Lovely farmers market with a bountiful spread of local venders. Well organized, clean and in a…read moregorgeous setting. Best ever coconut milk can be found here.

Located in the downtown are of Hanalei on Kauai's north shore, the Hanalei Farmer's Market operates…read moreonly on Saturday morning. With the beautiful weather and easy parking, the setting was perfect for a great time. But found out that it wasn't worth the 50 minute drive by itself, though there are plenty of places to visit on the north shore around that area...still worth the trip. We arrived a bit earlier than the 09:00 start time, so parked near the Hanalei Pier, and walked across the sand of the beach to enjoy the morning before arriving at the market. The market was fairly hopping by 09:30, with 30 different stalls selling their wares. My goal was to find two things to munch on first, as we walked the market: some sliced white pineapple and malasadas. It's clear that for food items, the market does an effective job of making sure a type of a food item is sold by only one vendor at the market...it really inflates the price. White pineapple is a lot less hardier for transport, thus hard to find on the mainland...but definitely a far superior pineapple in terms of sweetness and juiciness. The vendor that sold it here, presented it in slivers inside the typical cored pineapple container. I saw it right away, but noticed that there was no price....it ended up being $20 (I was committed at that point), which is pretty steep for maybe 1/4 of a pineapple. I found the malasada vendor, making it fresh on-site. We only wanted to taste, so got one for $3 non-filled...and it was disappointing...just OK. Should have tasted a lot better considering where we were. We circled the market multiple times, and ended up staying for about an hour. It's a market geared towards tourists like me, not locals: you are not going to find a local restauranteur looking for produce for his/her dinner menu here. Speaking of being a tourist: did end up buying a nice print of nearby Anini beach that we will frame at our home to remind us of Kauai...the artist was super grateful. The picture itself gave me a mission to find that view at Anini (as we were heading there next).

We did this tour as a family, over Thanksgiving. The guide is the owner. She is enthusiastic,…read moreknowledgeable, and, as my wife and the other women in the group noted, glamorous for someone toiling in the fields. Basically the activity turns on her story telling. Her accounts of flash flooding are vivid. She sure is accomplished. Her anecdotes are authentic, sincere, and funny. There isn't all that much walking, and they bring chairs out for people who need to sit. One fellow fell over in the mud (the leg of the stool sank and he toppled over; he was unhurt). There are three parts. First, there is the taro farm. Second, there is the rice mill. Third, there is lunch. The taro farm is a real, multi-generation family enterprise. I don't understand how they make money. It looks as if it is all done by hand. And taro is not a luxury item. You help them gather the eggs of invasive snails. Presumably they have some other task if needed and that doesn't work. The rice mill is fascinating. It's too bad it doesn't work anymore. You look at everything that has ben restored. You also drink fresh coconut milk, extracted right from the gourd in front of you, and you eat tarot snacks they make as you watch. The lunch is excellent. We enjoyed, among us, all of the menu choices. The quantities also are vast. The food truck would be worth visiting on its own, without any of the rest of the activities.

We took the tour of this mill and taro farm tour 5 years ago. The 3 of us (adults) thoroughly…read moreenjoyed it. The exuberance this family has in the farming, milling, and agricultural is amazing. We walked out on the taro fields. We were shown the snails that unfortunately are now embedded in the fields and love to eat taro. So many things could have been avoided if man hadn't brought them here. We had no idea there were agriculture thieves who raid groves and fields then sell them underground or on the sides of roads. We were given some samples of food made from the local ingredients. Then we were driven to their delicious Hanalei & Juice food truck for some of the island's best Kahula Pork you'll ever have.

On a recent visit to Kauai, I had time to use before an event. I saw this place pop up on the map…read morebut wasn't sure it was actually there; thankfully it was. If you're a fan of thrift shops, this one is worth visiting. Located just off Rice St in Lihue, they have ample free parking outside. It doubles as a social services center in the front, with donation area at the back. Signs lead you toward the shop entrance as well. They have a lot of stuff in such a small space, with clothing, books, media, home goods, toys, etc. More valuable items are kept in the glass case or behind the counter. The shop attendants were friendly and welcoming. If you're visiting and need books to read or clothing in a pinch, this is a great option.

