Kauai West Shore - Waimea

Island of Kauai

Shopping

Head toward Port Allen off of Highway 50 just before the Ele`ele Shopping Center and you’ll find a few shops such as the Red Dirt Shirt Factory Outlet, 4352 Waialo Road, 808-335-5670, www.dirtshirt.com. The warehouse sells Tshirts dyed with, well, red dirt from Kaua`i. It was originally called Paradise Sportswear, but was slammed when Hurricane Iniki struck in 1992. The hurricane blew the roof off of the warehouse and after the storm, the shirts were covered in mud and red dirt. Just like that, a new business was born.

You’ll also find Nite Owl T-Shirts, 808-335-6110, www.niteowlt-shirts.com. They’re located on the other side of Red Dirt shirts. They do custom printing for companies around the island and have their own unique designs for sale.

Across the street from the Red Dirt Shirt Warehouse is the Port Allen Marina Center. It houses mostly boat tour companies and offices, but there are a few places here that are worth a look. First off, stop by Kaua`i Chocolate Company, 808-335-0448 for your choc- olate fix. Everything is handmade in the store and incredibly tasty. You must try the Chocolate Opihi, a treat so good it should be outlawed. It’s made from a shortbread cookie, caramel and a whole macadamia nut, then covered in chocolate. There’s also Happy Honu Gifts, which has typical tourist gifts to take home. Aloha shirts,trinkets, pretty much what you’ve seen everywhere else on the island. Ehukai Ni`ihau Shell Lei is also at Port Allen Marina Center. They offer Ni`ihau shell leis.

Ele`ele Shopping Center. Stop in here for restaurants, a Big Save Supermarket, 24-hour laundromat, post office and a First Hawaiian Bank branch.

Kaua`i Coffee Company, 808-335-0813, has a small gift shop where you can get a nice caffeine fix to take home. They sell gift boxes and also ship to the mainland. As you head into Hanapepe, you’ll find lots of unique works of art and gifts. Turn off at the sign that says, “The Biggest Little Town on Kaua`i,” park the car, and walk around. There are a number of interesting galleries and shops that make Hanapepe a worthwhile shopping spot.

A great place to get your sweet tooth fill is the Kaua`i Kookie Kompany, 1-3529 Kaumuali`i Highway (Highway 50), www.kauaikookie.com, 800-361-1126. They’ve been around since 1965 and are well known for their macadamia shortbread, guava macadamia, and Kona coffee. You can also pick up some Hawaiian Hula salad dressing (try the Papaya Seed flavor).
The Kaua`i Kookie store is open Monday-Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. Of course, the biggest draw in Hanapepe are the art galleries that line Hanapepe Road.

Kaua`i Village Gallery, 3890 Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, 808-335-0343, shows the work 25 local artists including sculptors, photographers and artists.

If you want a work of art that’s a little more practical, stop by Kama`aina Cabinets/Koa Wood Gallery, 808-335-5483, with its koa furniture, koa photo albums, and Norfolk pine bowls on display.

Dawn Traina Gallery has paintings, drawings and prints of Native Hawaiians. 3840-B Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, 808-335-0381.

At Arius Hopman Studio Gallery locally renowned watercolor painter and photographer Arius Hopman showcases his work. 3840-C Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, 808-335-0550. 8-Bells Gallery displays sculpture, oil paintings, watercolors and limited edition prints. They’re well known for their Koa wood framing. 4510 Hana Road Hanapepe, 808-335-0227.

Giorgio’s Gallery, 3871 Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, 808- 335-3949, www.giorgiosart.com, displays stunning tropical landscapes and abstract paintings.

Banana Patch Studio, 808-335-5944, 3865 Hanapepe Road, www.bananapatchstudio.com, has hand-painted ceramic tiles and pottery, photography, T-shirts and many other items.

Art lovers will want to check out Hanapepe’s Friday Art Night, which is held from 6 to 9 pm every week. Sixteen galleries participate, offering pupus, demonstrations and special exhibits. Artists are there and available to answer questions about their work. There’s also live music playing on the street.

In Waimea, there are a couple of places to stop by. First off, make the trip to Aunty Lilikoi and take home a little sweetness from your trip. Aunty Lilikoi features syrups, jellies, mustards, all made with that uniquely island flavor, lilikoi (passion fruit, sweet and sour at the same time). This little shop is filled with passion for these concoctions. Don’t miss the new body care and aromatherapy products. 866-Lilikoi, 9875 Waimea Road, Waimea.

Aloha-N-Paradise, 9905 Waimea Road, 808-338-1522,
www.aloha-n-paradise.com, in Waimea, is an art gallery showing the works of local artists. The works are “Kaua`i-Inspired.”

Forever Kaua`i, 8171 Kekaha Road, 808-337-2888, is right next to the Waimea Canyon General Store. At either place, you can pick up postcards, aloha shirts, and souvenirs. They carry some of the best Ni`ihau shells on the island at prices that are better than some of the larger establishments elsewhere.

There’s also the West Kaua`i Craft Fair, right across the street from the West Kaua`i Technology and Visitors Center. The fair is held every Thursday through Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. Some artists have their work on display and you can also find hand-sewn quilts, glass beads, photographs, many kinds of handmade jewelry, and koa wood bowls.

If you need to pick up groceries, you can go to the Big Save Market on Waimea Rd or Ishihara’s Market, which is about 200 yards from Big Save. Both places carry typical grocery store items, although I do find that Ishihara’s has fresher meats.

For the freshest produce, nothing can beat the local farmer’s markets. On the west side, Hanapepe Town Park hosts a farmer’s market every Thursday at 3 pm.

On your way toWaimea Canyon, there are a few places to stop for last-minute snacks or more water to get you ready for your day. You can hit theWaimea Canyon General Store, 808-337-9569, Thrifty Mini Mart, 808-337-1057 or Menehune Food Mart, 808-337-1335

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