Kona Farmers Markets Overview

The Kona coast is ground zero for Hawaiian coffee. The slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa above Kailua-Kona form the Kona Coffee Belt, one of the most productive specialty coffee regions in the world. That coffee is the headline act at Kona's farmers markets, but the supporting cast is strong: fresh-picked tropical fruit, macadamia nuts roasted that morning, local honey, handmade crafts, and plate lunches from vendors who have been cooking for decades.

Three markets serve the Kona area, each with a different character. The big one at Old Kona Airport draws dozens of vendors and runs most days of the week. The Keauhou Farmers Market is smaller, more produce-focused, and popular with resort guests. Ali'i Gardens Marketplace leans heavier on crafts and souvenirs. All three are worth a stop, especially if buying Kona coffee direct from the farm that grew it.

Kona Farmers Market (Old Kona Airport)

This is the main market on the Kona side and the one most visitors are looking for. It occupies the covered pavilion at the Old Kona Airport Park, a repurposed space that gives the market shade and room to spread out.

• Location: Old Kona Airport Pavilion, 75-5677 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona
• Days: Wednesday through Sunday
• Hours: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Parking: Free lot at the old airport

On busy weekend mornings, expect 40 to 60 vendors. Weekday mornings are quieter with fewer stalls but shorter lines and easier parking. The covered pavilion keeps things comfortable even on hot afternoons, though the best produce selection is always early.

The Kona coffee vendors are the draw. Several small-farm growers sell 100% Kona beans roasted within the past few days. You can sample before buying and talk directly to the people who picked and processed the cherries. Beyond coffee, look for fresh papaya, lilikoi, apple bananas, dragon fruit, macadamia nuts in every flavor, Hawaiian honey, baked goods, flower lei, and prepared food ranging from poke bowls to kalua pork plate lunches.

Tips for visiting: Arrive before 9 AM for the best fruit and coffee selection. Bring cash. Some vendors accept cards, but many do not, and the ones with the best stuff tend to be the small-farm operators running a cash box. A reusable bag saves you from juggling multiple small plastic bags of fruit.

Keauhou Farmers Market

If you are staying at one of the resorts in the Keauhou area south of Kailua-Kona, this market is a 5-minute drive or a short walk from several hotels.

• Location: Keauhou Shopping Center, 78-6831 Ali'i Dr, Kailua-Kona
• Days: Saturday only
• Hours: 8:00 AM to noon
• Parking: Shopping center lot (free)

Smaller than the Old Kona Airport market, but higher concentration of produce vendors. The Keauhou market draws serious local growers who sell direct. You will find seasonal fruit that rarely makes it to grocery stores: rambutan, lychee in summer, starfruit, breadfruit, and whatever the growing season brings. Several vendors sell prepared breakfast items, making this a solid Saturday morning outing before heading to the beach.

Ali'i Gardens Marketplace

More open-air bazaar than traditional farmers market. Ali'i Gardens sits along Ali'i Drive between Kailua-Kona and Keauhou, in a garden setting with covered stalls spread across a grassy lot.

• Location: 75-6129 Ali'i Dr, Kailua-Kona
• Days: Tuesday through Sunday
• Hours: Varies by vendor, generally 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Parking: Small lot on site

The vendor mix here tilts toward crafts, jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs alongside a smaller number of produce stalls. It is a good stop if you want handmade Hawaiian jewelry, local art, or carved wood pieces. The atmosphere is more relaxed and browsable than the Old Kona Airport market. Food vendors sell smoothies, coconut water, and snacks.

What to Buy at Kona Farmers Markets

100% Kona Coffee

The single best purchase you can make at a Kona farmers market. Kona coffee is grown exclusively in the North and South Kona districts on the western slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa, between roughly 800 and 2,500 feet elevation. The combination of volcanic soil, morning sun, afternoon cloud cover, and gentle rain creates conditions that produce a clean, medium-bodied coffee with low acidity.

At the market, look for bags labeled 100% Kona coffee. This matters. Blends sold in grocery stores and souvenir shops labeled "Kona Blend" are required to contain only 10% Kona beans by Hawaii law. The rest is cheaper Central American or Asian coffee. At farmers markets, you are buying direct from single-estate farms that grow, harvest, and roast their own beans. Expect to pay $25 to $45 per pound, which reflects the cost of hand-picking coffee on steep volcanic slopes where no machines can go.

Ask the vendor about their farm, their roast levels, and whether they offer peaberry (a smaller, denser bean that some coffee drinkers prefer). Most vendors let you sample before buying. For more on visiting the farms themselves, see our guide to Hawaii coffee farm tours.

