Turmeric Is Having a Moment

It’s one of the world’s most tapped remedies to naturally heal pain, inflammation and other ailments. And Hawai‘i’s year-round warm weather provides the ideal setting for turmeric to grow.

The global market for turmeric is projected to reach about $400 million by 2030, a jump from $267 million in 2023, according to a Research and Markets report. “A lot of people with active lifestyles have aches and pains, and turmeric is one of the only botanical plants you can take on a regular basis to safely deal with that,” says Denny Kwock, co-founder of Good Mana Life, a Waimānalo-based company that sells locally grown turmeric supplements. “It’s definitely getting more popular.”

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, originates from India and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Turmeric also has a long history in Hawai‘i, having been brought here by Polynesians as a canoe crop. A dozen different varieties grow in the Islands, and there are some 38 certified organic growers, says Kevin Flanagan, Kwock’s business partner at Good Life Mana, which procures its turmeric specifically from local farmers with sustainable agricultural practices.

Known in Hawai‘i as ‘ōlena, the root can be found at farmers markets, grocery stores and several other outlets. You can also get it as a supplement and blended into drinks; it’s easily identified by its vibrant orange hue. While perusing the FarmLovers Market in Kaka‘ako on a recent Saturday, we found two vendors, Tay and Tholi and Organic Turmeric Treasures, selling turmeric-focused products, and various other farmers offering the root.

While the Waimānalo-based Organic Turmeric Treasures makes turmeric teas, honey, spices and capsules, Tay and Tholi sells two sizes of a specialty turmeric tonic sourced from local farmers. Owner Deepa Sheehan says the inspiration for Tay and Tholi came from her traditional Indian mother, who relied on homemade Ayurvedic healing remedies. “My mom never gave us medicine or stuff from a drugstore; instead, she’d whip up a concoction from her pantry,” Sheehan says. “That’s how I grew up, with nature having the answers.”

Diane Seo is the editorial director of HONOLULU Magazine.