Exploring the farmers markets across Hawaiʻi Island is not just about finding tropical fruits, artisanal products or ready-to-eat foods. It's a journey that allows you to connect with local vendors and savor the island's best products. These markets, set in picturesque open-air locations, offer a unique experience. As you leisurely browse the offerings, you'll be caressed by the gentle trade winds and treated to scenic views that set these markets apart from others.

Waimea Town Market

Held every Saturday, the Waimea Town Market has over 50 vendors offering locally produced goods. Start your morning by grabbing a hot cup of coffee at Ahualoa Farms’ tent, where you can find expertly roasted coffee grown on Hawaiʻi’s Hāmākua Coast. After securing your coffee, don’t forget to check out their Macnella, a chocolate macadamia nut spread that is perfect on pancakes, drizzled on fruits or simply enjoyed on its own. One vendor with many repeat customers is Rincon Farms, a husband-and-wife team specializing in strawberries, produce and flowers, all grown in Waimea. Whether you are picking up fresh artichokes to prepare for dinner or sun-ripened mangoes to snack on during the day, their consistently fresh and flavorful produce draws a crowd each week. In addition to an impressive selection of produce and groceries, the market also has vendors with ready-to-eat goods like Mai Bacon, created by Chef Allen Hess, who offers BLT sandwiches featuring his handmade, thick-cut bacon. And if you are looking for something sweet, visit Hina Rae’s Café, where you can find fresh açaí bowls topped with berries, bananas, granola and local raw honey.

Waimea Town Market; 65-1224 Lindsey Road, Waimea; Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; waimeatownmarket.com.

Waimea Mid-Week Market

Located on the grounds of the historic Pukalani Stables, the Waimea Mid-Week Market’s vibrant market lures shoppers to stock up on goods and connect with neighbors in the foothills of Kohala. Staples of this community-driven market include Honopua Farm, run by the husband-and-wife team, Ken and Roen, and their son Joe. This family farm has specialized in organic vegetables and herbs for over 20 years, providing residents in the area with a wide selection of fresh, gourmet greens. Another popular vendor is Paradise Pastures, whose outstanding selection of duck and chicken eggs, and stewing and whole-roasting chickens has created a dedicated group of repeat customers. And for those looking for a treat for their four-legged friends, Pawniolo Pets will be a must-visit booth. Offering raw pet food, pet treats and chews made fresh on their family ranch, Pawniolo Pets uses only Hawaiʻi-raised and grown, grass-fed meats in their products. One of their products that many dogs love is their Furry Kake, a play on the Japanese condiment furikake that is customarily served on rice. Pawniolo Pet’s Furry Kake is meant to be a food topper and a nutritional boost available in flavors like beef organ, beef liver, and chicken feet and neck. In addition to its terrific selection of food vendors, this market also has a collection of booths offering handcrafted candles, handmade pottery, all-natural bath and body products, and even a pop-up bookshop that contains books written by Hawaiʻi residents.

Waimea Mid-Week Market; 67-139 Pukalani Road, Waimea; Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; waimeamidweekfarmersmarket.com.

Hilo Farmers Market

Famous throughout the state for its size and the variety of products offered, you will want to set aside a few hours to ensure you have enough time to check out everything the Hilo Farmers Market offers. Located over multiple blocks in historic Hilo town, there are different market areas to group vendors together. Within the arts, crafts and retail products tent, look for Akua Creative and its hand-drawn, hand-printed clothing with designs inspired by nature. Another popular vendor to visit is Mila Quilts, with their colorful array of Hawaiian quilts. This vendor offers traditional Hawaiian quilts with designs that reflect nature and contemporary designs that incorporate hula dancers' figures or modern floral arrangements. In addition to the two tents dedicated to arts, crafts and retail services, the Hilo Farmers Market has an entire tent dedicated to produce, food products and flowers. Here, you can find all the fresh island produce you could imagine, from tables overflowing with clusters of ripe bananas to fragrant pineapples and even uncommon fruits like longan, soursop and mangosteen. A huge draw for the market is its ready-to-eat food vendors, located at both an outdoor food cart court and an indoor food court. A flagship food vendor in this market is Poke N Sides, where you will find fresh poke bowls, juicy cheeseburgers and plate lunches inspired by the various ethnic backgrounds that call the islands home.

Hilo Farmers Market, corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street, Hilo; open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with “Big Market” days on Wednesday and Saturday; hilofarmersmarket.com.

Hoʻoulu Community Farmers and Artisans Market

Known as “The Big Island Market,” the Hoʻoulu Market is one of the longest-standing markets in Kailua-Kona. Now in its 14^th year, the market boasts vendors offering produce, textiles, prepared food, sweet treats, handmade crafts and a line-up of local musicians playing everything from 60’s blues to contemporary rock. One popular vendor is Kona Restoration Farm which produces climate-conscious coffee and cacao on their farm located along the Kona Coffee Belt. By adhering to a strict ethos of responsible stewardship, they aim to produce high-quality, estate-grown, small-batch roasted coffee while rebuilding soils through regenerative farming and improving carbon capture. At this market, you can also stock up on household goods like bath, body and home products created by Paper Crane Soaps, a woman-owned business offering goods whose products blend the principles of aromatherapy with scents of tropical botanicals. If you are hungry, consider visiting Cultivate Good Food’s tent and enjoy their plant-based dishes and drinks. From their Chickpea Curry wrap featuring curried chickpea salad, crunchy celery, sweet raisins and vegan coconut ranch dressing to their savory Taste of Thai salad with a zesty ginger peanut sauce, their meals are filling and satiating. For those looking for gifts to take home, the vendors of Hoʻoulu have everything from jams and macadamia nuts to 100% Big Island-grown CBD products.

Hoʻoulu Community Farmers and Artisans Market; on the front lawn of the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, 78-128 ʻEhukai Street, Kailua-Kona; Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; bigislandmkt.com.

Hāmākua Harvest Farmers Market

Hāmākua Harvest is a nonprofit organization that supports local farmers and the region’s social network through programs like an annual farm festival, agricultural classes, keiki (children) learning garden and a weekly farmers market. Located at the intersection of Māmāne Street and Highway 19, their farmers market is where farmers and craftspeople can display their hard work and connect with customers one-on-one. A big draw for this market includes Pāhale Farms and their Kiawe White Honey. Their small family farm specializes in unique honey made from the delicate blossoms of the kiawe tree. The honey naturally crystallizes, creating a silky, creamy honey. Hāmākua Agriculture Cooperative is another popular booth that brings together multiple farmers that range from orchard fruits to aquaponics. In addition to handmade, vegan gelato at Gelato Ono, specialty vegan baked goods at Kaleo’s Coffee and Charlie’s Bagels, and locally caught smoked fish at Real Fresh Cookin’, a truly unique booth at this market is Homeschool Entrepreneurs, where you can find energetic and enthusiastic homeschoolers selling their art, jewelry, pottery and more while they fine-tune their business skills.

Hāmākua Harvest Farmers Market; 44-2600 Mamalahoa Hwy., Honokaʻa ; Open Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; hamakuaharvest.org/the-farmers-market-at-hamakua-harvest/.

Across the island, Hawaiʻi’s farmers markets are a fun way to connect with local farmers, food vendors and artists while supporting the local community.