Lawai Market, harboring its operations in the renovated Lawai General Store in Kalaheo, Hawaii, has etched its presence since 2020 by markedly focusing on local resources, providing an array of culinary and grocery items, from baked goods and breakfast items to espressos and alcoholic beverages. The managerial trifecta of Ethan, Jody, and Siobhan orchestrates this venture with an imperative on community integration, as roughly “75% are local” products, according to Ethan Page, the owner.
The architecture of Lawai Market speaks volumes about its adaptive re-use, where its past as a feed store and a part of a pineapple cannery has transformed into a general store with diversified offerings. “We’re basically a general store, but we kind of carry a little bit of everything,” Page shares, including “fresh organic produce, local beef, [and] fresh fish” to meet a spectrum of consumer needs.
The narrative of Page is fundamentally embedded in an affinity toward the local, being an advocate for primarily sourcing greens, produce, cheeses, and meats from nearby providers, especially “during the pandemic”. Page highlights the rationale behind this approach, stating that sourcing from Kauai is “much easier” and crucially keeps “money in the community.”
Yet, it’s not merely about retailing local products, but also about producing on-site culinary offerings that underscore fresh and local ingredients. At the crack of dawn, pastry chefs venture into Lawai Market to craft fresh pastries, with bread that virtually always finds its way into patrons’ hands by day’s end. The meticulous preparation of food items, like a breakfast dish featuring an egg baked into a mix of lamb, spices, and cream cheese binding it all together, presents a savory yet convenient meal option.
Lawai Market doesn’t just restrict itself to the ordinary but also innovatively explores culinary creations. Take the lamb gyro, for instance, which carefully layers “local fresh greens”, “locally grown sprouts”, tzatziki sauce, and pickled red onions within its folds.
Moreover, the market endeavors to simplify the dining experience for those exploring Kauai. Page elaborates about their creatively devised “picnic boxes” – a compact and convenient amalgamation of sandwiches, drinks, cookies, and chips, providing an effortless yet satisfying meal option for travelers on their local explorations.
While Lawai Market perpetuates a narrative of local support and consumer convenience, it is essentially a tableau where history, local economic support, and culinary innovation coalesce, offering a glimpse into a business model adapting to both community and contemporary needs without forsaking its historical roots.