Haleiwa Farmers Market Debuts

One of the island's most historic and colorful neighborhoods is hosting a new weekly farmers market. The Haleiwa Farmers Market will celebrate its grand opening on Sunday, April 5. Following the blow of a conch shell and a blessing by North Shore kupuna "Aunty Betty," over 40 vendors will offer a range of local produce and goods.

Sustainability and "green living" will be a key theme, and organizers say the market will be solar powered (by Solar Professionals). The first 500 customers will also get a free reusable shopping bag from Hagadone Printing Company. There will also be live entertainment, including hula and several local musicians.

Although the Haleiwa Farmers Market will soon have a permanent home in the heart of Haleiwa, it will spend its first few weeks in the open field at the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and the old bypass road, on the Waimea side of Haleiwa.

The Haleiwa Farmers Market will run every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. I'm not sure how this new event affects the Hawaii Open Country Market, which is held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Are they competing or complimentary markets? The Saturday market does feature local produce, but also includes local artists and crafters as well.