alternative to single-use containers that supports our economy and keeps trash out of our landfill."
The new program eliminates the need for single-use containers by providing participating businesses with stainless-steel food and drink containers that customers return to any of the many public Return Points around town. Items are collected, washed, inspected and redistributed — creating a circular system that reduces dependence on disposable foodware.
"Our mission is to make reuse effortless and mainstream," said Dr. Tim Breker, Founder & President of VYTAL. "This partnership is a meaningful opportunity to make reuse the community default — good for businesses, people, and ocean ecosystems alike."
The program was designed with input from more than 4,500 community members and more than 100 businesses over two years, led by Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island and Perpetual, in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi County Department of Environmental Management and The University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program.
"Hoʻi means 'to return,'" said Kuʻulei Keawekane, Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island's cultural advisor. "The name reflects both the journey of the containers and the community's desire to return to our original way of caring for the land and each other."
Jennifer Navarra, Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island program director, commented: “This initiative uplifts community wellness while addressing the urgent problem of plastic pollution. It’s about building a healthier future for our families and our island.”
For businesses, the cost to participate in the program is comparable to compostable packaging. Consumers pay nothing to use the stainless steel containers unless they do not return them within 7 days.
“This pioneering program will demonstrate the potential for infrastructure-backed reuse systems at scale to deliver what communities want – convenient, safe food and drinks – without the things they don’t want: waste and pollution in their community,” said Ellie Moss, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Perpetual.
The businesses that are participating in the launch of the program include Cupcakes Boom!, Sweet Cane Cafe, Hilo Burger Joint, Kalo and Cream, Anuenue on the Bay, Big Island Smokehouse, Island Naturals, Mohala’s Bayfront Fish and Chips, and Keaukaha General Store.
This project has been generously supported by national and local funders, including: The 11th Hour Project; Plastic Solutions Fund; The Overbrook Foundation; The Coca-Cola Foundation; The Healy Foundation; Tundra Glacier Fund; Atherton Family Foundation; The Walmart Foundation; and EPA: Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling, Pollution Prevention, Source Reduction Assistance, and Trash Free Waters programs.
To learn more about how Hoʻi works, the pick up locations and participating businesses visit www.hoi-return.com. For businesses, schools or institutions interested in participating in the program, fill out the contact form here or email [email protected].
Hoʻi Abstract
Hoʻi is a city-wide returnable foodware program serving the community of Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Customers can choose Hoʻi containers free of charge, as long as they return the items within 7 days. Customers return the checked-out containers to any of the public Return Points or at any participating business. For businesses, the cost is comparable to compostable packaging. Hoʻi means "to return" in Hawaiian — a nod both to returning the containers and to honoring traditional ways of caring for the land. Learn more at hoi-return.com.
Hoʻi is the result of multiple partnerships including:
VYTAL is a global leader in reusable packaging solutions, using data-driven technology to help over 7,000 B2B customers across 24 countries eliminate single-use waste.
Zero Waste Hawaiʻi Island (ZWHI) engages Hawaiʻi Island communities in reducing packaging waste through system-level change, guided by Hawaiian cultural values that honor the ancestral relationship between people and land.
The University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program is part of UH Mānoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology and one of 34 NOAA-supported Sea Grant programs nationwide. Hawaiʻi Sea Grant has advanced research, education, and extension services for sustainable coastal and marine resources since 1968.
The Hawaiʻi County Department of Environmental Management’s mission is to maintain a clean, healthy island environment and promote stewardship and sustainability by managing wastewater and solid waste services in a comprehensive, responsive, safe and efficient manner.
Perpetual is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping businesses, local governments, and communities in four U.S. partner cities design and implement affordable, accessible city-wide reusable foodware systems.
Download Photos (Credit: Hoʻi)