Kauai - Hawaii with Kids - page 397

THE GOODS A TO Z
ALOHA WEAR
As you make your way from Lihue to the North Shore, you'll pass Bambulei
( & 808/823-8641 ), bordering the cane field in Wailua next to Caffè Coco.
Watch for the sign just past the Wailua intersection, across from Kintaro's
Restaurant. Bambulei houses a charming collection of 1930s and 1940s treas-
ures—everything from jewelry to exquisite vintage aloha shirts. If it's not vin-
tage, it will look vintage, and it's bound to be fabulous. Vintage muumuus are
often in perfect condition, and dresses go for $20 to $2,000.
BABY & PRESCHOOLER CLOTHES
In the heart of Kapaa is the best place for unique baby clothes. Nani Baby,
4-831 Kuhio Hwy., Suite 220 ( & 808/823-9333 ), has terrific clothing for

Fruity Smoothies & Other Exotic Treats

Fruit stands have sprouted on this island, and smoothies are gaining
ground as the milkshake of the new millennium. Joe Halasey and his
wife Cynthia run Banana Joe's ( & 808/828-1092 ), the granddaddy of
Kauai's roadside fruit-and-smoothie stands, a Kilauea landmark since it
opened in 1986 at 52719 Kuhio Hwy., between mile markers 23 and 24
heading north, on the mauka (mountain) side of the street. Sapodilla,
star apple (round, purple, and sweet, like a creamy Concord grape),
macadamia nuts, Anahola Granola, and homemade breads—like
banana and mango-coconut—are among Banana Joe's attractions.
Mango Mama's, 4660 Hookui St. ( & 808/828-1020 ), is another
favorite on the Kilauea roadside. Recently expanded, it's now a full-serv-
ice cafe serving espresso, smoothies, fresh-squeezed juices, sandwiches,
bagels, coffee, coffee smoothies, and fresh fruit. The Kauai Breeze (fresh
mango, pineapple, passion fruit, and guava) is a big winner here.
At the north end of Kapaa town, Killer Juice Bar, 4-1586 Kuhio Hwy.
( & 808/821-1905 ), is a sight for sore eyes after a drive through com-
mercial Kapaa. Smoothies are $2.50 to $5.50, fresh juices are $1.25
(wheat grass) to $5 (carrot)—and they're good! An attractive selection
of fresh fruit—gemlike tomatoes, atemoyas, starfruit, papayas—is dis-
played in the front. Queen of the smoothies is the Amazing Mango
Memory, made with fresh local mangoes in season or, when they're
not available, with fresh mangoes from Mexico. The Killer Bars, choco-
late-chip squares for $1.50, live up to their name.
On the Coconut Coast, just before you reach the center of Kapaa
town heading north on Kuhio Highway, keep an eye out to the left for
Sunnyside Farmers Market, 4-1345 Kuhio Hwy. ( & 808/822-0494 ). Here
you can always find realistically priced Sunrise papayas, pineapples, local
bananas, tomatoes, and other Kauai produce. You can also get pre-
inspected Sunrise papayas for travel out of state, local apple bananas,
coconuts, mangoes in season, and pineapples from Maui and Kauai.
Near the Lihue Airport, Pammie Chock at Kauai Fruit & Flower
( & 808/245-1814 ) makes a pineapple-passion fruit smoothie that gets
my vote as the best on the island.