Loved, loved, loved this thrift store. Good prices, pretty well organized and helpful staffread more

We were looking for some knick-knacks but this thrift store is more if you're looking for clothes,…read morebags, etc. Items are donated.

My daughters wanted to hit at least one thrift store while we were on the island and this was the…read moreonly one open when we got into town. Definitely an authentic neighborhood thrift store with lots of items to choose from. It was very warm inside on a hot day. My youngest found a nice wallet which she ended up purchasing, but other than that, they didn't have what they were looking for. Nice setup though!

We visited KAEF with our toddler who LOVES farm animals. It was such a great experience. We learned…read moreabout the rescued animals and even learned a few new things. Getting to interact with the animals was wonderful too, something our toddler definitely enjoyed. The tour guide was wonderful too, you can tell she really cares about the animals. Definitely recommend visiting KAEF. Also definitely recommend wearing shoes you don't care about. We visited a day after it rained so it was especially muddy.

We had an amazing experience at Kauai Animal Education Farm! Christy was absolutely fantastic, so…read morewarm, patient, and genuinely wonderful with our daughter. She went out of her way to make sure our toddler felt comfortable and included, and that meant the world to us. The whole experience felt personal, relaxed, and welcoming, like visiting someone's home rather than a typical attraction. Our daughter had a blast, we learned a lot, and we left smiling. You can tell how much love and care goes into the animals and into the way guests are treated. If you're visiting Kauai with kids (or just love animals), this is a must-do. We truly felt at home here and will remember this experience for a long time. Mahalo, Christy, for such a special visit!

Love to support this local organization. I can always find something to buy that I can't live…read morewithout! Have been invited to two key ceremonies when recently built homes are given to a local family. Always donate to them every year. Great to give back to the community.

Very organized, and welcoming. I got an island purse for $4. I felt like things were priced well…read more Cute kitty was hanging out.

Kauai Humane Society is a great organization and resource. If you are looking to give back to the…read moreisland while vacationing, you can volunteer at Kauai Humane Society. There are so many great ways to give back. It can be as simple as donating food, donating toys for the dogs and cats, walking dogs, cleaning kennels, taking photos of the cute animals, and even helping with veterinary supplies. It really like the staff that I have met and enjoyed working with them in the past. They are dedicated and wonderful people. If you are looking to adopt, they have wonderful dogs and cats looking for their forever homes.

We decided to take a dog out from Kauai humane society for a field trip. I signed up online by…read moremaking a donation and picking a time slot. When we got there we told them about our plans and they matched us with the perfect dog, Amilea. They gave us a backpack with water, beach towel, treats and toys for her. The staff was very friendly and they recommended brewery we could take her to. Amilea is the sweetest pup who got to socialize with different people on our hike. When we dropped her off she was happy to see the staff. The facility seemed clean. I hope Amilea and all the pups over here find a loving home soon!

It's very important to our wildlife of our oceans in the corals and reefs for the shells to survive…read morereally appreciate Paul Clark and save our seas

From the owner: Save Our Seas Hawai'i. We specialize in implementing experiential hands-on education and research…read moreto preserve, protect, and restore the world's oceans for future generations.

Beautifully situated at the foot of green, lush mountains, the Hale Halawai Community Center is…read morejust a magical place. In addition to their own activities, the center is available for rent for private events as well. There are a number of buildings on the property, as well as a certified kitchen. The staff here is friendly and accommodating, and very easy to work with.

From the owner: Halehalawai.org Hale Halawai 'Ohana O Hanalei is a grass…read moreroots 501 (c)(3) organization founded by community members in 1993. Established out of a need for a gathering place on the North Shore, Hale Halawai 'Ohana O Hanalei became the first privately funded community center in the state of Hawai’i. Our name translates to, "A house for the coming together of the extended family of Hanalei." Our mission is to create and sustain a gathering place for cultural education and for community engagement and actions to support social, civic and recreation events that perpetuate the value of aloha and the betterment of our community. Locally referenced as Hanalei's Cultural Community Center, our center serves as a venue for a variety of services, classes, programs, events, and Hawaiian cultural programs. Our programs help perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture and the Aloha Spirit. Hale Halawai 'Ohana O Hanalei is dedicated to celebrating and increasing the resources of the people. Said best by Aunty Kapeka Chandler, "...it is a place for everybody."