Eating local in Kauai certainly does not feel like sacrifice, but like a beautiful discovery. Every local meal is an adventure, a story, a connection to this place.
There's something that happens when you bite into a perfectly ripe mango, warm from the sun, juice dripping down your chin as you leave the farmer's market. It's more than just eating – it's connecting with this place in a way that no resort buffet could ever offer. And here's the thing: When you choose that local mango over imported fruit, you're doing something quietly revolutionary. And here is why…
There's a number that stopped me in my tracks when I first learned it: Hawaii imports approximately 85-90% of its food. Let that sink in for a moment. This lush, fertile paradise, where you can barely throw a seed without something sprouting, ships in nearly all its food from thousands of miles away.
This also makes Hawai’i particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events, being located far away from the continental United States, at any given time, Hawai’i has only a 5-7 day food supply, which makes every local food choice you make more meaningful than you might realize.
But here's where it gets interesting, and hopeful. Replacing just 10% of the food currently imported would amount to over $100 million in economic activity. That's real money staying in the community, supporting local families, and keeping this incredible culture alive.
Last Tuesday, I found myself at the Waipā Farmers Market, on the North Shore, just past Hanalei, watching the clouds roll over the mountains, while local farmers arranged their rainbow displays of produce. The Waipa Foundation has been stewarding their 1,600-acre ahupua'a (traditional Hawaiian land division from mountain to sea) for over 20 years, and their Tuesday market feels less like shopping and more like joining a community celebration.
I can’t recommend markets like this one enough, almost every day of the week, there's a market somewhere on the island:
- Saturdays: Visit the Kauai Community College Farmers Market in Lihue (9:30am-1pm), with over 100 vendors. The energy is infectious! Or go north for either the Kilauea farmer’s market at Anaina Hou, or the cute little Hanalei market (both start at 9am).
- Tuesdays: Waipa Farmers Market (2pm-dusk) for that authentic north shore vibe
- Wednesdays: The Kapa’a Market at the Ball Park from 3-4:30pm, and another fun market in Poi’pu at Kukui'ula (3:30-6pm) that combines local food with live music and sometimes even cooking demos.
- Thursdays: Hanapepe Park from 3-4pm. Make sure to stay for a visit to the Hanapepe old town afterwards, and try to get a table at Japanese Grandma’s for dinner.
You should definitely arrive early at any market. The best produce sells out quickly, and many vendors offer sample slices of tropical fruits, perfect for trying something new like rambutan or apple bananas before committing.
With so many opportunities to get local produce, we hope you will skip the big box stores on your next visit. Yes, Costco might seem convenient, but those farmers' markets? That's where the magic happens.
For fresh fish, you can find a few locally owned fish markets across the islands. Our favorites are Kauai Fresh Fish in Lihue, that’s where a lot of the restaurants get their fish from, as well as the Dolphin Fish Market in Hanalei, behind the restaurant. They also have sushi rolls to go here, that we love to eat at the beach for a beautiful Hanalei Bay sunset.
In addition to getting local produce, which restaurants you choose during your visit also makes a huge difference. I wanted to share some of my favorite local farm-to-table restaurants and a few local secrets.
Merriman's Kauai – The pioneer in the "Farm to Table" concept, serves only the freshest products, at least 90% of which are locally grown or caught using sustainable methods. Located in Poipu at The Shops at Kukui'ula, this isn't just dinner, it's a celebration of everything Kauai's land and sea offer. Their fish comes straight from local boats, with the names of fishermen proudly displayed on the menu.
Eating House 1849 by Roy Yamaguchi – Located in Poi’pu, this restaurant by celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi provides a menu inspired by Hawaii's plantation past, blending traditional Hawaiian dishes with modern culinary techniques, with ingredients sourced from local farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and foragers.
JO2 Natural Cuisine – This Kapa’a restaurant features local produce, especially heirloom vegetables from Kauai, blending French techniques, Japanese flavors, and Hawaiian ingredients. It's the kind of place where each dish tells a story of this island's multicultural heritage.
Kalalea Juice Hale – This little spot in Anahola has the best açaí bowls on island!
Common Ground – Explore their regenerative farm & food experience and taste its bounty. For those looking to connect deeper with Kaua'i, Common Ground’s farm tour is an activity that leads to a greater understanding of the eco- and food systems of the islands. It’s an educational as well as sensorial experience through the regenerative agro forest that ends with a delectable meal with ingredients freshly harvested from the land and surroundings.
Sushi Girl – An adorable little food truck in Kilauea, with the best sushi burritos – trust me! Fresh, local ingredients, which can sometimes mean, they close early when they run out, or don’t open at all if their fish delivery runs low. But when they are open, enjoy!
In general, at restaurants, we recommend you ask where ingredients come from. Many places are proud to share their supplier stories, and it helps you understand the real Kauai food system.
Eating local in Kauai certainly does not feel like sacrifice, but like a beautiful discovery. Every local meal is an adventure, a story, a connection to this place.
Knowing how much food is imported now, it might be interesting to remember that before Western contact, Hawai’i was completely self-sufficient, with Hawaiians creating agricultural systems that were both efficient and sustainable. We're not trying to turn back time, but imagine if we could blend that ancient wisdom with modern innovation?
Studies indicate that with proper land management, only 6% of Hawaii's land could produce enough food to support its whole population. We're not there yet, but every local meal, every farmers' market purchase, every conversation about food sovereignty moves us closer.
This is an important part of traveling regeneratively. It’s not all grand gestures, but small, conscious choices every day. One local mango at a time. Because when you taste the real Kauai, you're not just feeding yourself. You're feeding a future where this incredible place can sustain itself again.
