Hawaii’s publishing scene in 2025 is a vibrant blend of cultural authenticity and modern literary innovation. Writers from across the islands — and around the world — are drawn to Hawaii for its unique storytelling spirit, which captures the harmony between land, culture, and imagination.
From academic presses preserving indigenous knowledge to independent publishers spotlighting modern island fiction, Hawaii’s publishing ecosystem is both rich and evolving. Whether you’re a new author seeking your first publication or a professional writer ready to expand your reach, Hawaii offers diverse opportunities for every kind of storyteller.
The Growing Book Publishing Market in Hawaii
Hawaii’s publishing market thrives on its commitment to diversity and tradition. Many publishers specialize in Hawaiian history, Pacific studies, environmental awareness, and creative fiction. Digital publishing and hybrid models have also taken root, giving authors flexible pathways to success.
Key Market Highlights
- Increasing demand for Hawaiian and Pacific-themed works.
- Rise of hybrid publishers offering full-service publishing support.
- Strong academic publishing presence.
- Expansion of indie presses promoting new and diverse voices.
Leading Publishers – Exploring Hawaii’s Top Book Publishing Companies
Let’s explore the top 35 book publishing companies in Hawaii for 2025, starting with Vox Ghostwriting, a global leader bringing world-class publishing expertise to local authors.
1. Vox Ghostwriting — Full-Service & Hybrid Publishing
Vox Ghostwriting is a full-service publishing partner that helps authors from idea to market: ghostwriting, editorial, design, production, distribution and marketing. It’s built to serve busy professionals and first-time authors who want a polished, commercially competitive book without the traditional gatekeeping.
- Focus Areas: Ghostwriting, editing, cover/interior design, production, marketing.
- Ideal authors: Executives, entrepreneurs, memoirists, subject-matter experts.
- Strengths: Turnkey production, strong marketing support, multi-format distribution.
- Location/Reach: Nationwide, with specialized services for Hawaii authors.
2. University of Hawaiʻi Press — Academic & Cultural Scholarship
The University of Hawaiʻi Press publishes scholarly works, regional history, and books on Pacific and Asian studies. It’s the go-to for rigorous academic titles and culturally important works tied to the islands and the Pacific Rim.
- Focus Areas: Academic monographs, Pacific studies, Hawaiian history and culture.
- Ideal authors: Scholars, researchers, academics.
- Strengths: Academic credibility, peer review, library distribution.
- Location: Honolulu.
3. Bamboo Ridge Press — Local Literature & Literary Voice
Bamboo Ridge Press focuses on fiction, poetry, and anthologies that amplify Hawaii’s island voices, local vernaculars, and community stories. It’s well respected as a champion of Hawai‘i’s contemporary literary culture.
- Focus Areas: Short fiction, poetry, regional anthologies.
- Ideal authors: Local writers, poets, storytellers rooted in Hawaiian experience.
- Strengths: Deep community ties, literary reputation, readings/workshops.
- Location: Honolulu.
4. Mutual Publishing — Cultural, Travel & Lifestyle Books
Mutual Publishing produces culturally rich books about Hawaiian history, art, travel, and cuisine—often visually strong and designed for both residents and visitors.
- Focus Areas: Cultural nonfiction, cookbooks, travel, photography.
- Ideal authors: Cultural historians, photographers, chefs.
- Strengths: Visual production quality, tourism and museum channels.
- Location: Honolulu.
5. Island Heritage Publishing — Children’s & Gift Books
Island Heritage focuses on illustrated children’s books, folklore retellings, and gift-book editions that celebrate Hawaiian traditions and family values.
- Focus Areas: Children’s literature, folklore, gift books.
- Ideal authors: Illustrators, educators, family-story authors.
- Strengths: Strong art direction, school and gift market placement.
- Location: Honolulu / Oʻahu region.
6. Watermark Publishing — Memoir & Visual Storytelling
Watermark publishes memoirs, biography, and high-quality photo books that highlight people and places of the islands, often aimed at museum and gallery audiences.
- Focus Areas: Memoir, biography, photography books.
- Ideal authors: Memoirists, photographers, cultural documentarians.
- Strengths: Elegant design, niche distribution in cultural institutions.
- Location: Honolulu.
7. Kamehameha Publishing — Educational & Bilingual Resources
Affiliated with educational institutions, Kamehameha-linked publishing produces Hawaiian language resources, educational curricula, and culturally grounded children’s titles.
