Kaka‘ako Farmers Market offers a super variety of fresh produce/fruits and prepared foods (including mochi and baked goods)! Visiting this Honolulu farmers market is a Saturday tradition.
When people talk about farmers markets in Hawaii…
…you always hear about KCC Farmers Market. It’s the biggest, it’s bustling. It’s fun (and has tons of great produce and prepared foods/sweets), but the crowds (it’s a popular tour bus stop) can be draining.
So many locals now head to the Kaka‘ako Farmers Market.
You’ll see a 50:50 ratio of tourists to locals at KCC Farmers Market, but it’s more of a 80:20 ratio at Kaka‘ako Farmers Market. It’s not as big, but the vendors are great, and a visit here is calm and relaxing (though hot/sunny, so go early in the morning).
What to Eat at Kaka‘ako Farmers Market
Ok! Here we go to the good stuff. The vendors here change often so I’ll make sure to keep this page updated. And feel free to chime in if you have a favorite vendor I missed 🙂 .
Izu’s Mochi
Handmade mochi in all the good flavors (you know just how much we love mochi in Hawaii ^_^).
My two favorite flavors from Izu’s: Strawberry Mochi (with a whole fresh strawberry and azuki bean paste) and the Okinawan Sweet Potato Mochi.
Wicked Hi Slush
Kaka‘ako Farmers Market gets hot (especially if you go after 10am), and Wicked Hi Slush is how we cool down. It’s like a cross between slushy and sorbet, made with honey and fresh local fruit juices (think pineapple and lilikoi).
They have 3-4 flavors on rotation and it’s fun to combine multiple flavors in a cup.
Local I’a
Local I’a has top quality local fish. We love seafood in Hawaii, and access to great, fresh seafood is one of the things I miss most when on the mainland. Think ono, aku (and aku poke), mahi, kajiki, local oysters, and so much more. They also offer a seafood CSA which I’ve been curious to try.
MASA, Hawaii’s Tortilleria
Fresh, handmade tortillas! Masa often sells out fast so make sure to pre-order tortillas online (they have multiple kinds). On some weekends, they also have drinks like horchata made with blue masa (in place of rice) and agua de jamaica. FYI, they’re opening a brick and mortar shop soon.
The Rice Factory
The Rice Factory has a brick and mortar store nearby (which I wrote about in this post, it’s where we buy all our rice). If you can’t get to the store, pick up rice (they have smaller 2-pound containers if you don’t want to commit to a big bag of rice) and bottles of soy sauce from the market stand. They also make musubi and vinegar drinks.
Ōmao Man
Green smoothies! They only make one thing at Ōmao Man, and they make it well. The smoothies are made from kale, spinach, romaine, baby bok choy, mint, mango, and banana. Really refreshing, not too “green tasting” and only a touch sweet. Smoothies are $5 for 16oz cup and $9 for a 32oz bottle.
Mid-Late Summer
Come here for a taste of beautiful and unusual ice cream flavors like malted noni, mangosteen and maple, and ulu (breadfruit) with peanut butter and grapes. Mid-Late summer also makes the milkshakes served The Daley (great burgers downtown) and ARS Cafe (our go-to cafe on Monsarrat Avenue).
Fruit Vendors
Hawaii has a ton of amazing local fruits. Think mangoes (the best!), papayas, avocado. My mom loves to get all the rambutan, lychee and longan (when in season), and the pink dragonfruit. I load up on lilikoi. They have fruits grown not just on Oahu, but from the neighbor islands as well.
Roscoe’s Sourdough Breads
I always get a focaccia square for my dad here. Pick between olive-garlic, tomato-rosemary, and garlic-sea salt. They do many different types of breads but we love the focaccia best.
MA’O Organic Farms
Ma’o Organic Farms has all the good greens including lots of Hawaii-specific ones like ulu (breadfruit) and luau leaves (use them to make luau stew and lau lau)! Their farm is in Waianae and they also sell to many local supermarkets.
Kaka‘ako Farmers Market: Insider Tips
- Parking: there’s a ton of free parking right next to the market. People tend to fill up the uncovered lot first, but you’re better off in the covered lot (your car won’t be super hot by the time you come back).
- The market is open on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. I prefer Saturday morning (most bustling and lively, more vendors). Go early in the morning, otherwise you’ll be walking around in the blazing sun (it wouldn’t be crazy to bring an umbrella if you’re sun/heat sensitive).
- Bring cash. Some vendors accept card, but not all.
Kaka‘ako Farmers Market: Info
- Kaka‘ako Farmers Market | 1050 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 | farmloversmarkets.com
- Price: mochi $2 each, focaccia $5, smoothies $5-9, plate lunches $10-15, honey slush $3-6
- Hours: Wednesday (4-8pm) Saturdays (8am-12pm)
Leave a Reply