Kapiolani Farmers Market

Written by Rob Kvidt, Techspokes, Inc. Exclusive rights given to Aqua Hotels and Resorts for publication including use of photography. No public attribution required.

Honolulu’s Incredible, Edible Saturday Farmers Market

KCC Farmers Market

I wake up early on Saturday morning when staying in Waikiki. There’s a weekly event happening that pulls me away from my Aqua Hotel to the slopes of Diamond Head and Kapiolani Community College (KCC).

This magnetic force that attracts me and 7,000 other foodies from across Honolulu is the premier KCC Saturday Farmers Market.

It’s just a short distance from any Aqua Hotel in Waikiki. To get there I drive down the
the Waikiki strip past the zoo and turn left up Monsarrat. As Diamond Head draws closer I conjure up images in my mind of fresh food, local talk and the best products of the islands.

The KCC Saturday Farmers Market is the first in Hawaii to require that all food and products be locally grown and made. This means I’ll talk story directly with the people responsible for what I’m eating.

Making my way into the parking lot I see the familiar tops of small multi-colored cabanas. Beneath each one is something waiting to be sampled. Walking towards them the music becomes louder. This week I hear the sound of steel drums playing and pick up the aroma of fresh bread and breakfast foods being prepared. You can eat here too so arrive hungry.

There’s a weekly tip sheet at the entrance that I snag. It lists today’s vendors, entertainers and specials. After scanning the list I make my first purchase, a cup of Hawaiian grown coffee to drink and then a fresh baked scone that melts in my mouth.

With 65 vendors and so many options, I need a strategy for spending

KCC Farmers Market

I decide to walk through the market first before making any purchase. My tip sheet comes in handy to remember my favorite vendors. A bountiful harvest of traditional fruits, vegetables and flowers make up half of what I see. The rest sell fish, beef, baked goods, hand made pastas, tropical jams, honey and unique snacks.

There’s also food to be eaten on the spot. The barbecued abalone fresh from the shell is going quickly. Locally made Ono Pops looks refreshing and barbecued corn on the cob is popular. Omelets and sweet bread french toast round out some of my choices.

The flower vendors offer great deals on $4 orchid plants. I purchase an anthurium bouquet for $3 to enjoy back at my Aqua Hotel and to take home with me.

My goal is feeding two for dinner on a $20 budget

I buy a half pound of smoked local ahi for $10 and then spend $3 on a bag of Nalo Farms’ sensational organic greens to make a seafood salad feast. There’s fresh baked olive bread for $2 that looks good. I have $5 left in pocket for vegetables and return to my favorite vendors for baby pear tomatoes, a cucumber, radishes, green beans and an avocado.

Before making my way back to the car, I step away from the crowds and sit on a grassy mound admiring the view. I’m struck by the kaleidoscope of ages and cultures I see and the languages I hear. We’re tossed together like a giant salad of colors and flavorful tastes. The KCC Saturday Farmers Market is truly Hawaii’s moveable feast.

My healthy sesame citrus salad dressing you can make

Like all Aqua Hotels my room has a refrigerator. I store my market purchases there until dinner. Without any special tools or ingredients, I’m making a delicious salad dressing to go with my seafood salad. There were no citrus fruits at today’s market (out of season) so I picked up a piece of fruit at a local convenience store. Also a bag of peanuts and sesame oil.

Ingredients: 2 tsp. toasted sesame oil, 1/4 cup squeezed orange, tangerine or lime, and a handful of roasted peanuts.

Directions: Mix sesame oil with fruit juice. Splash on salad greens and top with peanuts.

If you purchase flowers at the market, anthuriums are easy to take home.

Most flowers can be brought back to the U.S. Mainland with the exception of gardenia, jade vine, and Mauna Loa.

Tip on packing anthuriums. Protect the heads by placing them in an empty plastic container from the grocery store. Make a hole in the side and let the stems hang outside the container.

Suggestions for Making the Most of the Saturday Farmers Market.

• Follow on Twitter @HNLFarmers for market updates and specials.
• Have small bills handy for fast transactions.
• Pick up a Tip Sheet, available at the entrance, or on-line http://hfbf.org/markets
• Bring a collapsible cooler bag to protect purchases.
• Arrive early for best parking and selection.
• Remember sunscreen and wear a hat.

Location and Hours:

Saturday mornings from 7:30am to 11:00am at Kapiolani Community College, across from the entrance to Diamond Head. For additional information call 808-848-2074 or go on-line http://hfbf.org. Free parking or come by The Bus (#3, 22, 58).
If you’ve been to the KCC Saturday Farmers Market, what’s your favorite thing to buy and your best recommendation?