Abalone, By the Numbers

Big Island Abalone Corp. has been operating on a 10-acre farm at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority in Kona since 1996 and is currently expanding. Over the years, its abalone has been served at some of Hawaii’s finest restaurants, including Alan Wong’s and Restaurant Suntory. Here’s the company’s story, by the numbers:

5 to 8
Minutes to perfectly grill abalone

15
Tons of kelp weekly to feed the abalone

60
Tons of live abalone produced every year

50
Retail price per poud in dollars (five or six top-grade abalone)

70
Percentage of products shipped to Japan

3
Years to raise top-grade abalone with a 5-inch-long shell

$18,000
Monthly electricity bill