Kauai East Shore - Kapa`a & Wailua

Island of Kauai

Shopping

The east shore of Kaua`i holds plenty of shopping opportunities, from the tourist trap extravaganza of Coconut Marketplace to smaller shops on the side of the road that are true gems. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find and can buy in the area.

Traveling up Kuhio Highway from Lihu`e, there are a number of places worth a stop. Your first should be Kinipopo Shopping Center. This nondescript place is just behind the Shell Gas station on the right-hand side and includes the following three shops.

Tin Can Mailman, 808-822-3009, http://www.tincanmailman.net, is filled with vintage Hawaiiana – thousands of rare and used books about Hawai`i, old
postcards, pin-ups and even menus, some of which date back to the 1940s. You’ll also find classic alohawear and vintage jewelry. If you like the classic look of old Hawai`i, you’ll love this store. If you have a skateboarder in the family or you happen to be one yourself, you’ll want to pay a visit to Island Board Connection, 808-822-4400. They have helmets, pads, short boards, long boards and mountain boards. They also carry a wide selection of apparel and accessories.

Goldsmith’s Kaua`i, 808-822-4653, http://www.goldsmiths-kauai.com, is a jewelry store that features the fine work of its four designers. You’ll find jewelry made with colored stones, diamonds and Tahitian black pearls. Most of what you see in the store is handmade right there in the studio.

Nearby, on Kuhio Highway, is Bambulei, 808-823-8641. The store is housed in two adorable plantation cottages, both of which are packed with everything you could think of. Bambulei carries vintage and contemporary clothing and Asian antiques. The store is fun and funky, one of my favorites on the island. There’s always something that you just have to take home, like a funky vintage aloha shirt. A lot of the items go back to the 1930s and 1940s. If you are looking for vintage Hawaiiana, this is the place.

Coconut Marketplace isn’t too impressive. There are plenty of shops and restaurants that are geared to tourists, but very few stores have anything unique. Here are some stores that are worth checking out, however. E Ship Store Gallery, 808-822-4999, 800-877-1948, http://www.shipstoregalleries.com, specializes in fine art and antiques. You’ll see paintings and some very rare nautical antiques.

Kaleidescope Galleries of the Pacific (formerly Kahn Galleries), 808-822-3636, features the work of artists from Kaua`i and all over the globe. The gallery also has bronze sculptures and handcrafted koa pieces.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 808-822-4754, at the Waipouli Town Center, has a program called “Art at the Bean,” which features local artists. They turn the existing wallspace into a gallery. It’s worth checking out while you enjoy a cup of coffee.

You won’t be able to miss Kaua`i Village; just look for the green, plantation-style shopping center and the Whaling Wall murals, painted by orldrenowned marine life artist, Wyland. He also has a gallery in the shopping center, 808- 822-9855, which features his paintings and sculpture, as well as those of other artists. Love him or hate him, the shop is always an interesting adventure.

Another funky shop full of vintage Hawaiian clothes is Hula Girl, 4-1340 Kuhio Highway, Kapa`a, 808-822-1950. They have alohawear for men and women, artwork and ceramics, Hawaiian books, music and DVDs. Next door to Hula Girl is Jacques Amo Fine Jewelry, 808-822-9977. This is a fullservice, independent store specializing in unique custom designs. The work is conceived, cast and fabricated by Jacques himself.

Kela’s Glass Gallery, 808-822-4527, http://www.glass-art.com, has the best selection of glass art in the state, showing the work of more than 140 artists from all over the world. The pieces are stunning to look at. There are unique vases, sculptures, and glass fish. The styles range from functional to abstract.

Davison Arts, 808-821-8022, has koa furniture and gifts, paintings, sculpture, glass art, jewelry and rugs. You name it, they have it.

The Root, 808-823-1277, is a women’s boutique that features funky and trendy clothing along with some sexy lingerie. It’s on Kuhio Highway in Kapa`a right next to Bubba’s Burgers.

If you want a gift that will last forever, get a tattoo. In Kapa`a, you can go to Garden Isle Tattoo, 4-356 Kuhio Hwy, 808-822-3314, or Island Tattoo II, 808-822-2588, in theWailua Business Center.

Kaua`i Products Fair, 808-246-0988, http://www.kauaiproductsfair.com, is an outdoor market that takes place every Thursday-Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm at the north end of Kapa`a, right next to the Red Dirt Shirt Store on Kuhio Highway. It features fresh local produce, plants and flowers, alohawear, sculpture and jewelry.

Green Ti Boutique, 808-821-0225 4-1373 Kuhio Highway, http://www.greentiboutique.com, specializes in men and women’s fine clothing, handmade textiles and silks, plus artwork from Southesast Asia and the Himalayas.

Lightwave Pottery & Ceramic Art, 961 Kipui Way, Kapa`a, 808-826-9576. This working pottery studio has works ranging from functional to abstract. You can pick up a teapot or look at larger sculptures. You can also watch new creations come to life before your eyes.

Growing Greens Nursery, 66-60B Kawaihau Road, Kapa`a, 877-856-9999, 808-822-3831, www.fungarden.com. Hawaiian “Fun Gardens” – miniature
tropical foliage, and exotic flowering live plants grown in lava rock. Bring a piece of the islands of Hawai`i into your home or office. Give your friends or loved ones a slice of tropical paradise. These live plants are truly a living, breathing example of this tropical playground, and make ideal gifts & souvenirs of Kaua`i, Hawai`i.

Groceries

If you’re cooking at your condo and need to stock up on supplies, there are a number of places you can go to. In the Waipouli Town Center is Foodland. Kaua`i Village is home to Safeway and Papaya’s for a good selection of health food and organic goods.

Kapa`a Shopping Center has a Big Save. There’s also Kojima Store, 808-822-5221 in the North end of Kapa`a. Kojima’s carries island meats and goods. Whalers General Store has most of your typical convenience-store items available.

The local Farmer’s Markets happens every Wednesday at 3pm at the Kapa`a New Town Center. ast Shore

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