CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for drinking places in Kahului, HI
Drinking places in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area: 15 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 9-person team.
- Establishments
- 15CBP 2023
- Employees
- 133mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 9.2U.S. 12.0
- Rank
- 365th of 740areas by count
The bar market in Kahului, HI
There were 15 drinking places in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722410, Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)). Together they reported 133 mid-March employees and $3,047,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 365th of the 740 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 164,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 9.2 drinking places per 100,000 people, 23.7% below the national rate of 12.0. Establishments average 8.9 employees, 16.3% below the U.S. average of 10.6. Payroll per employee comes to $22,910, 10.6% below the national $25,612.
| Measure | Kahului, HI | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 15 | 157 | 40,835 |
| Mid-March employees | 133 (moderate noise) | 1,603 | 432,542 |
| Annual payroll | $3,047,000 | $40,225,000 | $11,078,437,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 8.9 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $22,910 | $25,094 | $25,612 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 9.2 | 10.9 | 12.0 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big drinking places in Kahului, HI are
Of the drinking places in Kahului, HI that had employees in March 2023, 53.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 38.7%). 76.9% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 7 | 53.8% | 38.7% |
| 5–9 employees | 3 | 23.1% | 27.4% |
| 10–19 employees | 3 | 23.1% | 20.1% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 11.3% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
What drinking places in Kahului, HI use the phone for
Bars and taverns take calls about events, private parties and hours, often when the room is too loud to hear the phone. Capturing those calls helps book parties.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for drinking places in Kahului, HI:
- A guest calls about reserving space for a birthday.
- A customer calls about a lost item.
- A customer calls about trivia night.
Calls after closing time
Bars are open late, so calls during service need capture and callback.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
Phone system pricing for a 9-person bar
The average bar in Kahului, HI has 8.9 employees, so a 9-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $224.55 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $270.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 9 people cost $179.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $1,092. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $179.00 | $2,148.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $171.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $207.00 | $2,484.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $224.55 | $2,694.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $243.00 | $2,916.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $270.00 | $3,240.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
What drinking places in Kahului, HI get with Callata
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
If you already have a number in Kahului, HI, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many drinking places are there in Kahului, HI?
Census County Business Patterns counted 15 drinking places in the Kahului-Wailuku, HI metro area in 2023. They employed 133 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 9-person bar?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 9 users cost $270.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $224.55 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $179.00.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a bar?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.