Tropical Fruit

Kona's farmers markets carry fruit you will not find at a mainland grocery store. Look for:

• Lilikoi (passion fruit) — Tart, aromatic, intensely flavored. Eat it straight or buy lilikoi butter.
• Apple bananas — Smaller and sweeter than standard bananas, with a slight tang.
• Dragon fruit (pitaya) — Mild, slightly sweet, striking pink or white flesh.
• Rambutan — Spiky red shell, translucent sweet flesh inside. Seasonal.
• Lychee — Available in summer months. Sweet, floral, addictive.
• Starfruit (carambola) — Crisp, mildly sweet, refreshing.
• Papaya — Big Island papayas are some of the best in Hawaii. Look for Sunrise or Strawberry varieties.

Macadamia Nuts

Hawaii grows the majority of the U.S. macadamia nut supply, and the Big Island is the center of production. At the market, you will find fresh-roasted macadamias in flavors ranging from plain salted to garlic, wasabi, chocolate-covered, and li hing mui (dried plum). Small-batch vendors roast in smaller quantities than the big brands, and the difference in freshness is noticeable.

Local Honey

Hawaiian honey varieties are distinct from mainland honeys. Look for lehua honey (from the blossoms of the 'ohi'a lehua tree), which crystallizes to a white, creamy texture with a subtle floral taste. Macadamia blossom honey is darker and richer. Wildflower honey varies by elevation and season. Small jars make easy-to-pack gifts.

Hawaiian Sea Salt

Two traditional Hawaiian salts worth buying: red alaea salt, made with volcanic red clay that adds minerals and an earthy flavor, and black lava salt, blended with activated charcoal from coconut shells. Both are finishing salts used by Hawaiian chefs on poke, grilled fish, and fresh fruit.

Prepared Food

Do not skip the food vendors. Plate lunches with kalua pork, laulau, or teriyaki chicken come with rice and macaroni salad. Poke bowls made that morning with fresh ahi. Smoothies blended from fruit picked the day before. Fresh coconut water straight from the shell. Acai bowls topped with granola and local honey. The prepared food stalls at the Old Kona Airport market make a solid, inexpensive breakfast or lunch.

Tips for Visiting Kona Farmers Markets

• Bring cash. Many vendors operate on cash only, especially the small-farm coffee and produce sellers. ATMs are nearby but charge fees.
• Go early. The best fruit, the freshest lei, and the widest coffee selection are available in the first two hours. By midday, popular items are sold out.
• Bring a reusable bag. Vendors provide small bags, but carrying a tote keeps your hands free for sampling.
• Sample before you buy. Most coffee vendors pour samples. Fruit sellers will cut a slice. Honey vendors have tasting sticks. Take advantage of this.
• Talk to the farmers. Ask where they grow, what elevation, how they process their coffee. These conversations are half the experience. These are people who work their land daily, not resellers.
• Know the fruit rules. You cannot bring fresh fruit back to the U.S. mainland without USDA agricultural inspection. Some fruits are prohibited entirely. Processed products are fine: roasted coffee, dried fruit, macadamia nuts, honey, sea salt, and jams all travel without restrictions.
• Plan your car rental. A rental car is the easiest way to reach the Old Kona Airport market and explore the Kona coast. Discount Hawaii Car Rental offers competitive Big Island rates.

Other Big Island Farmers Markets

Kona has the best west-side markets, but the Big Island's most famous market is across the island in Hilo. The Hilo Farmers Market runs every day, with the biggest markets on Wednesday and Saturday drawing over 200 vendors. It is the largest open-air market in Hawaii and worth the drive if you are spending a full day on the Hilo side.

The Waimea Town Market in the upcountry ranch town of Waimea (Kamuela) runs on Saturday mornings and focuses heavily on produce from the cooler, greener Kohala Mountain slopes. It has a more local, less tourist-oriented feel.

For a complete east-side guide including the Hilo market, waterfalls, and downtown Hilo, see our Hilo Farmers Market & Things to Do page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What days are the Kona farmers markets open?

The Kona Farmers Market at the Old Kona Airport is open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 AM to 4 PM. The Keauhou Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings from 8 AM to noon. Ali'i Gardens Marketplace is open Tuesday through Sunday.

What should I buy at a Kona farmers market?

100% Kona coffee from local farms is the top buy. Also look for macadamia nuts, tropical fruit (lilikoi, rambutan, dragon fruit, apple bananas), Hawaiian honey, sea salt, and prepared food like poke bowls and plate lunches.

Is the Kona Farmers Market worth visiting?

Yes. The Old Kona Airport market is one of the best on the Big Island. Dozens of vendors sell local produce, single-estate Kona coffee, crafts, and prepared food. Go before 9 AM for the best selection.

Where can I buy real Kona coffee at a farmers market?

Multiple vendors at the Kona Farmers Market sell 100% Kona coffee direct from their farms. Ask for single-estate beans and check that the label says 100% Kona. "Kona Blend" products may contain only 10% Kona beans.