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Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in Hawaii, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
BDSD, DBEDT and Hawaii SBDC: the guide’s first stops, of the 13 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- This guide lists every Hawaii body found with evidence dated 2025 or later. Source (opens in a new tab)
State business development division
BDSD
Business Development and Support Division, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Runs the Hawaii State Trade Expansion Program, the Hawaii Made program and enterprise zones, and the state's overseas offices in Taipei and Beijing.
Visit BDSD (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii BDSD, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
State economic development department
DBEDT
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Publishes Hawaii's economic, visitor and business data, including the State of Hawaii Data Book, and runs business, energy and foreign-trade-zone programs.
Visit DBEDT (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii DBEDT, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
Small business advising network
Hawaii SBDC
Hawaii Small Business Development Center
Gives no-cost business advising across Hawaii and takes part in the state's export readiness workshops with DBEDT and the Small Business Administration.
Visit Hawaii SBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: EXIM, Hawaii export readiness workshop, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
2. Export development and market information
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
State business development division
BDSD
Business Development and Support Division, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Runs the Hawaii State Trade Expansion Program, the Hawaii Made program and enterprise zones, and the state's overseas offices in Taipei and Beijing.
Visit BDSD (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii BDSD, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
Small business advising network
Hawaii SBDC
Hawaii Small Business Development Center
Gives no-cost business advising across Hawaii and takes part in the state's export readiness workshops with DBEDT and the Small Business Administration.
Visit Hawaii SBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: EXIM, Hawaii export readiness workshop, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
5 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
State economic development department
DBEDT
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
Publishes Hawaii's economic, visitor and business data, including the State of Hawaii Data Book, and runs business, energy and foreign-trade-zone programs.
Visit DBEDT (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii DBEDT, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
Business entity registration office
BREG
Business Registration Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Registers corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and trade names, including out-of-state entities, on paper or through its online portal.
Visit BREG (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii DCCA, Business Registration Division (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
Foreign-trade zone operator
FTZ9
Hawaii Foreign Trade Zone No. 9
Runs Foreign-Trade Zone 9 in Honolulu, a 133,000-square-foot warehouse and office site whose tenants include importers, exporters and customs brokers.
Visit FTZ9 (opens in a new tab)Source: Foreign Trade Zone 9 Hawaii, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
State labor department
DLIR
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Runs the state unemployment insurance program, including employer registration, which a company with Hawaii employees needs.
Visit DLIR (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, unemployment insurance (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
Federal small business office
SBA Hawaii District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration Hawaii District Office
Helps small businesses use federal funding programs, counseling, contracting certifications and disaster recovery, and refers them to partner lenders and advisors.
Visit SBA Hawaii District Office (opens in a new tab)Source: SBA, Hawaii District Office page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
4. Customs and tax
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State tax department
DOTAX
Department of Taxation
Issues general excise tax licenses and runs Hawaii Tax Online for state tax registration, filing and payment.
Visit DOTAX (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii Department of Taxation, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
State commercial harbors division
Harbors Division
Harbors Division, Hawaii Department of Transportation
Operates Hawaii's nine commercial harbors, from Honolulu and Hilo to Kahului and Nawiliwili, through which ships carry goods to and from the islands.
Visit Harbors Division (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii Harbors Division, about the harbors (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State agriculture and biosecurity department
DAB
Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity
Its Plant Quarantine Branch inspects plant exports and issues phytosanitary certificates for shipments abroad.
Visit DAB (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, export inspection (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
State technology development agency
HTDC
Hawaii Technology Development Corporation
Runs state technology and manufacturing programs, including Manufacturing Assistance Program grants and the Hawaii SBIR grant; its INNOVATE Hawaii manufacturing center has taken only short-term projects since May 2025.
Visit HTDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, INNOVATE Hawaii (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
State business regulator
DCCA
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Licenses more than 140,000 professionals and monitors the solvency of Hawaii's banks and insurers, and houses the Business Registration Division.
Visit DCCA (opens in a new tab)Source: Hawaii DCCA, about the department (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
1 organization. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State chamber of commerce
Chamber of Commerce Hawaii
Speaks for business statewide through its policy team and Military Affairs Council, and runs training and resilience resources for small businesses.
Visit Chamber of Commerce Hawaii (opens in a new tab)Source: Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Hawaii project.
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Promote:Hawaii is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.