Goodwill Hawaiʻi offers better access to retail store, donation center at new Hilo campus

Goodwill Hawaiʻi’s Hilo Store and Donation Center has officially relocated to its new campus, offering a larger retail space, more parking and convenient donation drop-off facilities.

The move marks the second phase of Goodwill Hawaiʻi’s long-term plan to consolidate its retail business and human services programs at one location to better serve the East Hawaiʻi community.

In 2023, Goodwill Hawaiʻi purchased a large parcel located at 17 Makaʻala St. in Hilo for $6.27 million and has been undergoing renovations to upgrade the infrastructure and bring the buildings and parking lot up to code to accommodate the various needs of its programs and services.

All the businesses that occupied the space have since moved, and the four buildings on the campus are now used for the drive-through donation center, a store, and a space to operate its programs and administrative offices.

“After we finished the parking lot on Feb. 1, we wanted to move as fast as we can, and I think everyone is excited about the size of the store and the parking lot compared to the last location,” Goodwill Hawai’i Chief Executive Officer Katy Chen said. “And for us, we are excited to have sufficient space to support the store at this level as well as the Pāhoa and Waikōloa stores.”

The new donation center serves as the processing center for all three stores. Donations come from the drop-off locations across the island as well as donations shipped from Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.

During the store’s grand opening on Friday, customers were excited about the ease of access and the parking compared to the previous location at 266 Kanoelehua Ave.

It also was an opportunity for shoppers to learn more about how the nonprofit operates its community service programs, such as Career Services, Workforce Development, Ola I Ka Hana Youth Services, and Intellectual Disability Services Ho‘olana Program, which have been located on the campus since 2024.

“The business is twofold,” Chen said. “Thrifting, repurposing and reselling is our commitment to sustainability, and the money we raise from the Big Island stores goes into the community services provided in this county.”

He said having everything Goodwill does in one place in East Hawaiʻi instead of three “will make the work we do more efficient and impactful.”

In its 2025 annual report, Goodwill Hawaiʻi supported more than 8,000 residents statewide, with one-third receiving assistance from East Hawaiʻi.

Career Services helps vulnerable populations — including displaced workers, adults with disabilities, immigrants and reintegrating ex-offenders — identify, prepare and land the jobs they want. The program can be accessed through self-referral or by a referral from other organizations.

Goodwill’s Workforce Development program is similar to Career Services but often involves low-income earners or those utilizing benefits, and clients are referred by the state Department of Human Services.

“These two programs help people in need find a career path to move forward by assisting them with education, training and certification,” Chen said. “The people on staff help with job readiness skills, crafting resumes, interviewing skills, finding openings and following up for months afterward.”

Ola I Ka Hana Youth Services is a program for Big Island residents 14 to 24 years old who may have struggled in traditional school settings but are interested in reaching educational and employment goals.

A youth specialist works with participants to develop and meet their goals, whether it’s earning a high school equivalency certification or gaining experience necessary to find a job that will lead them to financial independence.

The Ho‘olana program gives adults with intellectual disabilities a place where they can learn to become independent members of the community and enhance their quality of life.

Ho‘olana participants receive self-care assistance, activities that help develop good habits, and community integration opportunities, among other things.

“Our youth program helps youth get their GED while also offering them experience in the workforce,” Chen said. “With this new campus, they can take their classes, then walk across the parking lot to get experience working in retail or the processing center. The same thing goes for our adults in the Ho‘olana program who are also wanting work experience.”

In the final phase of the renovation project, Goodwill is renovating the last building on the campus that will serve as the 12,000-square-foot air-conditioned retail store and processing center, which is expected to be completed by 2027.

The building the store currently occupies will then become a recycling center, offering textile recycling and secure document shredding services.

“The plan is to expand our initiatives, which is something we haven’t been able to do in Hawaiʻi County,” Chen said. “With a dedicated warehouse, we can recycle textiles, shred cardboard, and shred large amounts of paper to make recycled paper and hopefully help alleviate pressure on the landfills.”

After they file for the permit for the next renovation, Goodwill Hawaiʻi plans to change the exterior of the campus by adding foliage and painting the buildings in a uniform color.

“This has been a long process, but this transition is an important milestone in Goodwill Hawaiʻi’s continued investment in Hawaiʻi Island,” Chen said. “We are excited to provide a more meaningful experience to the community that has supported the organization for over 20 years.”

Along with the store and regular programming, the Goodwill Hawaiʻi Hilo campus is currently offering free tax services to households earning $69,000 or less annually and is hiring for several positions.

To learn more about programs, services and employment, visit the Goodwill Hawaiʻi website.