"Quick Funding Guide for Ship Upgrades in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii"

Author: Alexis Jun 28,2025

In *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*, players will reach a pivotal moment in the campaign where progression is temporarily halted until the Goromaru ship is upgraded. This requires a hefty $10,000 in in-game funds, forcing Goro and his crew into a side quest to gather enough cash before continuing the story. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to earn this money quickly—ensuring you’re back on course in no time.

Recommended Videos

A wanted bounty boss and his crew in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

How To Get Funds Fast in Pirate Yakuza

During Chapter 2, Goro must enter the Pirate Coliseum in Madlantis, but his current ship isn’t up to the challenge. This kicks off an extended mission chain that includes recruiting a shipbuilder and five new crew members. While the crew recruits are relatively easy to find, upgrading the Goromaru becomes the main obstacle due to its $10,000 price tag.

Thankfully, there are multiple methods to generate fast cash in *Pirate Yakuza*. At this point in the game, players can collect bounties, open treasure chests across various islands, or complete jobs in Honolulu. Each option has its pros and cons, but if your goal is speed, focusing on bounties tends to be the most efficient route.

How To Get Treasure in Pirate Yakuza

Goro opening Treasure in Pirate Yakuza in an article about how to get Funds fast

Treasure chests are scattered throughout Honolulu and other islands accessible via raids. While collecting these treasures can add up over time, it’s a slower and more tedious process compared to other methods. Additionally, it often requires leaving Honolulu, which may not be ideal for players eager to progress the main story as quickly as possible.

How To Get Bounties in Pirate Yakuza

The bounty screen to get funds fast in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaiii

The fastest way to raise the necessary $10,000 is by hunting bounties in Honolulu. Even lower-tier bounties offer rewards starting at $2,000, while higher-tier ones can yield up to $16,000. Although taking down high-value targets in one go might seem tempting, these encounters are quite challenging early on—especially if you're unfamiliar with the combat system.

Instead, focus on lower-difficulty bounties that typically reward between $2,000 and $6,000. These missions usually involve fighting groups of enemies, making Goro’s Sea Dog fighting style ideal for crowd control. Once you’ve cleared the minions, switch to the Mad Dog style for a more aggressive one-on-one showdown with the bounty target.

Screenshot of the Map in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Bounties are easy to locate thanks to the red handcuff icons marked on the map. When you approach a bounty, an info screen displays the difficulty level, reason for the bounty, and the amount of money you’ll earn upon completion. You can then decide whether to engage based on your current strength and resources.

The Bounty Completion screen in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Once the fight begins, the mechanics are straightforward—deplete the enemy’s health bar. Higher-reward bounties often feature bosses with multiple health bars and underlings equipped with dangerous weapons. However, successful completion instantly rewards you with a large sum of cash, helping you inch closer to the $10,000 needed for the ship upgrade.

By completing just a few of these bounty hunts, you’ll easily accumulate more than enough money to repair and upgrade the Goromaru, allowing you to continue progressing through the main story without unnecessary delays. It’s a bit combat-heavy, but well worth the effort if you want to keep the momentum going.

And that’s how to get funds to upgrade your ship fast in *Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii*.

*Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.*