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Market Treasures You Can't Find Anywhere Else
Exotic fruits, local delicacies, and authentic Hawaiian crafts
Written by a Local Expert
Kalani MillerThe Fruit Hunter's Paradise: Exotic Fruits You Have to Try
Many visitors are hesitant to buy fruits they don't recognize. My advice? Be brave! The farmers are always happy to tell you about their produce, but here's a head start on some of my absolute favorites.
🔴 Rambutan
Don't be put off by its wild appearance—a bright red shell covered in soft, spiky "hair" that makes it look like something from another planet. Inside, you'll find a clear, juicy orb of flesh that's incredibly refreshing.
The flavor is a perfect blend of sweet and slightly acidic, much like a lychee or a really good grape. To eat it, just slice through the skin around the middle and pop the top off.
🍍 White Pineapple (Kona Sugarloaf)
If you see this, buy it. It is the holy grail of pineapples. Unlike the yellow pineapple you're used to, the Kona Sugarloaf has a creamy white flesh that is sweet, with almost no acid.
They are expensive—sometimes $20 or more for a single fruit—but when you learn that a pineapple plant only produces one fruit every two years, you understand it's a worthy treat.
💛 Lilikoi (Passion Fruit)
The flavor of lilikoi is the flavor of Hawaiian sunshine. It's an intense, aromatic, and tropical taste that strikes a perfect balance between tangy and sweet.
You'll find the fresh fruit, which has a tough outer rind and is full of bright yellow pulp and crunchy seeds, but you'll also see it used everywhere—in fresh-squeezed juices, jams, butters, and even as a glaze for butter mochi.
👁️ Longan ("Dragon's Eye")
A close cousin to the rambutan and lychee, longan comes in clusters of small, tan-colored fruits. Once you peel back the thin, brittle skin, you'll find a clear, sweet flesh surrounding a single black seed.
The flavor is delicate and sweet, like honey dew melon. They are easy to snack on and wonderfully refreshing.
🍞 Breadfruit (Ulu) - A Cultural Treasure
This is one of the most important canoe plants brought to Hawaiʻi by the early Polynesian voyagers, a true staple of the culture. While it can be eaten ripe and sweet, it's most often harvested when starchy and cooked much like a potato. At the markets, you'll often find it sold as crispy, salted chips, which are delicious and a great way to try this foundational food.
Other treasures: Keep an eye out for Dragon Fruit, which can have vibrant magenta or white flesh speckled with tiny black seeds; Starfruit, which forms perfect stars when sliced; and our local Apple Bananas, which are smaller, firmer, and have a delightful sweet-tart flavor that's worlds away from the standard bananas on the mainland.
Only in Hawaiʻi: My Favorite Prepared Foods & Snacks
The markets are the best place to find an authentic, affordable, and delicious lunch. The prepared food stalls are where you can taste the island's melting pot of cultures.
🧈 Butter Mochi
This is pure Hawaiian comfort food. It's not a light, fluffy cake; it's a dense, wonderfully chewy, and rich treat made from glutinous rice flour (mochiko), coconut milk, and plenty of butter, baked until it has a golden, slightly crispy top.
🍱 The Plate Lunch
This is the classic Hawaiian meal, a legacy of the plantation era. The formula is simple but satisfying: a main entrée, like smoky kalua pork, savory teriyaki chicken, or crispy chicken katsu, served with two scoops of white rice and a scoop of creamy macaroni salad.
🐟 Fresh Poke
While you can find poke everywhere, there's something special about getting it fresh from a market vendor. This iconic dish of cubed, seasoned raw fish is a local obsession. Some vendors, especially at the Makuʻu market, are known for their incredible poke.
🍩 Must-Try Snacks
Look for warm, sugary malasadas (Portuguese-style donuts without a hole), refreshing fresh fruit popsicles, jars of locally made lilikoi butter to spread on toast, and savory tamales, which have become a local favorite at markets like Hilo.
Ready to Explore Kona Markets?
Discover the sun-drenched Kona coast markets with world-class coffee and beautiful ocean views.
Explore Kona Markets📍 Market Guide Sections
🍎 Must-Try Fruits
- Rambutan (red & spiky)
- White Pineapple ($20+)
- Lilikoi (passion fruit)
- Dragon Fruit
💡 Shopping Tips
- Ask for samples
- Talk story with vendors
- Embrace imperfection
- Go early for best selection
📧 Stay Updated
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