TL;DR Travels

Your TL;DR Travel Guide to Shopping Local on O’ahu

TL;DR: O’ahu is rich in the farmers market department. While there are some popular tourist attractions, visiting local markets will bring you closer to some of the freshest, tastiest treats on the Island. There are several markets and events year-round to consider visiting. Here are a few of my favorite ones!

1. Why You Should Visit Farmers Markets
2. The Trendy Market: Kailua Town Farmers Market
   1. At a Glance
   2. About the Market
3. Best Filipino Food: Windward Farmers Market
   1. At a Glance
   2. About the Market
4. The Large Market (Honolulu): Kakaako Farmers Market
   1. At a Glance
   2. About the Market
5. Chinatown Gem: Kekaulike Market
   1. At a Glance
   2. About the Market
6. All About Food Trucks: What the Truck? Event
   1. At a Glance
   2. About the Market
7. Explore More of O’ahu

Farmers Markets are one of my favorite things to visit when I’m traveling. And Hawai’i has some absolute treasures in the local market department. With rich farmland, a delicious and diverse culinary scene, and creative artisans, there is so much to love!

Today, I wanted to go over 5 distinct markets – each with its own special flair – that you should consider visiting.

New to the farmers market scene? Read my tips for first-timers here.

Why You Should Visit Farmers Markets

Before we get into the markets themselves, I wanted to take a moment and dig into what makes markets, especially the ones in O’ahu so special.

There’s also something really peaceful about walking around a local market – there are beautiful colors, fresh ingredients, and (most impactfully) a vibrant community.

Visiting local markets and shopping small not only is a great experience as a consumer but it also supports the local economy and local community directly.

There are some fantastic tourist attractions in Hawai’i. And while tourism in general economically contributes to an area, where you spend that money will have a different effect. By visiting a local market, your money is going directly to that local, small business – and is an enriching experience (ideally) all around.

Psst – this by no means is me saying touristy attractions aren’t worth it. There are some great tourist attractions I visit, both in my local community and while out traveling. All of this is to say, there is a lot of benefit to shopping small.

Related: My TL;DR Review of the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet

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The Trendy Market: Kailua Town Farmers Market

About the Market

What really makes this market stand out is the general atmosphere. It’s just a bright, cheery place to be!

I didn’t see a meat or cow dairy vendor, but those are pretty rare (in my experience) at farmers markets. I did, however, see a seafood/crab stall as well as a coconut milk tent. There was a great selection of fresh fruit and various spices, bread, and more.

I really suggest walking around a few times because it’s easy to miss vendors, but a few notable ones I highly recommend checking out:

• I Heart Kimchi
• Ohana Pickles
• Halo Meli Honey
• Rise & Grind Coffee

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Best Filipino Food: Windward Farmers Market

About the Market

The Windward Farmers Market feels more like a local’s market, definitely less touristy. Situated inside the first floor of the Windward Mall, this farmers market had a great array of local farmers, baked goods, and Filipino foods. Everything here seriously slaps – so if you’re looking for some authentic Hawaiian/Filipino produce and snacks, this is the spot I’d check out.

After a little walk around to scope out the vendors, I immediately settled on the filipino farm in the back where I grabbed some puto and some other goods. I also picked up some produce from a few of the farms – prices were good and the quality was fantastic (the cucumbers in particular were excellent on my last visit!).

In addition to stopping by the different farmers, I’d also recommend checking out:

• The Mochi Guys
• Molokai Hot Bread
• Manny Bakeshop

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The Large Market (Honolulu): Kakaako Farmers Market

About the Market

While I was shopping in Kailua Town, one of the workers recommended I check out the Kakaako Farmers Market. Located in Honolulu, the Kakaako Market is one of the larger ones you’ll come across.

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Chinatown Gem: Kekaulike Market

About the Market

Kekeulike Market isn’t like the other Farmerms Markets on this list – it’s actually an open air market located in Chinatown. While the previous markets featured some fantastic farmers and a variety of baked/specialty goods, Kekeulike Market shines with the best array of meat, fish, and produce.

Located in Chinatown, it certainly is worth a visit if you’re looking for some downtown places to check out. There are also plenty of great dining options in the area to visit. Many regular Kekeulike goers also recommend bringing cash and taking your time to shop around before committing to a purchase.

The biggest downside – parking/traffic. The downtown area is more congested than the rest of the Island, so it’s good to factor some extra travel time into your plans.

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All About Food Trucks: What the Truck? Event

About the Market

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I love local markets. The cuisine, the community, the selection are all fantastic. It’s a great way to support the local economy and gain access to fresh, authentic goods. These are just some of the fantastic markets and events you can check out on O’ahu.

Have you visited a local market on the Island? What is your favorite one and why? Let me know if the comment section!