In Wailuku, Ashley Kawaihalau runs one of the only two sustainable refill stores on Maui.
“It’s trying to encourage sustainability by reducing single-use plastic waste,” Kawaihalau said. “And not just that, but with the products that are being used that are less toxic, so they’re less harmful to our environment — like the waterways and once it goes out into the ocean. So there are so many components of sustainability, and I’m just one small little portion of that whole puzzle.”
That’s the mission behind Kawaihalau’s store Rooted. Kawaihalau created the shop to give people a practical way to live more sustainably by refilling products they use every day instead of buying new containers each time. Customers can bring their own bottles to refill items such as laundry detergent, dish soap and skincare products, or purchase reusable containers at the store.
Rooted embodies a growing movement across Hawaiʻi to reduce waste and rethink consumption. The store offers eco-friendly products like refillable cleaning supplies, reusable household goods, and locally made items designed to minimize single-use plastics. Rooted’s mission aligns closely with sustainable stores on Oʻahu, such as Eco Town and Protea Zero Waste, committed to reducing plastic dependence and promoting community education around sustainable living.
Together, these businesses highlight how Hawaiʻi’s islands are fostering a circular economy rooted in respect for the ʻāina, encouraging residents and visitors alike to make mindful choices that protect island ecosystems.
According to Hawaiʻi Business Magazine, more than 400 refill stores operate across the continental United States, but only seven exist in Hawaiʻi — two on Oʻahu, two on Maui, two on Hawaiʻi Island, and one on Kauaʻi. This limited number underscores both the challenges and opportunities of making sustainable retail viable in island communities.
Sustainability is hardly a new conversation in Hawaiʻi — it’s reflected in government policies, environmental initiatives, and everyday discussions about plastic bans, renewable energy, and local agriculture. Yet for many residents, the question isn’t whether sustainability matters, but how to integrate it into daily life on islands where resources are finite and environmental pressures are constant. Refill stores like Rooted are helping to answer that question.
By embracing the principles of a circular economy — reusing and repurposing materials rather than producing and discarding them — they offer tangible ways for communities to reduce waste. In a state where about 85 to 90% of consumer goods are imported, even small shifts in purchasing habits can make a meaningful difference in lessening waste and shipping impacts across the islands.
Kawaihalau said that mindset — thinking locally and reducing impact — is central to her idea of sustainability.
“Being conscious about the impact that we have on our place and making sure that we leave it better so it’s not a problem for the future generations that come after us is how I define sustainability,” she said. “With e-commerce and consumerism it’s gotten pretty crazy lately, so especially now I’ve been shifting my mindset to how can I make less of an impact.”
Operating a refill store in Hawaiʻi isn’t easy. Business owners face high shipping costs, limited access to local suppliers and small profit margins. Yet for Kawaihalau, the goal has never been just about sales. It’s about giving her community a place to make more intentional choices and to see that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated.
“By working to create this future, the goal is to make this island better than it is today, and more beautiful for future generations,” she said
Rooted in Wailuku is part of a growing movement to make sustainability accessible to everyone, not just those with resources or expertise. Every refill and every conversation inside the shop becomes a reminder that individual choices add up.
In a place as connected to its land and sea as Hawaiʻi, sustainability is more than a practice — it’s a responsibility. For Kawaihalau and her customers, that responsibility begins with simple actions that honor the islands they call home.
