If you've tried to buy furniture recently, you've probably noticed something frustrating: prices are higher, lead times are longer, and shipping to the islands feels more complicated than ever. This isn't just inflation or bad luck — it's the result of bigger shifts happening in global supply chains, trade policy, and how furniture is made and moved.
One recent example is the renewed focus on tariffs on imported wood, lumber, and finished furniture products. These policies are often framed around national security and reindustrialization — the idea that the U.S. should rely less on overseas manufacturing and bring more production back home. While the long-term goals may make sense on paper, the short-term reality is simple: new furniture is getting more expensive and harder to access, especially for places like Hawaiʻi that already face high shipping costs.
What this means for furniture buyers in Hawaiʻi
Most mass-market furniture sold today relies on long, international supply chains. Wood may be harvested in one country, milled in another, manufactured somewhere else, and then shipped thousands of miles before it ever reaches a home. When tariffs or trade disruptions hit any part of that chain, costs increase — and those increases are usually passed directly to consumers.
For island communities, this impact is amplified:
- Shipping costs are already high
- Fewer brands ship directly to Hawaiʻi
- Lead times are longer and less predictable
- Replacement pieces aren't always available quickly
This creates a real challenge for homeowners, renters, and families rebuilding after loss: how do you furnish a home affordably when "buy new" keeps getting harder?
Why reuse and circular sourcing are part of the solution
This is where circular economy principles come in — not as a buzzword, but as a practical response to real constraints.
Research on the furniture industry shows that extending the life of existing furniture through reuse and redistribution can significantly reduce material waste and environmental impact compared to producing new items. Instead of following a linear system — make, use, dispose — circular systems keep quality products in use longer.
Other studies highlight the important role that second-hand and resale-focused businesses play in making circular economies work. These businesses actively redirect usable goods back into homes, preventing unnecessary disposal while reducing demand for new manufacturing.
In simple terms: the most sustainable and cost-effective piece of furniture is often one that already exists.
How Tuquero & Co. fits into this shift
Tuquero & Co. was built around this reality. Rather than relying solely on new production, we focus on sourcing:
- High-quality pre-owned furniture
- Showroom samples and discontinued pieces
- Well-made items designed to last, not be replaced
By sourcing these pieces from the mainland — where there is often surplus — and consolidating shipments to Maui, we reduce waste, lower shipping impact per item, and make better furniture more accessible to island homes.
This approach also creates resilience. When tariffs, supply disruptions, or price spikes affect new furniture, circular sourcing provides an alternative that's less dependent on fragile global systems.
Circular doesn't mean compromised
One misconception about second-life furniture is that it's a downgrade. In reality, many pre-owned and showroom pieces are:
- Better constructed than current mass-market options
- Made from higher-quality materials
- Designed to be repaired, reupholstered, or refinished
For Maui homes — where durability, function, and longevity matter — this often makes more sense than buying new pieces designed for short lifespans.
Looking forward
As furniture costs continue to rise and supply chains remain unpredictable, smarter sourcing matters more than ever. Circular economy strategies aren't just about sustainability — they're about access, affordability, and resilience, especially for island communities.
Tuquero & Co. exists to help bridge that gap: connecting surplus with need, extending the life of good furniture, and offering a more practical way to furnish homes in Hawaiʻi during a time of change.
Sources & Further Reading
- • Journal of Cleaner Production (2024), Elsevier — research on circular economy strategies in the furniture sector
- • Yawar et al. (2021), Circular Economy and Second-Hand Firms, Elsevier
- • The Dispatch, Capitolism — wood tariffs, national security, and reindustrialization