A couple Aulani questions for a Hawaii newbee

[Auntie Kelly]

We arrive in Aulani 2 weeks from tomorrow and I just had a couple quick questions I didn't see (or missed) in other threads.

1. Can we use Disney gift cards there? I was thinking of getting my niece and nephews each a $25 card for them to buy snacks or gifts or whatever, but I wasn't sure if the Disney gift cards would work in the gift shop or restaurants.

2. Is there a farmer's market any where near by? My sister is insistant that we buy all our produce from a farmer's market and not a grocery store. she thinks that most of the produce on the island is grown there, but on the show Buying Hawaii all they did in every episode is talk about how expensive produce is b/c it is shipped over from the mainland. And lots of locals have home gardens. I'd love to get my stuff fresh from the market, but that made me think maybe there aren't a lot of farms on the island and hence, not a lot of farmers markets.

Sorry for the rambling, any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

Yes the resort takes Disney gift cards As for farmers markets there are many. Most are in the city area but there are some others. You can look them up easily enough but here's a link to get you started: http://gohawaii.com/oahu/guidebook/topics/farmers-markets-on-oahu/

Many markets aren't advertised- just veggie and fruit stands along the road. I saw this mostly on the north shore though- ko olina (kapolei) is pretty commercialized. Hope this helps a bit!

 

[Auntie Kelly]

Thanks a bunch! I'll take a look at that link and hopefully we will find something nearby, otherwise my sister is just going to have to deal!

 

[deedisneydream97]

There is a wonderful produce place in the same area as the Target store called "Down to Earth". Alot of their stuff is organic or locally grown (they even have a sign when you walk in about what percent of their stuff that day is local and/or organic). There is also a great bulk spice section (DH had a great time getting black salt, pink salt, dates and such) and they also had a salad/food bar for takeout that always seemed to be busy. The store is a little pricey, but we stopped there two or three times on our last trip there (because we would go to Target first for supplies). Don't buy any kind of fruits (fresh...and maybe dried) that you want to bring home: you are not allowed to bring anything onto the island like that or off the island.

I don't think you will find any locally produced milk.....I heard there are no dairy cows on the island and it is pretty $$$$.

The concierge can give you a printed map and directions to that whole ko olinia area.

Don't know about Disney gift cards, but I would imagine they would take them at the Disney shops at the resort. Maybe if you "click" on the buy a gift card thing it will list the places.

Have a wonderful time. We've been home for a week and I'm already thinking about how to beg, borrow and steal my points for another stay in a couple of years.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Should mention that Target is in the Kapolia area, I think the Barbers Point Industrial center exit. And the map is for the Kapolia area, not ko olinia.

 

[KaTFacer]

We will see you there! For Christmas this year, we told anyone that asked to just get use Disney gift cards after reading we could use them there. As for the farmers market, we fly in on the morning of the 12th and are heading straight to the swap meet at Aloha Stadium, then going to the military commissary to buy supplies. We are taking my Mom and she wants to get fruit there as well but I plan on hitting a farmers market at Windward Mall or the one at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Does anyone have any experience with either of these?

 

[Cinderpamela]

The April 2012 issue of Sunset Magazine has a great write up on the emerging Hawaiian food scene... check out page 3 of the article where they list off good Farmers Markets:
http://www.sunset.com/travel/hawaii-mexico/food-hawaii-00418000075199/

As an aside they mentioned Town Restaurant on the first page-- we went there during our trip in December and had a fabulous meal, the chef there is all about organic locally sourced food, so your sis may like it there.