Business phone system for caterers in Hawaii

Caterers in Hawaii by the numbers

The Census Bureau counted 74 caterers in Hawaii in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 722320). They employed 572 people in mid-March and reported $16.5 million in annual payroll. That is the 33rd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Caterers make up 0.22% of the 32,911 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Hawaii has 5.1 caterers, 31.6% above the national rate of 3.9. The average establishment has 7.7 employees against 11.2 nationally. Payroll per employee is $28,850, 6.6% below the U.S. figure of $30,873.

Hawaii's largest markets for caterers

Census published catering company counts for 4 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Hawaii. The largest is Urban Honolulu, HI, with 45 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 100% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at caterers in Hawaii

55.4% of Hawaii's caterers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 55.0% nationally. 78.4% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.

Why the phone matters for caterers in Hawaii

Caterers book events through inquiry calls and then coordinate menus, headcounts and timing over many follow-ups. Fast responses to inquiries win events. That holds for caterers in Hawaii as much as anywhere.

Typical inbound and outbound calls for caterers in Hawaii:

• The caterer calls a venue about setup times.
• A couple calls about catering a wedding.
• A client calls to update a headcount.

Business texting for caterers

Caterers text headcount confirmations and delivery windows.

Texting from a local number in Hawaii requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

What a phone system costs a catering company in Hawaii

Caterers in Hawaii average 7.7 employees, so the comparison uses an 8-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 8 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $240.00 a month and 8 on Ooma Office Pro cost $199.60. Callata comes to $159.00 a month for 8 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $972 less than RingCentral for a catering company in Hawaii of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Hawaii

Hawaii has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a catering company can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for caterers in Hawaii

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.

Porting a number you already use in Hawaii is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.