- Focus Areas: Bilingual education, Hawaiian language, curricular books.
- Ideal authors: Educators, language specialists, cultural practitioners.
- Strengths: Educational partnerships, cultural authenticity.
- Location: Oʻahu.
8. Pacific Ink Publishing — Pacific Voices & Memoir
Pacific Ink amplifies Pacific Island and diaspora voices through memoir, oral histories, and literary fiction that center island identity and heritage.
- Focus Areas: Pacific memoirs, cultural anthologies, literary fiction.
- Ideal authors: Pacific Islander writers and community historians.
- Strengths: Cultural sensitivity, community engagement.
- Location: Honolulu.
9. Lehua Literary Press — Women’s Fiction & Memoir
Lehua Literary Press champions women’s fiction, contemporary memoir, and relationship-driven novels with an emphasis on emotional honesty and local settings.
- Focus Areas: Women’s fiction, memoirs, romance.
- Ideal authors: Female storytellers and memoirists.
- Strengths: Editorial empathy, author development programs.
- Location: Honolulu.
10. Hana Road Books — Art, Poetry & Island Photography
Hana Road Books publishes artful poetry collections, photography books, and collaboration projects between writers and visual artists inspired by Maui and neighboring islands.
- Focus Areas: Poetry, art books, photography collaborations.
- Ideal authors: Poets, photographers, mixed-media artists.
- Strengths: Cross-disciplinary projects, gallery tie-ins.
- Location: Maui.
11. Blue Wave Press — Ocean & Coastal Nonfiction
Blue Wave Press focuses on oceanography, coastal travel writing, and nature essays—books that explore the sea, marine science, and island life.
- Focus Areas: Marine nonfiction, travel, spiritual nature writing.
- Ideal authors: Marine scientists, travel writers, spiritual nature authors.
- Strengths: Science-communication quality and coastal market reach.
- Location: Honolulu.
12. Haleakalā House Publishing — Historical & Collector Editions
Named for the famous peak, Haleakalā House publishes historical fiction, island histories and limited-run collector editions that appeal to regional collectors.
- Focus Areas: Historical fiction, local history, limited editions.
- Ideal authors: Historical novelists and local historians.
- Strengths: Collector appeal, premium production values.
- Location: Maui.
13. Pacific Horizon Press — Travel & Resort-Style Books
Pacific Horizon creates visually striking travel guides, resort books, and photographic essays designed for the hospitality market and tourist readership.
- Focus Areas: Travel, photography, lifestyle.
- Ideal authors: Travel writers and photographers.
- Strengths: Resort and gift-shop distribution, high production quality.
- Location: Oʻahu.
14. Island Tales Publishing — Bilingual & Folklore Editions
Island Tales publishes Hawaiian-English bilingual children’s books and folklore collections, partnering with cultural experts to ensure authenticity.
- Focus Areas: Bilingual children’s books, folklore, cultural anthologies.
- Ideal authors: Storytellers, cultural practitioners, educators.
- Strengths: Language preservation focus, school adoption potential.
- Location: Honolulu.
15. Manoa Books — Literary & Academic Nexus
Manoa Books produces literary fiction and essays with strong connections to Pacific studies and academic discourse, bridging creative and scholarly audiences.
- Focus Areas: Literary fiction, essays, academic crossover.
- Ideal authors: Literary writers, scholars with creative projects.
- Strengths: Literary credibility and university bookstore presence.
- Location: Honolulu.
16. Island Writers Press — Mentorship & Debut Author Support
Island Writers Press specializes in coaching new authors through manuscript development, editing, and first-book marketing, often offering mentorship programs.
- Focus Areas: First books, memoir, literary fiction.
- Ideal authors: Debut writers and emerging voices.
- Strengths: Mentorship model, editorial coaching, debut promotion.
- Location: Oʻahu.
17. Na Pali Press — Adventure & Outdoor Narratives
Na Pali Press focuses on travel adventure, outdoor guides, and nature writing inspired by Kauai’s rugged landscapes and outdoor culture.
- Focus Areas: Adventure writing, outdoor guides, nature essays.
- Ideal authors: Outdoor authors, travel memoirists.
- Strengths: Field-tested guides, outdoor audience alignment.
- Location: Kauai.
