Big Island of Hawaii - Kailua-Kona

Big Island of Hawaii

Shopping

Alii Drive is chock full of shops, from several ABC Stores selling puka shell necklaces, macadamia nuts and coffee, fake leis and other knickknacks, to jewelry, clothing and art stores. Shopaholics will be able to browse for hours. We’ve included a few of the more distinctive shops here.

Pearl Factory (75-5719 Alii Dr, Kona Marketplace, 327-1749,
www.pearl-factory.com). This jewelry store has a fun gimmick: for $14, you can pry open a live oyster and keep the pearl inside. Then you can select a ring or other piece of jewelry and, for an additional charge, they’ll mount your pearl in it right then and there. Little girls love this. Open 9 am-9 pm daily.

TAKE A BREATHER
The main shopping malls on the makai (ocean) side of Alii are the Kona Inn Shopping Center, anchored by the Kona Inn Restaurant, and the blueroofed Waterfront Row. Both have nice ocean views; Waterfront has chairs near a railing, and there is an expansive public lawn and sea wall in front of the Kona Inn Restaurant. Both offer a chance to give your feet a rest while enjoying ocean breezes and aquamarine waters. Of course, there are also places to sit on the seawall or the beach along the strip as well.

Bad Ass Coffee Co. (75-5770 Alii Dr,Waterfront Row,326-4637, toll free 800-252-7468, www.badasscoffee.com). Tucked in the back of Waterfront Row you’ll find Bad Ass Coffee, a franchise that started in Hawaii but is now run from Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to 100% Kona coffee (they ship to the mainland), ice cream and merchandise with their oh-so-catchy name and logo, this Bad Ass has an Oxygen Bar. There are different oxygen menus depending on your ailments, so by sticking a tube up your nose, you can diminish your migrane headache, PMS symptoms, sore throat, sinus infection, hangover or other irritant to your vacation. “It’s a natural high,” enthused an employee. Oxygen treatments last 10 minutes ($10), 15 minutes ($12) or 30 minutes ($18). Open 9 am-9 pm.

Kona Wine Market (75-5626 Kuakini Hwy, King Kamehameha Mall, 329-9400, toll free 800-613-3983, www.konawinemarket.com). To paraphrase Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that every town needs a wine store with gourmet cheeses and other temptations for romantic evenings and sunsets. In Kailua-Kona, it’s Kona Wine Market. It has a deli case with imported cheeses, gourmet meats, fresh tomatoes and even $6 baguettes imported from Quebec. The owner, Howard Burford, is very knowledgeable about wines, and he has a fairly extensive selection, as well as liquor and beer of the non-Budweiser variety. He also carries cigars, and gifts like Hula Girl Hot Sauce or Hawaiian-themed wine glass decorations. In a nod to tourists, they deliver gourmet gift baskets to hotels and condos. There are free wine tastings Fridays from 3-7 pm. It’s easy to spend money here, and worth it. Open 9 am-8 pm Mon-Sat, 10 am-6 pm Sun.

Quilting Good Luck: Local lore contends that if your first Hawaiian quilt has `ulu, or breadfruit, in its design, you will have a long and prosperous quilting life.

Quilt Passions (75-5626 Kuakini Hwy, King Kamehameha Mall, 329-7475). The quilter in our life always makes a stop at this store when she’s in town. Quilt Passions is small, but has beautiful fabrics –mostly batiks – for a quilt with colors to remind you of the Islands when you return home. In addition to fabric and lots of fat quarters, owner Katy sells quilting supplies and books for traditional Hawaiian quilts as well as mainland styles. She also has some handmade coconut buttons for a special touch. Open 10:30 am-4:30 pm Mon-Fri.

Soundwave Music (75-5599 Luhia St, 326-2297). Musicians looking to buy, sell or trade an instrument will want to visit Soundwave, next door to Hula Lamps in the Old Industrial Area. It has a good selection of `ukuleles, as well as guitars, drums, and amps. Open 10:30 am-6 pm Mon-Fri, until 5
pm Sat.

Ali`i Gardens Marketplace. Hong Kong Orchid Trees line the entrance to this open-air market, south of the two-mile marker on Alii Drive. Individual vendors sell their wares from shady, permanent hales (houses) offering tropical clothing, art, jewelry (from gold and pearls to beads and shells), 100% Kona coffee, soaps and lotions, fruit, vegetables, flowers, cold drinks, shave ice and food. There’s a relaxed feel to this market, probably because it’s on fragrant Alii Drive, away from the business of downtown. Open 9 am-5 pm Thurs-Sun.

Kailua Village Farmers Market. This market, right in the heart of Kailua-Kona on Alii Drive at Hualalai, has a large selection of produce and flowers, as well as knicknacks, clothing, sunhats, soaps, coffee, sunglasses, drums, `ukuleles, food and drinks (there’s usually a taco wagon here), and sometimes live music from a local musician trying to sell CDs. Open roughly 9 am-5 pm Wed-Sun. Kona International Marketplace. This is a new endeavor near the old industrial area on Luhia St There are numerous permanent stalls in the open-air market selling pottery, tshirts, shells, jewelry, bags, hula girl dolls, wind chimes, kids’ stuffed-animal backpacks, wood vases, produce, macadamia nut butter, flowers and so on. There’s an indoor food court, ATM and public restrooms.

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