You’re just settling in to your incredible Kauai vacation rental, reclining into your comfy beach chair, warm sun bathing you, tropic breezes carrying the sweet scent of plumeria, lazy waves lap up to meet your feet, but something is missing!
Of course! A cool beverage, a bag of your favorite crunchy, salty — something, maybe some cookies, organic is important, you think you’re glucose intolerant, you’ve got a great barbecue set up in your rental but who has your favorite BBQ sauce?
Shoots! You need to do some grocery shopping…
But where to go? You thought you saw some stores on the way in from the airport….Well, not to worry, Kauai has it all from family-owned to Big Box, from Kimchi and Poke to good ‘ol hamburgers and hot dogs, it’s all here!
Traditional Grocery Stores on Kauai
There are three ‘traditional’ groceries/markets/chains on the island; the Foodland Store located in Princeville, Safeway Kapa’a, and Times Supermarket in Lihue. At these grocery stores you will find all the staples, just about everything you need — and then some. For 60+ years local chain Big Save Markets in Hanalei, Kapa’a, Lihue, Koloa, Eleele and Waimea offer more locally made and produced grocery items and boast lower prices to compete with the bigger chains.
…and a Big Box Store too!
For those traveling with a big family or group Costco in Lihue is available.
Local Family-Owned Kauai Grocery Stores
Staying with the local theme there are those family-owned grocery stores that have been around “forever” and along with groceries and their own inimitable aloha spirit, each have their unique offerings. Sueoka’s in Koloa Town has a wide range of Asian, and Philippine groceries, cooking staples and seasonings, while Kukuiula Market in Koloa prides itself as the southside’s prime location for reasonably priced organic produce and gluten free items and Ishihara’s Market in Waimea has a poke section that is second to none.
Kauai Health Food Stores
Depending on where you are staying you have a superb choice of stores that cater to the sustainable whole foods, no GMO, gluten free, truly organic-no-panic faire. The Harvest Market in Hanalei for healthy food and products with a fresh, whole foods deli. Healthy Hut Kilauea has the mom and pop feel in the health food genre. Papaya’s Natural Foods and Cafe in Kapaa may be one of the oldest health food stores on the island also equipped with a deli-lunch-smoothie bar. Also located in the north end of Kapaa is Hoku Foods that also provides a membership co-op. Vim ‘n Vigor is Lihue’s health food representative, on Kuhio Highway next door to Subway. Southshore’s Living Foods Market is a higher-end market at Kukuiula Village in Poipu serving prepared foods and a grill and bakery for take out meals.
So there you have it, Kauai grocery stores for you favorite brand names, and local faire too; and don’t forget Kauai’s weekly farmers markets for fresh produce and flowers.