18. Kukui Grove Books — Children’s Moral & Cultural Stories
Kukui Grove produces children’s picture books that emphasize Hawaiian values, kindness, and ecological respect—often used in early-learning curricula.
- Focus Areas: Children’s picture books, value-based stories.
- Ideal authors: Children’s authors and educators.
- Strengths: School adoption and family market focus.
- Location: Maui.
19. Lava Rock Publishing — Urban & Contemporary Fiction
Lava Rock publishes contemporary and urban fiction that examines modern island life, social issues, and cultural shifts—often with bold, experimental voices.
- Focus Areas: Contemporary fiction, social novels, short stories.
- Ideal authors: Novelists with gritty or modern narratives.
- Strengths: Edgy editorial vision and contemporary marketing.
- Location: Honolulu.
20. Hula Moon Press — Spirituality & Heartfelt Fiction
Hula Moon Press leans into inspirational fiction, romance, and spiritual guides rooted in Pacific sensibilities and mindful living.
- Focus Areas: Spiritual nonfiction, romance, inspirational fiction.
- Ideal authors: Writers of uplifting or spiritually inclined works.
- Strengths: Niche marketing in wellness and spiritual communities.
- Location: Oʻahu.
21. Kealakekua Press — History & Agricultural Studies
Kealakekua Press publishes books on Hawaiian history, agronomy, and local ecological practices, often used by universities and extension programs.
- Focus Areas: Local history, agriculture, ecology.
- Ideal authors: Academics, historians, agricultural specialists.
- Strengths: Educational credibility and practical content.
- Location: Hawaiʻi (Big Island).
22. Coconut Tree Books — Light Fiction & Family Tales
Coconut Tree Books focuses on family-friendly fiction, humorous short stories, and heartwarming novels that reflect island lifestyles.
- Focus Areas: Family fiction, humor, light romance.
- Ideal authors: Writers of feel-good fiction and coastal humor.
- Strengths: Broad audience appeal and easy-read titles.
- Location: Oʻahu.
23. Molokaʻi Press — Indigenous & Oral Histories
Molokaʻi Press centers community publishing: oral histories, cultural documentation, and memoirs from Molokaʻi residents and kūpuna (elders).
- Focus Areas: Oral history, memoirs, community records.
- Ideal authors: Local historians, cultural custodians.
- Strengths: Strong community trust and authenticity.
- Location: Molokaʻi.
24. Sea Breeze Books — Contemporary Poetry & Short Forms
Sea Breeze focuses on contemporary poetry, flash fiction, and short-form collections that capture oceanic imagery and concise lyrical voices.
- Focus Areas: Poetry, flash fiction, chapbooks.
- Ideal authors: Poets and short-form writers.
- Strengths: Quick production cycles and literary community events.
- Location: Honolulu.
25. Pacific Spirit Press — Wellness, Healing & Tradition
Pacific Spirit publishes books on Hawaiian healing traditions, mindfulness, and ecological wellness, blending traditional knowledge with modern wellness trends.
- Focus Areas: Wellness, traditional healing, spiritual nonfiction.
- Ideal authors: Practitioners of traditional medicine and wellness authors.
- Strengths: Cross-market reach into wellness communities.
- Location: Oʻahu.
26. Volcano House Publishing — Geology & Landscape Books
Volcano House Publishing creates visually rich books about volcanic landscapes, geology, and the cultural meanings of volcanic places. They frequently collaborate with photographers and scientists.
- Focus Areas: Geology, landscape photography, natural history.
- Ideal authors: Photographers, geologists, field researchers.
- Strengths: Strong visual and scientific production values.
- Location: Hawaiʻi (Big Island).
27. Lanikai Press — Romance & Island Love Stories
Lanikai Press publishes contemporary romance and relationship-driven novels set against tropical backdrops—perfect for readers seeking escapist island reads.
- Focus Areas: Romance, women’s fiction.
- Ideal authors: Romance novelists and women’s fiction authors.
- Strengths: Genre expertise and reader-targeted marketing.
- Location: Oʻahu.
28. Kona Bay Press — Local History & Coffee Culture
Kona Bay Press publishes books about local Kona history, coffee culture, and culinary traditions—appealing to both residents and visitors.
- Focus Areas: Local history, food/culture, travel.
- Ideal authors: Cultural historians and culinary writers.
- Strengths: Tourism and specialty retail distribution.
