Kauai definitely knows how to take care of its hungry travellers. If you drive around some of the towns of Kauai, you’ll find dozens of shacks and restaurants which reflect the love locals have towards food.
If you are up for a healthy snack on the island, without wasting further time, we recommend that you head straight to the juice bars of Kauai for a serving of the local superfood called The Acai fruit bowl! Trying this local favourite is included in our list of 12 must do things on a Kauai road trip.
The Acai bowls are jam packed with nutrients and are a heavenly snack for dessert lovers. Once you devour the bowl of absolute goodness, you will come to realize why Hawaiians don’t complain about healthy eating. Kauai is proud of its Acai bowls and tourists often crave for it in their dreams.
What is an Acai Bowl?
An Acai fruit bowl, in its most basic form, is a combination of acai berries (pronounced as Ah-sigh-ee) with sliced bananas, crunchy granola and a dash of honey. Yoghurt or coconut milk are often added to give it the desired creamy consistency.
Though it is a popular brazilian snack, its roots have also been traced back to the hawaiian islands. The Acai fruit bowl can be had with a lot of different variations like adding peanut butter, oatmeal, other fruits and toppings of your choice. It is best that you try different variations till you find the right blend to suit your taste. This healthy serving of fruits and nuts is a dream breakfast for people of all ages. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself going for the acai bowl again the next day.
If you are not familiar with acai berries, these are small, reddish purple fruits which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that provide a myriad of health benefits like aiding in weight loss and improving circulation. Acai berries are found to have higher nutritional value when compared to its siblings, the Blueberry and the Strawberry.
The acai fruit bowl serves as a powerhouse breakfast and this mean creamy bowl can be finished in no time. The best part is, it is 100% guilt-free!
Popular Acai Bowl Spots in Kauai
Acai fruit bowls can be found almost everywhere on the island. Here are some of the fan favourites which you can explore depending on where you choose to spend your time on the island:
Anake’s Juice Bar on the South Shore – This place in Koloa is popular for its freshly served acai bowls and fruit based smoothies. The owners operate from the back of a local grocery store in the Kukuiula market. Anake’s offers large and medium sized bowls to suit your appetite. The acai bowls here are served with a ton of fresh fruits and yogurts. You have the flexibility of adding or omitting any ingredients based on your liking. With varieties like the Hulk, Sau Sai and funky Monkey the acai bowls served here are worth trying.
Aloha Juice Bar on the North shore– This is Hanalei’s favourite place for smoothies and acai bowls. This popular food truck offers acai bowls with a blend of different fruits, granola and toppings of your choice. They have a lot of add-on options and usually offer any combination you desire. The best part about Aloha’s is that you can grab your bowl of joy, head over to the famous Hanalei pier and savour the experience.
Kalalea Juice Hale on the Eastern Side– With a profile that resembles a house, this place is just off the Kuhio highway in Anahola. The “Next Level” acai bowl served here is a crowd favourite. It is a huge bowl stuffed with fresh acai berries, banana, kale, protein powder, coconut milk and topping options like granola, peanut butter, kale leaf etc.
If you could comfortably finish the delicious bowl, then we challenge you to devour the mighty “King Kong” bowl which is offered with a few more additional ingredients to give you a heavenly treat.
G’s Juice Bar on the Western Side – This is our tour location. This place is popular among visitors, visiting the west, Polihale beach, Waimea Canyon or coming off our Na Pali Cruise as they can grab a refreshing bowl of fruits and toppings. Located in Waimea town, G’s juice bar is usually filled with a lot of locals or visitors who have a liking for healthy eating.
The Kauai bowl and the Butter boy are popular choices here. The Kauai Bowl is prepared by adding of a splash of mango juice in the blend topped with strawberries, granola, banana, coconut shavings, and a drizzle of honey. The Butter Boy gets a heaping spoon of natural peanut butter in the blend. It is topped with chopped almonds, banana, granola, hemp seeds, bee pollen, and drizzle of honey. You’ll probably see our Captains or Crews ordering and enjoying a refreshing Acai Bowl here at G’s Juice bar.
In conclusion, a diet filled with fruits, vegetables and nuts is conducive to good physical and mental health which make acai bowls all the more special. It can be considered to be a god-sent delicacy for mankind to be healthy and happy.
