Aloha, I'm Scott Kobayashi
Born and raised right here in Hawaiʻi — founder of Hawaii Reward Travel
I first got into this world of points and miles with a HawaiianMiles credit card, thinking it was the only card for locals like us. But I quickly realized I was completely uneducated about how much more value other cards could offer.
That discovery changed everything.
Over the past 9 years, I've been on a mission to travel the world without breaking the bank. By learning how to earn and use credit card points and miles the smart way, I've taken unforgettable trips — saving significantly on travel costs along the way.
Now, I help other Hawaiʻi locals do the same. Through the free ʻOhana Program, over 400 families across the islands have learned how to earn points toward flights, hotels, and adventures — without going into debt and without paying me a single dollar.
Hawaii Reward Travel is operated by Yumi Consulting LLC, a Hawaii limited liability company. I am not a bank, a credit card issuer, or a licensed financial advisor. Everything I share is educational guidance based on my personal experience and research.
Our Vision & Mission
Our Vision
To empower local families and travelers to explore the world through smarter travel strategies, meaningful experiences, and financial wisdom — while making travel more accessible for our island community.
Our Mission
Hawaii Reward Travel exists to help Hawaiʻi residents maximize credit card rewards, airline miles, and hotel points so they can travel farther, spend less, and create unforgettable memories with their ʻohana. Through education, transparency, and a local-first approach, we simplify complex travel programs and provide real-world strategies tailored to island travelers.
How We Evaluate Credit Cards
Every card we discuss has been independently evaluated by the HRT editorial team. Our compensation from card issuers does not determine which cards we feature, how we rank them, or what we say about them. We evaluate based on the following criteria, weighted specifically for Hawaiʻi-based travelers:
Transpacific Route Value
Transfer partners that serve Honolulu, Maui, Kona, and Hilo — and connect to routes in Japan, the mainland, and beyond.
Net Annual Value
Annual fee weighed against realistic benefit value for a Hawaiʻi-based household's actual spending and travel patterns.
Local Earn Rates
Category multipliers mapped to common Hawaiʻi household spending — groceries, dining, utilities, and inter-island travel.
Redemption Flexibility
How broadly points and miles can be used — not just flights, but hotels, inter-island trips, Japan routes, and family travel.
Practical Benefits
Credits, protections, and perks that Hawaiʻi families can realistically use — not mainland-centric features that don't apply here.
Editorial Independence
We only discuss cards we would recommend to our own family. Compensation from issuers does not influence our editorial assessment of any card.
Our Commitment to You
Honest Recommendations
We only discuss credit cards and strategies we genuinely believe provide value to Hawaiʻi families. We are not paid to say any specific card is "the best."
Full Transparency
We clearly disclose when links may earn us compensation. We are committed to FTC guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255).
Community First
HRT was built to serve Hawaiʻi locals. Our content, tools, and coaching are designed around your needs and your routes — not our revenue.
No Hidden Costs
The ʻOhana Program is free. Using our links never costs you more. You pay the same price whether you apply through our link or go directly to the issuer.
Editorial Note: The opinions, analyses, and recommendations on this site are the author's alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any card issuer, bank, airline, or hotel chain. Card information is gathered independently — some data has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Always verify current terms at the issuer's website before applying.
How Hawaii Reward Travel Makes Money
Hawaii Reward Travel may receive compensation from card issuers and affiliate networks when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation is how the free ʻOhana Program is funded — you pay nothing extra, ever.
Our current affiliate partners include networks such as The Flight Wall, Rakuten Advertising, and direct issuer programs. Compensation may influence which products appear on this site and sometimes the order in which they are presented. It does not influence our editorial opinions or written recommendations.
Card issuers we may earn compensation from include:
See our full Affiliate Disclosure · Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions
Not Financial Advice: All content on Hawaii Reward Travel — including articles, coaching conversations, card recommendations, and points valuations — is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes financial, legal, investment, or tax advice. Scottie Kobayashi is not a licensed financial advisor. Approval for any credit card is at the sole discretion of the issuing institution. Always evaluate your own financial situation before applying for any credit product. Individual results vary — see our Terms & Conditions for our full results disclaimer.