ABSTRACTUnited States and world aquaculture production has been increasing rapidly in recent years. The State of Hawaii recognized the potential benefits from expanded aquaculture research and commercial activities and has devoted more than two years in preparing the nation' first comprehensive state‐wide aquaculture development plan. This paper shares the Hawaii planning experience and outlines the procedures, methodology and philosophies, with emphasis on issues which may be relevant to other aquaculture planning efforts. In particular, the following areas are addressed: 1) the initial scoping of the planning process, 2) staffing, 3) preliminary analysis of the data acquisition task, 4) the assessments, 5) formulation of the guidelines for development, and 6) implementation philosophies, strategies and tactics. Hawaii' approach imparts a pragmatic, conservative, step‐wise course for aquaculture development that recognizes the State' finite financial resources while working to achieve the best possible cost/benefit ratio. However, although appearing conservative, it casts State government in the novel role of a strong advocate of aquaculture prog