KEALIA — Billy Kaneholani was happy he had Labor Day off. “I come to this Kealia Farm market for the poi,” Kaneholani said. “This is real good stuff. It’s thick and you can’t beat the price.” Kaneholani was one of
KEALIA — Billy Kaneholani was happy he had Labor Day off.
“I come to this Kealia Farm market for the poi,” Kaneholani said. “This is real good stuff. It’s thick and you can’t beat the price.”
Kaneholani was one of the shoppers who browsed through the offerings of the small group of vendors at the market, which is open Mondays and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. at Kealia Farms, located around the turn from the Kealia post office.
“There’s a crowd at Kealia Beach because it’s a holiday,” said Leoni Kawika, a vendor at the market. “Hopefully, they see the sign and will stop by to shop before going home.”
Kawika offered a variety of fresh fruit, including avocado, pineapple and citrus, some of which were pre-cut and on ice.
“Normally, I’m next to the Lilikoi Lady,” said Elvrine Chow of Heavenly Haku. “But I have a class of one today so I can’t be next to her. This lady from Japan is leaving Tuesday so she’s wanting to learn how to make lei after doing a Na Pali tour.”
Amber Tallent, also known as “the Lilikoi Lady,” said she offers a variety of value added products, centering around her lilikoi butter. Her latest offering, a lilikoi cheesecake tart, attracted questions from shoppers.
“I don’t sell anywhere else,” Tallent said. “And, I don’t import my lilikoi. It’s all Kauai. Adam Asquith found me a supply from Anahola last week. The season has been pretty bad this year, but Adam found me some. When I started doing my lilikoi butter, I stopped in here and said ‘This is it! I’m not selling it anywhere else.’”
Asquith is the farm market coordinator for the farmers market which offers his family’s poi, cooked taro, Kealia Kalo pie and laulau.
“I wish I had a bigger pressure cooker,” said Bonnie Asquith. “The laulau and poi always sells out.”
