Mālō e lelei! Ni sa bula vinaka! Håfa adai! Yes, whether you're in a Polynesian, Melanesian, or…read moreindeed, Micronesian frame of mind, I think you'll find that the newly-opened DS Market (in the same stripmall as China Cafe at Iliff/Buckley) has just what you're seeking.
DS is a new outpost of a market in Washington State with the same owner (who is from India) featuring new merchandise arriving weekly. A box of Kón (pounded breadfruit balls) at the cash desk marks a memorable start to our journey. Are you seeking to increase your leafy-green intake? Then have a look at those cans of heat-and-eat Palusami (taro leaves in coconut milk). If you're more motivated than me, you can even cook the dish yourself by stopping by the one of the coolers and purchasing the greens yourself! And speaking of that refrigerated section - numerous other Islander items can easily be found here too, such as seafood (parrotfish, scad, mussels), starches (yellow and purple taro, cassava, Ivi [Tahitian chestnut]) and even popular meat cuts like Si'usi'u Pipi (turkey tails) and Sipi (muttonflaps). Not bad, huh? But this isn't even close to everything you can find here, so let's do a bit more rummaging around the shelves and aisles and see what else we can find to sample.
While not native to the South Pacific, corned beef has become a much-loved item for many inhabitants of the region. And nowhere is this point clearer than at DS, where you can find multiple variants from Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand to placate your pining tastebuds. If you're feeling a little guilty about all those preservatives, why not wash it all down with a bracing bottle of Noni fruit juice, rich in antioxidants? (Talking of beverages, you can find some other very nice juices (soursop, passion fruit...) and also milk teas (taro, brown sugar...) in cans right at the front of the shop if you're feeling particularly parched). I of course enjoy the range of sensational snacks available at the market too. Just to name a few examples, they have my favorite chocolate- and purple yam-stuffed crackers, as well as cheese puffs, black sesame sticks (with the famous screaming koala on the wrapper) and hamburger-flavored corn snacks. Yes, as you'll soon see, DS has many things to bring out the Aloha spirit.