• 5
• Excellent Natural Foods Store!

Papaya’s is a very valuable resource for both locals and visitors to Kauai. If you’re used to shopping in health food stores (anything from Whole Foods to your local organic grocers) then you’ll want to check out Papaya’s. The nearby Foodland has a small designated health-food section, but Papaya’s blows this away. Whether you (like me) forgot your razor and want to pick up a Preserve recycled razor, or decide (like me) that you really need deodorant on Kauai and want something non-toxic and eco-friendly, then stop at Papaya’s. You can pick up anything from limes to go with your Koloa rum, bulk macadamia nuts or trail mix for your hike, decent grass-fed cheese (the selection in Foodland is poor), gluten-free items, or meals to cook at home. They also stock a lot of local products (and produce, like my limes) such as organic bread from the Passion Bakery, very affordable local honey, and proper grass-fed eggs. Prices are also good – for example, a 12 oz. jar of Hanalei honey cost only $5.39, and 8 oz. of organic cheddar was on sale for $5.99. I’m giving them 5/5 green stars for social and environmental impact. It’s a pillar of the community (the mayor even proclaimed June 6th as the annual Papaya’s Market day!) that stocks and supports products from a lot of local farms and business. It’s a woman-owned, family-run business that’s a member of the Independent Natural Food Retailer’s Association (like Down to Earth on Oahu and Maui, or Bi-Rite in San Francisco) who’s core values are to encourage a healthy and sustainable lifestyles with integrity and transparency. In the store, the staff creates a very friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Of course the green-star rating is largely down to their product section – and, having reviewed many products for social and environmental impact, I’d say that they stock some of the most responsible products available. There are also a number of farmers markets on Kauai, but if you need to visit a store, Papaya’s is a much better option than Foodland or Safeway. Plus they give you a 15 cent discount for bringing your own bag – even better than Whole Foods!