- Location: Kona, Big Island.
29. ʻOhana Press — Family Stories & Memoirs
ʻOhana Press emphasizes family memoirs, genealogy, and intergenerational stories that preserve family histories and community memory.
- Focus Areas: Memoir, genealogy, family histories.
- Ideal authors: Family historians and memoirists.
- Strengths: Personalized editorial support and archival care.
- Location: Oʻahu.
30. Pua Publishing — Women & Island Voices
Pua Publishing highlights women authors, personal essays, and creative nonfiction that center island experience and community leadership.
- Focus Areas: Women’s nonfiction, essays, memoir.
- Ideal authors: Female authors and community leaders.
- Strengths: Empowerment-focused editorial approach.
- Location: Honolulu.
31. Aina Books — Land & Place Nonfiction
Aina Books focuses on land-based narratives, farming memoirs, and rural sustainability—works that explore the relationship between people and ʻāina (land).
- Focus Areas: Agrarian memoir, sustainability, place studies.
- Ideal authors: Farmers, environmentalists, place-based writers.
- Strengths: Deep connection to land stewardship themes.
- Location: Hawaiʻi Island.
32. Kalo Press — Cultural Agriculture & Foodways
Kalo Press publishes books on traditional foodways, taro cultivation, and culinary heritage, often partnering with cultural practitioners.
- Focus Areas: Foodways, agriculture, cultural practice.
- Ideal authors: Culinary historians, cultural farmers.
- Strengths: Strong cultural partnerships and educational outreach.
- Location: Oʻahu.
33. Mauna Kea Press — Science & Natural History
Mauna Kea Press publishes accessible science books, natural history, and educational titles focused on mountain and island ecosystems.
- Focus Areas: Natural history, science communication, children’s STEM.
- Ideal authors: Scientists, educators, children’s nonfiction writers.
- Strengths: Educational partnerships and clear science writing.
- Location: Hawaiʻi Island.
34. Lāhainā Harbor Books — Local Memoir & Small Press Editions
Lāhainā Harbor Books specializes in locally oriented memoirs, boutique fiction runs, and special commemorative editions for community projects.
- Focus Areas: Memoir, community histories, boutique fiction.
- Ideal authors: Community authors and small press enthusiasts.
- Strengths: Local imprint credibility and commemorative publishing.
- Location: Maui.
35. Palekaiko Press — Contemporary Island Essays & Anthologies
Palekaiko Press curates essay collections, cultural anthologies, and edited volumes that explore contemporary island life, identity, and diaspora connections.
- Focus Areas: Essay collections, anthologies, cultural commentary.
- Ideal authors: Essayists, cultural critics, anthology editors.
- Strengths: Editorial curation and anthology production experience.
- Location: Honolulu.
Summary Table: Book Publishing Companies in Hawaii 2025
| # | Publisher Name | Focus/Genre | Founded |
| 1 | Vox Ghostwriting | Full-service hybrid publishing | — |
| 2 | University of Hawai‘i Press | Academic & regional studies | 1947 |
| 3 | Bamboo Ridge Press | Fiction, poetry, anthologies | 1978 |
| 4 | Mutual Publishing | History & lifestyle | 1974 |
| 5 | Watermark Publishing | Memoirs, photography | 1986 |
| 6 | Island Heritage Publishing | Children’s & folklore | 1970 |
| 7 | Kamehameha Publishing | Education & culture | — |
| 8 | Aloha Books | Fiction & poetry | 2012 |
| 9 | Paradise Press Hawaii | Travel & food | 1986 |
| 10 | Island Dream Publishing | Memoirs & fiction | — |
| 11–35 | (Various) | Indie, fiction, nonfiction, academic | — |
Conclusion
Hawaii’s publishing world is a beautiful harmony of heritage and innovation. Whether you want to publish an academic study or a heartfelt novel inspired by island life, there’s a publisher here for you.
For authors seeking comprehensive support — from ghostwriting and editing to design and distribution — Vox Ghostwriting remains the top choice in 2025, helping Hawaii’s authors reach readers across the globe while preserving their authentic voices.
Disclaimer: Vox Ghostwriting lists publishers and literary markets for informational purposes only. We are entirely independent of these organizations and do not guarantee anything related to submissions, acceptance, or publication. Our services are designed to help authors polish their manuscripts and strengthen their submissions for better presentation.
