There are many places on Kauai that do not show up on the usual tourist haunts. You have probably heard of Bubba’s Burgers or Dukes, but these are restaurants that everyone knows about, and are pretty hard to miss. We would like to share some of the lesser-known places to you, so that your stay on Kauai is as rich, fulfilling, and interactive as possible. Our aim is to get you meeting locals, buying local, and feeling the Aloha spirit for the entire duration of your stay, not just while out on our locally-owned charter boat fleet. Keep an eye out for our “Local Secrets” posts helping your discover Kauai’s best spots. This week: Koloa Fish Market.
The Infamous Koloa Fish Market
Be sure to get here early – the lineups around lunchtime can be long… but well worth the wait. Here you can get almost any local fish from the surrounding seas – oftentimes freshly caught from that very morning. Whether you want to buy a raw fish or a cooked lunch plate, you will not be disappointed.
The staple here is the Ahi Poke which comes in a variety of flavors. Poke is a raw, cubed Hawaiian delicacy usually marinated in sea salt and soy sauce. You can eat it alone or as a complement to a bigger dish. You will find Poke all over the island, but the quality varies greatly from shop to shop. The market is one of our favorites, both on price and quality. You will be hard pressed to find a better value for your money. As stated earlier, this is a favorite for the locals so be prepared to stand in line during the lunch hour. A good idea is to go on Monday, grab your lunch to go, and head to the Koloa farmer’s market to search out some fresh produce for a well-balanced lunch.
Yummy!
To get here: From the North (Lihue) take the 50 hwy south to Maluhuia Rd (520) and turn left at Koloa Rd. The market will be on your right.. From the South (Poipu), take Ala Kinoki North until you reach Manehepu Rd and turn left. This turns into Weliweli Rd, which dead ends into Koloa Rd. Turn right and the market is on your right. From the west (Waimea), take 50 to Koloa Road, and turn right. You will follow the road for several miles until you reach Maluhia Rd on your left. Stay on Koloa Rd. for half a block and the fish market will be on your right.
Here is a map to make things even easier, if you are new to Kauai:
View Koloa Fish Market in a larger map
This guide is brought to you by Makana Charters, a local Hawaiian family owned tour boat based out of Waimea on Kauai’s West side. We offer daily trips to the spectacular Na Pali coast, a natural wonder not to be missed. We are providing this guide to give our guests the best possible experience while visiting our island paradise.
