May 12, 2025 — In the first year it was introduced, a bill looking to require retailers to label where raw ahi products come from, has moved all the way to Gov. Josh Green’s desk.
The local fish industry said it wanted to have an even playing field when it came to fresh vs. frozen fish and people buying poke.
Poke is one of the most popular food items in Hawaii, and many are unaware that most of it, nearly 90%, is actually imported from other countries.
A woman visiting from Canada said she had no idea poke came from other countries and thought it was all from Hawaii.
Fishing industry leaders say most frozen fish sold in Hawaii comes from Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.