If you’ve spent much time traveling, you know one of the great pleasures of being in a new environment is immersing yourself in the local culture. There’s no better place to feel local culture than at local farmers’ markets. You get to see local craftspeople and farmers sharing their best products and, if you’re lucky, you’ll have meaningful conversations. There are generally two types of Farmers’ Markets on Hawai’i’s Big Island, and the difference is mostly found in the vendors and who their core clientele would be – the visitors to Hawai’i, and/or the locals.
For example, the Hilo Farmers’ Market is within walking distance of the port where the cruise ships dock. It’s open daily and features a wide variety of vendors. Yes, there is plenty of great produce here, but it is also home to a wide range of craft vendors carrying souvenirs and gifts. For many of the visitors to the Big Island, this is the highlight of their trip. The Hilo market is open daily and features up to 200 farmers and artisans.
On the opposite side of the spectrum is Uncle Robert’s Awa Bar and Farmers’ Market. Situated on a 30-year-old pahoehoe (smooth) lava flow in Kalapana on the East side, you’ll find mostly residents browsing the displays. Here, you’ll discover food, produce, locally made jewelry, honey, clothes, soap, and a whole lot of locals ready to talk story. Uncle Robert’s market is only open on Saturday mornings and Wednesday nights. On Wednesday nights, you can enjoy the Night Ho’olaule’a Market with live music, food, art, and crafts.
One cool feature of Uncle Robert’s is that you can see the market and then go visit one of the newest black sand beaches on the island. After that, you can continue on around the southern tip of the island to visit the Na’alehu Farmers’ Market. There are plenty of goodies and handmade items to choose from here too.
On the West side of the island, there are several markets of note. One is the Village Farmers Market on Ali’i Drive open Wednesdays through Sunday. Generally catering to visitors, this market has gifts for everyone on your list. You’ll find fun Hawai’i novelty items, artisan products, along with plenty of fresh produce, flowers, and exotic fruits and vegetables.
Also in the Kona area is the Ho’oulu Community Farmers Market. Along with Made in Hawai’i arts and crafts, there is a large selection of locally grown coffee, mac nuts and fresh produce. It’s easy to find on Wednesdays at the Outrigger Kona Resort.
My personal favorite is the Maku’u Market in Puna (on the East side of the island). It’s open on Sundays only and I’m told it attracts over 1,500 visitors every week. There are at least 150 vendors – this number has expanded over the years, and it keeps growing.
The first thing I notice when I pull into the parking lot is the smell. So much delicious food here and the smart vendors make sure to fire up the most savory treats to attract a crowd. There are multiple food trucks and small kitchens carrying everything from Hawaiian-style treats (malasadas – yum!) to Lebanese food.
There is live music onstage at Maku’u in an open-air dining area and, as a bonus, the restrooms are sparkling clean. When you visit this market, you can get a massage, sample local honey, purchase a colorful metal sculpture, inhale the scent of homemade soap, and taste locally made chocolate.
At Maku’u there is a row of spaces available for rent to vendors and locals who only attend occasionally. My husband and I have rented a space (for the exorbitant fee of $35) to sell tools, kitchenware, and other items we no longer have a use for. I’ve enjoyed spending the occasional Sunday as a vendor since I’ve had the opportunity to get to know the local artists. It has been a humbling experience to learn how hard these artisans work to bring their trade to market every week.
This is a VERY short list of Big Island Farmers’ markets and they are all unique. So, whatever you do on your trip to Hawai’i Island, don’t miss the chance to visit the local Farmers’ Markets. It’s so much more rewarding than checking out the “tourist” shops (no disrespect to ABC Stores intended).
Helster777 