About Hoku Foods
Hoku Foods began from the idea that affordable healthy food should be available to everyone.
From the first pallet we received from our distributor we have committed to bring food to the Island as efficiently as possible, while supporting local farms that grow our fresh produce.
Ideally the food grown and produced here on Kauai would sustain all of us. Although many farmers and businesses are working toward that vision, the current reality is that shipping food from the mainland is still a necessity for most people. Keeping our values in mind we felt that providing affordable, natural and organic food was one way we could contribute to our Kauai Ohana.
Our Story
Hoku Foods began as a natural foods bulk buying service located in a single-door warehouse in Kapaa, on the east side of Kauai.
Original owners Brett Lamberson & Rilyn Aries (and their 2 sons Emmet and Dakota) founded Hoku Foods in 2007. In 2009 Hoku Foods outgrew its original home and moved into our current 4,600 square foot location at 4585 Lehua Street in the heart of Kapaa. As Hoku Foods grew our team solidified. Managers Jessyka (Produce/Refrigerated/Bulk), Katie (Dry Goods/Local/General Manager), Tim and Margaret (Front End Managers) formed the backbone of Hoku Foods management team. In 2015, the founders of Hoku Foods relocated to the mainland and longtime manager Margaret and her husband Erik, took over ownership.
Now, in 2023, Hoku Foods has two locations. Our original storefront in Kapaa and in February Hoku Foods opened a beautiful new location on the South Shore of Kauai at Koloa Village in the heart of Koloa Town.
Hoku Today
Today, Hoku Foods has grown into a bustling natural market & grocery store serving thousands of people a week from our Kapaa and Koloa locations, offering a wide selection of top quality products.
Over the years, Hoku Foods has gained a reputation for having a wide selection of organic foods, fresh local and organic produce, and all the best products for specialized diets at some of the best prices available on the island.
“Some of us still have memory of our favorite ‘Mom and Pop’ grocery store that was like a second home. Hoku is just such a place. Hoku encourages the ‘Ohana’ feel; a welcoming atmosphere, delicious, healthy local produce, and a conscientious staff who are always willing to help. I have shopped at Hoku since they opened, and watched their growth over the years. They have always shown an amazing consistency in their selection of quality, health-minded products and a commitment to a high level of customer service. “ – Paul R
Our Values
We serve the community by creating a fun, clean, helpful place to buy affordable healthy products that support the life of people, creatures and mother earth. This isn’t just a mission, it’s our passion.
We create and sustain the lowest price possible by implementing efficient business operations and spending resources wisely. We choose the smallest amount of packaging we can find, and use only biodegradable and recyclable packaging:
- We choose glass containers when available
- We reuse our boxes to pack your groceries in
- Our bulk bags are biodegradable
We choose to sell products from companies that are created with this same mission in mind, considering impact on every level from development to consumption.
