Hawaii Island Hopping: Inter-Island Travel From the Big Island to Kauai

My Big Island home in Hilo is such a great jumping off point for travel to other Hawaiian Islands. Last month, I ventured to Kauai and enjoyed the beaches, food, and farmer’s markets.

The beaches on Kauai are second to none – oceanfront at the Kauai Beach Resort – gorgeous and had it all to ourselves!

Visiting The Garden Island

Last month, the Hawaii Coffee Association hosted their annual convention at the Kauai Beach Resort and I had the opportunity to not only join the coffee fun, but also tour Kauai for a mini-vacation. 

After catching up with our Hawai’i Life leadership and meeting a few new colleagues, I found food and fun! The fish taco food truck in Kapa’a had fantastic Ahi and Kalua pork soft tacos. The shopping along Haleilio Rd. is fun too.

After all that food, I woke the next morning and enjoyed the Kapa’a Beach Walk along an oceanfront, paved walk. Along the way I saw a resting monk seal, surfers, and paddle boarders, and, of course, miles of sandy beaches and splashing waves. The sun was warm as long as you hit the walk before noon when it gets hot!

View from the Kapaa Beach Walk – love this Hawaii Life!

Kauai Farmer’s Market Finds

Finding the heartbeat of any of the Hawaiian Islands is as easy as going to a farmer’s market. The Kauai Community College (KCC) market is Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 1pm. 

There I met the owners of Papalua Island, Hula Baby Bakery and Ko Bakery. All of their products are “value added,” which means they buy local products and then put those products into a newly created local product to sell again, which helps the local economy twice as much. The County of Kauai loves to see this and promotes it heavily. 

Chris and David, two of the owners of Papalua Island – Farmer’s Market fun is meeting the farmers and bakers!

The company also has the ‘Kauai Made‘ designation, which includes all goodies they sell. Not just anyone or everyone can qualify as Kauai Made. Farmer’s markets are such a great way to discover fabulous products!

The Hula Baby Bakery biscotti are so unbelievable that I had to bring many flavors back for Hawai’i Lifers; I was the ‘biscotti mule’ for the Big Island. I also ate a ton (seeing a trend here?) of yummy cooked food, bought Hawaiian salt and spices from Salty Wahine, and indulged in fresh mango sorbet from the Hanalei Taro and Juice Company. They make it fresh, daily when mangoes are in season – so ONO!

Big Island Living: The Life I Love

Flying home to Hilo is a quick 50-minute flight. Inter-Island travel is so easy! My Big Island home greets me this time with a gentle rain and warm air. I drive a few minutes up the Hamakua Coast to my front door in Paukaa, unwrap my new goodies, and cook a delicious dinner with local fish from Suisan, the best fish market in Hilo.

This is my Hawai’i Life and I’m your expert for finding your Hawa’i Life. Contact me to get started on your Big Island home search!