The heart of a community can be found in its food. Visit any city around the world and you’ll hear its pulse beating soundly from their high-end restaurants to their food trucks. Hawai‘i is no different with a vibrant food scene all its own, but our geographic isolation, volcanic history and tropical climate offers up some unique agricultural opportunities as well.
From colorful tropical fruits like guava, mango and papaya to specialty crops like chocolate and coffee, Hawai‘i is fortunate to be able to grow a rainbow of edible delights. Eating them is an even more joyous experience, and the best places to stock up on these goods is at our farmers’ markets. The County of Kaua‘i’s Office of Economic Development organizes several such markets across the island, so it’s a breeze to visit one while you’re on the road, on the way to or from the beach or other activities.
These markets showcase Kaua‘i’s local farmers, eager to share their fresh, organic produce. They’ll often be found alongside food vendors preparing hot and cold dishes—snacks, entrees and desserts—for all to enjoy. You’ll even find florists selling their fresh-cut tropical bounties, all locally grown!
Here’s the schedule of markets, as of this writing:
- Mondays, noon-1:30 p.m.: Kōloa Ball Park, Kōloa
- Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Historic County Building, Līhu‘e
- Tuesdays, 3-4 p.m.: Kalāheo Neighbohood Center, Kalāheo
- Wednesdays, 3-5 p.m., Kapa‘a New Town Park, Kapa‘a
- Thursdays, 3-4 p.m., Hanapēpe Park, Hanapēpē
- Thursdays, 3:30-5 p.m., 3000 Kīlauea Road
- Fridays, 3-4:30 p.m., Vindha Stadium, Līhu‘e
- Saturdays, 9-10 a.m., Kekaha Neighborhood Center
The schedule is subject to change, so check kauai.gov/sunshinemarkets for the latest info before you head out. The Kaua‘i Farm Bureau also operates several farmers’ markets around the island. Info on those can be found at kauaicountyfarmbureau.org.
If you’re into authentically local experiences—and fresh food and flora—you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to go than one of our farmers’ markets. Every purchase helps support our local farmers and communities!
For further reading, check out Hawai‘i’s Farmers’ Markets: So Much More Than Just Produce.
[A version of this article appeared in print in the pages of This Week Kaua‘i]
keywords: farmers markets produce agriculture kauai farming organic fresh food vendors tropical fruits vegetables sunshine market farm bureau community
