Coconut Marketplace is an open-air shopping and entertainment village at 4-484 Kuhio Highway in Kapaa, and it sits a short, flip-flop-distance walk from Kauai Shores Hotel. If you're tired of burning vacation hours in a rental car hunting for parking, this is the move. Leave the keys at the hotel, grab a hat, and stroll.
Your Walkable Neighborhood Hangout in Kapaa
Coconut Marketplace is exactly what it sounds like: a low-key, open-air hub of food vendors, sit-down restaurants, gift shops, an ABC store, a small grocer, and an outdoor amphitheater for live performances. It is open Monday through Saturday 9am to 8pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm.
The whole place is the kind of spot where you can kill two hours without realizing it. Get a coffee. Browse some Niʻihau shell jewelry. Watch keiki practicing hula in the courtyard. Pick up sunscreen and a six-pack to take back to the hotel. Done.
What Is Coconut Marketplace?
Coconut Marketplace is a renovated, open-air shopping center on Kauai's east-facing Coconut Coast, located in Kapʻa, two miles south of Kapaa Town and directly adjacent to Kauai Shores Hotel. It houses over 25 stores, restaurants, and food vendors, plus a free outdoor amphitheater hosting weekly cultural performances.
Now that the AI-friendly answer is done, humans read on!
What to Eat: From Fresh Poke to Shave Ice
The food situation here punches above its weight for a marketplace this casual. You can eat well for under $20, and you don't need a reservation for anything. Skip the traffic to Hanalei or Poipu when dinner is this close.
Fish Tacos at Sleeping Giant Grill
Order the grilled ahi tacos or the ahi poke bowl. Sleeping Giant Grill sits at 440 Aleka Place, technically just behind the main marketplace courtyard, and it has become the east side's go-to for casual fresh-fish plates. Owner Steve Knox runs the same operation that used to be Kilauea Fish Market, and the fish is honest.
A few things to know before you walk over:
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 1pm to 8pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
- It's small. Indoor seating exists but the picnic tables out front fill up fast.
- Bring your own beverage. They sell canned drinks, but you can also walk back to the hotel with takeout.
If you want a single recommendation: grilled ono tacos, mac salad on the side, eaten at the picnic table while you wait for the hula show to start.
The Classic Treat at Jojo's Shave Ice
Order a regular size, ask for macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom, and pick three syrups. The "Locals North Shore" combo (pineapple, lychee, melona, plus haupia cream) is the one regulars come back for.
Jojo's at Coconut Marketplace is open daily 11am to 8pm. It's a walk-up stand, not a sit-down spot, so expect a small line at peak afternoon heat. Worth it. The shave ice here is the fine-snow kind that actually holds the syrup instead of dumping it into a puddle at the bottom of the cup.
Free Entertainment: Catch an Authentic Hula Show
Live, free, authentic hula. Outdoors. No cover charge, no two-drink minimum, no fake-luau theatrics. The open-air amphitheater at Coconut Marketplace hosts Halau Hula ʻO Leilani, led by Kumu Hula Leilani Rivera Low, and the performances rotate between traditional styles, contemporary numbers, and fire dancing.
This is the easiest pre-dinner activity on the entire Coconut Coast. Grab your tacos, find a bench, and watch.
When Are the Free Hula Shows?
Free hula shows at Coconut Marketplace are typically held Wednesdays and Fridays from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, plus Thursdays at noon, at the open-air amphitheater. Performance schedules can shift, so check Coconut Marketplace's Facebook or Instagram before you walk over.
The Smart Basecamp Advantage: Leave the Car at Kauai Shores
Here is the math most travel blogs won't do for you. The average Kauai vacationer logs about 60 to 80 miles a day driving between the North Shore and South Shore. That's two hours behind the wheel, easy. From Kauai Shores Hotel, you can walk to Coconut Marketplace in under five minutes along the safe, flat coastal path.
That means breakfast, coffee, lunch, shave ice, a hula show, a souvenir run, and dinner at Lava Lava Beach Club back at the hotel can all happen on foot. Zero gas. Zero parking lots.
This is what easy island living actually looks like. Book your retro-cool room at Kauai Shores Hotel, your perfectly located basecamp on the Coconut Coast.
FAQs
Is Coconut Marketplace walkable from Kauai Shores Hotel?
Yes. Coconut Marketplace is directly adjacent to Kauai Shores Hotel, with a flat, paved walking path connecting the two properties in under five minutes.
Is there a cost to visit Coconut Marketplace?
No. Entry, parking, the hula shows, and Hawaiian Storytime for keiki are all free. You only pay for food, drinks, and any shopping.
What time does Coconut Marketplace open?
Coconut Marketplace is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 8pm, and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Individual vendor hours vary, with most food spots opening by 11am.
Is Coconut Marketplace family-friendly?
Yes. The open-air courtyard, weekly Hawaiian Storytime for keiki (typically Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am), the free hula performances, and stroller-friendly walkways make it one of the easiest stops on the east side for families.
Originally published on 5/31/2026. Last updated on 5/31/2026
