Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in the Crossroads Center (
&
808/329-2296
). It's been upgraded from a health-
food store to a full-on healthful supermarket. In Hilo, stop by
Abundant Life
Natural Foods,
292 Kamehameha Ave. (
&
808/935-7411
); and
Island Nat-
ural Market and Deli,
303 Makaala St. (
&
808/935-5533
).
HAWAIIANA & GIFT ITEMS
The best gift to take back to someone or a souvenir for yourself is something
Hawaiian. Our selection of the best stores to find that certain something that
will forever remind you and your kids about your fabulous trip to Hawaii begins
with
Alapaki's Hawaiian Gifts,
Keauhou Shopping Center, Alii Drive (
&
808/
322-2007
), where lovers of Polynesian crafts will appreciate this selection of gift
items, jewelry, original paintings, feather hat bands, ceramics, and hand-blown
glass, made by more than 100 craftspeople from five of the Hawaiian Islands,
with a small percentage of the inventory from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti,
and other Polynesian islands. If you head south of Kona,
The Grass Shack,
Highway 11, Kealakekua (
&
808/323-2877
), offers a large selection of local
woodcrafts, Niihau shell and wiliwili-seed leis, packaged coffee, pahu drums,
nose flutes, and lauhala (woven pandanus leaves) in every form. In Hulualoa, the
Kimura Lauhala Shop,
at Mamalahoa Highway and Hualalai Road (
&
808/
324-0053
), specializes in everything lauhala—from rolled-up mats and wide-
brimmed hats to tote bags, coasters, and coin purses.
In Waimea, the place to go is
Cook's Discoveries,
64-1066 Mamalahoa Hwy.
(Hwy. 190;
&
808/885-3633
), where Hawaii-themed wearables, fine col-
lectibles, locally made crafts, books, Hawaiian quilts, gift baskets, and Hawaiian
music can be found. For a great selection of Hawaiian wood art (in the forms of
bowls, rocking chairs, and jewelry boxes), books on Hawaii, and other Hawai-
iana items, go to
Waipio Valley Artworks,
on the way to Waipio Valley in
Kukuihaele (
&
808/775-0958
).
MARKETS
The best farmers' market on the Big Island—perhaps in all of Hawaii—is the
Hilo
Farmers' Market,
Kamehameha Avenue at Mamo Street (
&
808/933-1000
),
where more than 120 vendors from around the island bring their flowers, pro-
duce, and baked goods to this teeming corner of Hilo every Wednesday and Sat-
urday from sunrise to 4pm. Because many of the vendors sell out early, go as
early as you can. The selection changes by the week, but it's always reasonable,
fresh, and appealing, with a good cross-section of the island's specialties.
Although it's open daily, Wednesday and Saturday are the days when all the ven-
dors are there.
For produce and flowers straight from the farm, go to the
Kona Farmers'
Market in Kaiwi Square,
in Kona's old industrial area. (Follow the sign on
Queen Kaahumanu Hwy.). The best day to go is Saturday from 8:30am to
2:30pm, when it teems with dedicated vendors and eager shoppers. You'll find
live catfish, taro, organic vine-ripened tomatoes, Kamuela string beans, lettuces,
potatoes, and just-picked blooms, such as anthuriums and feathery, sturdy
protea.
Small and sublime, the
Waimea Farmers' Market,
Highway 19, at mile
marker 55 on the Hamakua side of Waimea town (on the lawn in front of the
Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, West Hawaii office), draws a loyal
crowd from 7am to noon on Saturday.
