Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 148

The other primary sources of flowers and leis are the shops lining the streets
of Moiliili and Chinatown. Moiliili favorites include Rudy's Flowers, 2722 S.
King St. ( & 808/944-8844 ), a local institution with the best prices on roses,
Micronesian ginger leis, and a variety of cut blooms. Across the street, Flowers
for a Friend, 2739 S. King St. ( & 808/955-4227 ), has good prices on leis, flo-
ral arrangements, and cut flowers. Nearby, Flowers by Jr. and Lou, 2652 S.
King St. ( & 808/941-2022 ), offers calla lilies, Gerber daisies, a riot of potted
orchids, and the full range of cut flowers along with its lei selection.
In Chinatown, lei vendors line Beretania and Maunakea streets, and the fra-
grances of their wares mix with the earthy scents of incense and ethnic foods.
Our top picks are Lita's Leis, 59 N. Beretania St. ( & 808/521-9065 ), which
has fresh puakenikeni, gardenias that last, and a supply of fresh and reasonable
leis; Sweetheart's Leis, 69 N. Beretania St. ( & 808/537-3011 ), with a worthy
selection of the classics at fair prices; Lin's Lei Shop, 1017-A Maunakea St.
( & 808/537-4112 ), with creatively fashioned, unusual leis; and Cindy's Lei
Shoppe, 1034 Maunakea St. ( & 808/536-6538 ), with terrific sources for
unusual leis such as feather dendrobiums, firecracker combinations, and every-
day favorites like ginger, tuberose, orchid, and pikake. Ask Cindy's about its
unique “curb service,” available with phone orders. Give them your car's color
and model, and you can pick up your lei curbside—a great convenience on this
busy street.
FOOD
For a food experience that you probably won't get at home, take the kids to the
Mauna Kea Marketplace Food Court, 1120 Maunakea St., Chinatown
( & 808/524-3409 ). Hungry patrons line up in front of these no-nonsense food
Health-Food Stores
If you have raised your kids on fresh, organic produce, Honolulu will
be a paradise for you. In the University district, Down to Earth, 2525 S.
King St., Moiliili ( & 808/947-7678 ), is a respectable source of organic
vegetables and vegetarian bulk foods, with good prices, a strong selec-
tion of supplements and herbs, and a vegetarian juice-and-sandwich
bar. But our favorite is nearby Kokua Market, 2643 S. King St. ( & 808/
941-1922 ), a health-food cooperative and Honolulu's best source for
organic vegetables. It also has an excellent variety of cheeses; pastas
and bulk grains; sandwiches, salads, and prepared foods; organic
wines; and an expanded vitamin section.
Tiny but powerful, with a loyal clientele, House of Health, 1541 S.
Beretania St. ( & 808/955-6168 ), has competitive prices and a wide
selection of health-food supplements. There's no produce, but there
are frozen vegetarian foods, bulk grains, and healthful snacks. In
Nuuanu Valley, mauka (inland) of downtown Honolulu, Huckleberry
Farms, 1613 Nuuanu Ave. ( & 808/524-7960 ), has a wide range of pro-
duce, vitamins, cosmetics, books, and prepared vegetarian foods. A
few doors down, the beauty and vitamin retail outlet is stocked with
cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and nonperishable, nongrocery
health products.