7 Main Streets Where Hawaii Comes Alive
It is easy to associate Hawaii with its island culture: sunshine, local artwork and fashion, miles of beaches and ocean as far as the eye can see. But while seeking the sandy shores of paradise, a sun-soaked traveller might miss that some of the best parts of the Hawaiian islands are more inland. Teeming with history and regional charm, small-town Hawaii offers a burst of life you just cannot find at the water's edge. Here are seven main streets where Hawaii comes alive.
Makawao (Maui)
Founded on the slopes of the Haleakalā volcano, the town of Makawao, on the island of Maui, is a thriving arts community. Famous also for paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys), the Makawao Rodeo is held every Fourth of July and features barrel racing and bronco riding. Baldwin Avenue is the town's main street. It winds the length of Makawao, right to the lush and elevated forest regions that surround the town. Baldwin Avenue is lined with shops, the crowning jewel of which is the T. Komoda Store & Bakery, which is so locally beloved and renowned that it typically sells out by 10:00 am. Known for its donut on a stick, anpan, and malasadas, visitors have an array of baked goods to choose from, provided they arrive early enough.
Tourists can also experience four different churches on Baldwin Avenue, or Viewpoints Gallery Maui, which is one of several art galleries throughout Makawao. In this beautiful town, where a traditional way of life meets the artistry and ingenuity of the modern age, visitors can enjoy a thriving culture not just on the busy Baldwin Avenue, but in the rest of Makawao as well.
Haleʻiwa (Oahu)
The town of Haleʻiwa on Oahu is a laid-back surf town. It has food trucks serving up waves of shrimp and vendors selling shaved ice (a Hawaiian version of a snow cone), so its charm is in its easy atmosphere, removed from bigger cities like Honolulu. It does not hurt that the famous beaches of Waimea Bay are so close at hand, either.
Haleʻiwa's main street is more of a district running along Kamehameha Highway. This historic area is filled with surf shops, art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. Waialua Bakery is a local delight for fresh-baked goods and a juice bar, as is Kua' Aina Sandwich, which is as close to fast food as it gets in this perfectly slow-moving town. Haleʻiwa Town Center, also along this road, offers plenty of shopping.
Līhuʻe (Kaua'i)
While it may be the government and commercial center on the island of Kauaʻi, natural wonders abound in Līhuʻe. Kalapakī Beach is a popular swimming and surfing location, while Ninini Beach is home to a still-operational lighthouse from 1897.
It is not all natural wonders in Līhuʻe, though; there is plenty of history to this town as well. The nearby ʻAlekoko/Menehune Fishpond is actually a 1000-year-old reservoir, for example, and Rice Street, the town's busiest roadway, is the heart of downtown. Originally called Government Road over a hundred years ago, Rice Street is now the hub of Līhuʻe activity. It offers the Kauai Museum, featuring artifacts that highlight the dynamic history, the Hale Līhuʻe Community Center, which includes event spaces and a coffee shop, and even a downtown walking food tour with local vendors and live music.
Honoka'a (Big Island of Hawaii)
Tucked along the Hāmākua Coast, the beautiful town of Honoka'a is known to be the gateway to the dramatic scenery of the Waipiʻo Valley. However, its main street, which is historic and bursting with infectious energy, has tremendous appeal. Honoka'a Public House is a great spot for a meal, while the Honokaʻa People's Theatre is the main street's most enduring building. Built in 1930, it encapsulates the town's heritage with its Western architecture and is considered now to be the cultural heart of Honoka'a. For locally made gifts and one-of-a-kind souvenirs, you can't beat Big Island Grown.
While its coastal waters and beaches might be Honoka'a's biggest selling point, visitors are sure to find plenty to enjoy along Main Street as well, where history lives on in architectural brilliance, and local craftsmanship is on display in charming boutiques.
Hōlualoa (Big Island of Hawaii)
According to its town website, “Java is the juice that powers Hōlualoa, the little village and art enclave in the heart of Kona coffee country.” Known, then, for its pure Kona coffee that comes from the rich volcanic soil on nearby slopes, Hōlualoa is a go-to destination for coffee purists and has built its economy around catering to those who enjoy the beverage. There are over 600 coffee farms in the area, tours that display the milling and processing of coffee beans, and even an annual Hōlualoa Village Coffee & Art Stroll, which showcases local farmers and artists all along Mamalahoa Highway, the town's main road.
Mamalahoa Highway, when it is not overtaken by the festival, is home to several art galleries including Dovetail Gallery, Studio 7 Fine Arts, and Glyph Art Gallery, all of which boast handmade woodwork, jewelry, sculptures, and much more. Of course, the main street also features several coffee shops.
Kapa'a (Kauai)
Kapa'a is a bustling town through which Hawaii Route 56 passes. The stretch of the Kuhio Highway running through Kapa'a turns into a roadway highlighted by shops, markets, and local charm. In fact, its website draws attention to the town's unique local shopping opportunities. Kinipopo Shopping Village hosts an array of stores and eateries, including a sports shop that rents or sells any equipment needed for a water-based adventure. Fine art, jewelry, and clothing can also be found in the village, while the nearby Wailua Shopping Plaza is home to restaurants, antique shops, and the Coconut Marketplace, which offers yet more places to shop and eat.
In addition to the lively commercial district of Kapa'a, the town has plenty of local crafts to admire and live music to enjoy, and if you find yourself walking through this beautiful village on the first Saturday of the month, you will be in for a night of tunes and vendors in Old Kapa'a Town.
Wailuku (Maui)
Located just ten minutes from Kahului Airport, Wailuku is a commercial center that also has a proud array of historical sites and cultural attractions. Dozens of family businesses, owned for generations, line Market Street, but Main Street is a world of its own. A walking tour showcases Main Street's historic district, highlighting 23 unique attractions. Among them are Kaʻahumanu Church, the Bailey House, and the iconic ʻĪao Theater, built in 1927.
This town rests at the foot of the West Maui Mountains and is the gateway to a lush valley that was once the burial ground for ancient Hawaiian chiefs. Historic yet vibrant, Wailuku and its Main Street should be a priority Hawaiian destination.
Explore Historic Hawaii
Hawaii is a state teeming with volcanoes, jungles, beaches, and ocean vistas, yet all of that beautiful wilderness is only some of what this state has to offer. It may be easy for someone to overlook the seaside main streets of small-town Hawaii, but they would be missing out. These seven commercial and tourist districts are every bit as historic as the rest of the state, and come saturated with modern charm as well. So grab a shaved ice in Haleʻiwa, or shop the villages in Kapa'a, because these lively main streets are meant to be enjoyed by all.
