Puna Farmers Markets
Puna is host to several large Farmers Markets offering up some of the island’s best produce, delicious cuisine and handmade crafts.
Uncle’s Awa Club and Hoolaulea Farmers Market
Big Island Guide
Travel Guide
Overview of Uncle’s Awa Club and Hoolaulea Farmers Market
If there’s one thing the Big Island is known for, it’s a wealth and diversity of interesting and fun activities every night of the week. But even the most creative and outgoing tourist can come up short, and Wednesdays in popular Hilo and Kailua-Kona are typically low-key compared to the hustle-bustle of the weekends. The Puna area is host to several great farmer’s markets. Thankfully, Wednesdays are the perfect evening to explore off the beaten path and experience a nice flavor of life the way the locals do, and there’s no better way to do so than journeying to Puna to Uncle’s Awa Club and Night Hoolaulea Farmers Market in Kalapana!
Hoolaulea Farmers Market
Located along the southern end of the legendary Red Road, Kalapana is a small, quiet neighborhood that explodes with activity come 5 PM every Wednesday. An open air market that hosts nearly 1,000 people each week, the lively market boasts fresh produce, live music, and plenty of incredible local food vendors to keep your bellies full.
What to Expect
Filled with remarkable sights, sounds, and smells, a stroll through the market is a sensory delight. Try some homemade kava and walk down to the newly-formed Kaimu black sand beach or stock up on unique, handmade Hawaiian gifts to bring back home. The market is also a great opportunity to collect some locally-grown ingredients for a home-cooked meal back at your hotel or vacation rental. In addition to the fresh produce (and there’s lots), you’ll find unique clothing, arts and crafts, and hand-made jewelry for sale. In August of 2019 the night market was temporarily closed by the owners for several weeks due to some unruly guests who disrespected house rules and were participating in disruptive activities that the owners prefer not to have on their property. Please be respectful and obey the house rules if you visit the market.
Dining at the Hoolaulea Farmers Market
A perfect chance to skip cooking dinner and eating on the cheap, the food vendors at the market are supremely talented and as friendly as can be, walking you through the many varieties of Hawaiian classics and island twists on mainland and Pacific rim dishes. A few of the culinary mainstays include Italian, Samoan, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese, Indian, and Hawaiian barbecue, so you’re sure to find something to love. Homemade food items like pies, cookies, and sweetbreads are also in abundance, as are the pop-up kitchens for which the market is most frequented.
Map and Directions to the Hoolaulea Farmers Market
From Hilo, take Highway 130 south toward Pahoa Village. Passing through Pahoa, continue on 130 for 10 miles toward the ocean until you come to a T-intersection. Turn right onto Kapoho-Kalapana Road and you’ll be at the market in no time. The market is incredibly popular, so you’ll likely have to park and walk a little ways to get there.
Uncle’s Awa Club Website
