CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for full-service restaurants in Hawaii
1,238 full-service restaurants operated in Hawaii in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 1,238CBP 2023
- Employees
- 30,276mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 85.6U.S. 76.0
- State rank
- 41st of 51by count
Full-service restaurants in Hawaii by the numbers
Hawaii had 1,238 full-service restaurants in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 722511, Full-Service Restaurants). They employed 30,276 people in mid-March and reported $1.0 billion in annual payroll. That is the 41st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Full-service restaurants make up 3.8% of the 32,911 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Hawaii has 85.6 full-service restaurants, 12.6% above the national rate of 76.0. The average establishment has 24.5 employees against 20.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $34,105, 21.7% above the U.S. figure of $28,018.
| Measure | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,238 | 258,626 |
| Mid-March employees | 30,276 | 5,387,020 |
| Annual payroll | $1,032,575,000 | $150,931,656,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 24.5 | 20.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $34,105 | $28,018 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 85.6 | 76.0 |
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.
Full-service restaurants by metro area in Hawaii
Census published full-service restaurant counts for 4 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Hawaii. The largest is Urban Honolulu, HI, with 797 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.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 797 | 18,665 | 79.8 |
| Kahului, HI | 178 | 5,861 | 108.7 |
| Hilo, HI | 177 | 3,559 | 84.4 |
| Kapaa, HI | 86 | 2,191 | 116.5 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at full-service restaurants in Hawaii
23.4% of Hawaii's full-service restaurants with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 26.3% nationally. 41.1% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 289 | 23.4% | 26.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 220 | 17.8% | 17.1% |
| 10–19 employees | 243 | 19.6% | 21.1% |
| 20–49 employees | 316 | 25.5% | 24.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 169 | 13.7% | 10.8% |
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.
Calls a full-service restaurant in Hawaii has to catch
Restaurants take reservations, takeout orders and catering inquiries by phone during the same rush when staff are busiest. Unanswered calls during service often mean lost covers. That holds for full-service restaurants in Hawaii as much as anywhere.
Calls a full-service restaurant in Hawaii might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls in a takeout order.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- An event planner calls about a private room.
Calls after closing time
After closing, callers want hours and reservations, which a greeting or AI receptionist can handle.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for full-service restaurants in Hawaii
Full-service restaurants in Hawaii average 24.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 24-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 24 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $720.00 a month and 24 on Ooma Office Pro cost $598.80. On Callata the same 24 people cost $479.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $2,892. 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 | $479.00 | $5,748.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $456.00 | $5,472.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $552.00 | $6,624.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $598.80 | $7,185.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $648.00 | $7,776.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $720.00 | $8,640.00 |
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.
Area codes in Hawaii
Hawaii has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your guests know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 808 | 693 | — | 1957 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for full-service restaurants in Hawaii
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Hawaii, 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 full-service restaurants are in Hawaii?
1,238 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 30,276 people in mid-March.
Which Hawaii metro area has the most full-service restaurants?
Urban Honolulu, HI, with 797 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 24-person full-service restaurant?
$720.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $598.80 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $479.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Hawaii number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.