Taste The Local Foods of Kauai
“Lucky we live Kauai” is a saying here. It’s flecked with pidgin, which makes it fun, but I think it every day. Kauai’s blessings are many, and one of them is our farmers markets, which are open 365 days a year.
All markets are outdoors, and some are against dreamy backdrops of mountains, valleys or oceans. Farmers markets are the easiest way to buy super fresh and tasty produce.
Even though market managers are vigilant about only offering locally grown and made products, foreigners can turn up on the market table. Look for the Kauai Grown and Kauai Made logos to insure you’re getting the real thing.
The most popular farmers market in Kauai is on the North Shore in Hanalei. In fact, the Hanalei farmers market was voted one of the Top 5 farmers markets in Hawaii magazine’s Readers Choice Awards.
On the East Side, the Kapaa farmers market is very popular. The market is filled with only farmers, nearly 100 of them, and residents flock to buy produce that was harvested that morning.
On the South Shore, the Koloa farmers market is popular for residents and visitors. Like the Kapaa farmers market, this market’s vendors are only farmers, so only hyper0fresh produce is available.
Kilauea, on Kauai’s North Shore, hosts several markets. Kilauea farmers market is held every Thursday and is sponsored by the County of Kauai. Namahana farmers market is located near Kauai Mini Golf and runs two days a week.
The best Lihue farmers market is every Saturday at the Kauai Community College. This privately run market hosts more than 100 vendors that offer fruit, vegetables, plants, a variety of hot foods and dog biscuits made with Kauai grown produce! If you’d like an insiders tour of this farmers market, checkout our Lihue food tour!
Farmers Market Locations
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Tuesday
Kalaheo Sunshine Market, Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, 3 to 4 p.m. Produce only.
Hale Puna Farm fresh Market, Hale Puna – 9567 Huakai Road, Waimea HI 96796, 3:30-5:30pm. Produce only.
Thursday
Hanapepe Sunshine Market, Hanapepe Park in Old Hanapepe Town, 3 to 4 p.m. Produce only.
Saturday
Kekaha Sunshine Market, Kekaha Neighborhood Center, 9 – 10 a.m. Produce only.
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Monday
Koloa Sunshine Market, Koloa Ball Park (Knudsen) Maluhia Road, 12:00pm – 1:30pm. Produce only.
Kauai Open Air Markets is set on a 5,000-square-foot lot just off Weliweli Road, behind the main stores on Koloa Road. It offers 12 covered booth spaces, complete with table and chairs. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.
Wednesday
Kauai Culinary Market at Kukuiula Shopping Village, 3:30 to 6 p.m. This is a beautiful outdoor market, with vendors spread along the outdoor mall. Shoppers can buy local honey, coffee, gourmet salt blends, kim chee, tropical pies and jams, tropical flowers and produce. Live music, a beer and wine garden, and cooking demonstrations make it especially fun.
Friday
Warehouse 3540 is a new Kauai farmers market that’s more like a popup. Only open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join us for a South Shore tour that ends at the Kauai Culinary Market.
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Monday
Kukui Grove Shopping Center by Kmart, 3 – 4:30 p.m, produce only.
Kealia Farm Market across the highway from Kealia Beach, 3 to 6 p.m. Kauai honey, jams, bee products, Kealia Farm indigo dyed women’s attire, poi, taro treats, baked goods and produce.
Tuesday
Coconut Market Place, Kapaa, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh leis and coconuts, a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, Moloaa Bay Coffee, anthiriums and cut flowers.
Lihue Sunshine Market, Historic County Building, 11:00am to 1:00pm, produce only.
Wednesday
Kapaa Sunshine Market, New Town Ball Park Parking Lot by Bypass Road, 3 to 4 p.m. Produce only, including a large choice of organic produce.
Thursday
Coconut Market Place, Kapaa, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh leis and coconuts, a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, Moloaa Bay Coffee, anthiriums and cut flowers.
Friday
Kealia Farm Market across the highway from Kealia Beach, 3 to 7 p.m.
Vidinha Stadium parking lot, 3 to 4:30 p.m. Produce only.
Anahola, all day. This market features grilled pork and huli-huli chicken plate lunches with sides of roasted potatoes and corn on the cob.
Saturday
Kauai Community Market at Kauai Community College, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Besides fruit and vegetables, this gourmet market features locally made goat and feta cheese, tropical flowers, local honey, coffee, kimchi, tropical pies and jams, and European-style breads. Meals include kalua pig and poi, authentic Thai, Puerto Rican style tacos and sandwiches made to order.
Anahola, all day. This market features huli-huli chicken and grilled pork plate lunch with sides of roasted potatoes and corn on the cob.
Sunday
Anahola, all day. This market features huli-huli chicken and grilled pork plate lunches with sides of roasted potatoes and corn on the cob.
Join us for an East Shore tour that will allow you taste some of the produce that are found in the markets.
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Monday
Westin Princeville, 5 to 6 p.m. This small market provides fresh, organic produce to Westin guests.
Namahana Farmers Market by Banana Joe’s, 4 p.m. to dusk. Strictly local produce as well as a few food artisans.
Tuesday
Waipa Farmers Market, Waipa Ahupuaa Field, 2 p.m. This market is nestled in a lush valley that is surrounded by towering mountains. Shoppers can buy locally made gourmet goat and feta cheese, chocolate covered frozen bananas, organic produce, coconuts, handmade crafts and clothes.
Thursday
Kilauea Neighborhood Center Ball Park / Gym Parking Lot, 4:30 p.m. Produce only.
Saturday
Namahana Farmers Market in Kilauea by Banana Joe’s. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Strictly local produce as well as a few food artisans.
Hanalei Farmers Market. Market hours are 9:30 a.m. to noon. Produce, food artisans, and handmade crafts.
Join us for a East Shore tour that will allow you taste some of the produce that are found in the markets.
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Malama Kauai, in partnership with the County of Kauai’s Office of Economic Development, will provide processing for EBT / SNAP at select Kauai farmers markets.
The initial five markets are:
- Koloa Market – Mondays starting at 11:30 a.m. (only first two weeks of the month)
- Kapaa Market – Wednesdays starting at 2:30 p.m. (every week)
- Hanapepe Market – Thursday starting at 2:30 p.m. (only first two weeks of the month)
- Kilauea Market (new) – Thursday starting at 4 p.m. (only first two weeks of the month)
- Lihue Market – Friday starting at 2:30 p.m. (every week)
Times listed are 30 minutes prior to the official opening time of the markets. They will start services early to allow for folks to line up with their favorite participating vendors along with others that may be using cash. Having these benefits available at farmers markets will provide access to fresh, healthy and local foods – supporting those that most need them while giving our farmers and local agricultural product producers additional revenue. Not all vendors choose to participate. Vendors that sign an agreement are accepted and have a sign to indicate if they do or not accept EBT/SNAP