Whether you live on the Big Island of Hawaii or are just visiting, drop by one of the many outdoor farmers' markets or open markets as they are also known. It is a great way to buy delicious fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the island, and a chance to mingle with the local folks.
You can find fresh island grown produce such as bananas, papayas, avocados, green beans, and tomatoes that you may already be familiar with, but also cherimoya, rambutan and jaboticaba fruits. Exotic vegetables may include warabi (edible fern shoots with fiddleheads) and bitter melon.
Tropical flowers are always in abundant supply: anthuriums, orchids, heliconias, gingers, protea, and sometimes even roses in season.
Besides fresh food and flowers, some open markets have people selling take out bento lunches, tamales, sushi, and other homemade snacks. You can also find many handmade gifts of jellies, jams, baked goods, and all sorts of crafts and clothing. Some booths or tables sell imported things, but many others sell things actually made by the person manning the booth, so it gives you the chance to meet and talk to the artist or craftsperson.
This Big Island Farmers' Market Directory Guide
begins in Hilo and travel north till it makes a circle island tour.
Hilo
Hilo Farmers Market
Corner of Kamehameha Avenue & Mamo Street, Downtown Hilo
Wednesday & Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Phone: (808) 933-1000
Kino'ole Farmers Market
1990 Kino'ole St., Hilo
Saturday to Monday--through December 31, 2007
Panaewa Hawaiian Home Lands Farmers Market
Puainako & Ohuohu Streets, by Walmart in Hilo
Daily, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Rainbow Falls Market Place
Across from Rainbow Falls, north of Hilo, HI
Monday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Lapahoehoe
Laupahoehoe Market
Verifone Building, 9652 Kaumalii Hwy, Laupahoehoe
Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Honoka'a
Honoka'a Farmers Market
Near Honoka'a Trading Company
Old Botelho Bldg., Honoka'a
Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Waimea
I Ka Pono Farmers Market
Parker School, at I Ka Pono Community Garden, Waimea
Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Hawaiian Homestead Farmers Market
Kuhio Hale Building, 64-759 Kahilu Road, Waimea
Saturday, 7:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Hawi
"Under the Banyans" Farmers Market
Hawi
Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Waikoloa
Waikoloa Farmers Market
Waikoloa Community Church
Saturday, 7:15 a.m.
Kona
Ali'i Garden Market Place
Ali'i Drive, 2 miles south of Kailua Pier, Kona
Wednesday-Sunday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Kailua Village Farmer's Market
Across from Hale Halawai, Kailua-Kona
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Kona Farmers Market
Old Industrial Park, Kaiwi Square, Kona
Saturday & Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Keauhou
Keauhou Farmers Market
Keauhou Shopping Center, Keauhou
Saturday, 8 a.m.-12:00 noon
Kealakekua
Kealakekua Flea Market
Haleki'i Street, Kealakekua
Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Captain Cook
Kona Pacific Farmers' Coop
82-5810 Napoopoo Rd., Captain Cook
Fridays, 8am-4pm.
New Open Farmers Market
By the Pink Donkey sign, Captain Cook
Friday
South Kona Fruit Stand
Near the old Higashi Store, 84-4770 Mamalahoa, Captain Cook
Monday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Ocean View
Ocean View Farmers Market
Pohue Plaza, Ocean View Center, Ocean View
Saturday, 7 a.m.-12:00 noon
O'Suzanna's Farmers Market
Highway 11 at Road to the Sea, Ocean View
Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Naalehu
Ka'u Farmers Market
Naalehu Theater, Ka'u
Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Na'alehu Farmers Market
Ace Hardware Lawn, Naalehu
Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Volcano
Volcano Farmers Market
Cooper Center, 1000 Wright Road, Volcano
Sunday, 6:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Fern Forest Town Market
Fern Forest
2nd Saturday of the month from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Mountain View
Island Fruits
12 Mile marker on Highway 11, Mountain View
Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Kea'au
Kea'au Village Farmers Market
Kea'au
Daily, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
We are located in Kea'au but do not sell at the farmers market.
Visit us online at Big Island Hawaiian Gifts, Flowers, Leis, Candles, and Soap.
Pahoa
Maku'u Farmers Market
Highway 130, Pahoa
Wednesday to Sunday--through Dec. 31, 2007
8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Phone: (808) 955-1441
Pahoa Farmers Market
Luquin's/Akebono Theatre Parking Lot, Pahoa
Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Phone: (808) 965-9292
Caretakers of Our Land Farmers Market
Sacred Heart Church, Pahoa
Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
This list is current to the best of our knowledge. If you have additional information to add, delete, or change a listing, please let us know via a comment. Mahalo!
*Updated on September 30, 2007
What a wonderful list. I want to shop at every one of them.
Posted by: Kenyo | September 20, 2007 at 05:49 AM
Since we fly for free, we sometimes go to the one in Hilo. They have some great things there!
Posted by: Kailani | September 20, 2007 at 04:15 PM
Ken,
I know you would be able to come up with some fabulous dishes with the exotic produce.
Kailani,
Maybe one day I will bump into you at the Hilo Farmer's market. Every time we have out of town family and friends over, we usually go there!
Posted by: HawaiiVacationGifts | September 23, 2007 at 08:29 PM