Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [459]
Dawn Traina Gallery (335-3993; 3840B Hanapepe Rd; 6-9 Fri or by appointment) Housed in one of the more understated galleries, her detailed research of Hawaiian culture shines through in drawings, paintings and other art.
Kauai Fine Arts (335-3778; www.brunias.com; 3751 Hanapepe Rd; 9:30am-4:30pm Mon-Thu & Sat, to 9pm Fri) If you’re sending something home or want to get your hands on a unique map – including navigational charts – this is a great little spot to peruse. Also sells prints, Ni′ihau lei and other works.
Many will find that the art walk from gallery to gallery matches the gentle ambience of Old Hanapepe’s modest Christmas-lit strip, which has low-key street performances, such as the Westside cult classic the Happy Enchalata (www.myspace.com/thehappyenchalata) or guitarist Westside Smitty, usually fronting the Talk Story Bookstore. The walk also pairs well with low-rent street vendors like Heather’s Monster Tacos, a makeshift tent usually across from the Swinging Bridge. This surly, one-woman outfit (who has redeemed herself according to locals thanks to her homemade tortillas) offers an experience all her own: ‘authentic’ Tex-Mex that’s way out of context. If you’d rather sit or have a more island-style meal, this is the only night of the week that the justifiably popular Hawaiian-American fusion Hanapepe Café & Bakery (335-5011, 3830 Hanapepe Rd) is open for dinner. Drop in, make reservations and then do some window-shopping or art perusing, safe in the knowledge that your name’s on the list.
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Omoide Bakery & Wong’s Chinese Deli (335-5066, 335-5291; 1-3543 Kaumuali′i Hwy; mains $7.50-9.75; 9:30am-9pm Tue-Sat) This well-known spot also serves up fresh-baked, white-flour-based comfort eats like sesame-and-black bean manju (Japanese cake filled with sweet bean paste) and Portuguese sweet bread (similar to what US mainlanders think of as Hawaiian or pineapple bread).
Hanapepe Café & Bakery (335-5011; 3830 Hanapepe Rd; dinner $18-25; bakery 7am-3pm, café 11am-3pm, dinner 6-9pm Fri) With walls covered with the work of local artists and an air full of either the scent of freshly baked goods or the sound of live music, this quaint stop is a must. Seafood seekers and vegetarians will appreciate the menu here. Breakfasts such as frittata with red potatoes ($8) pair well with spicy espresso, and build-your-own burgers make a great $7 lunch.
Shopping
You’ll find the artists who put the pep back in Hanapepe in many of the old main-street galleries (see boxed text, above).
Puahina Moku o Kaua‘i (335-9771; www.warriordesignshawaii.com; 3741 Hanapepe Rd) With an eye for recognizing the need for traditional Hawaiian motifs fused with contemporary clothes, you’ll find wearable keepsakes here.
Kama′aina Cabinets Koa Wood Gallery Gifts & Furniture (335-5483; 3848 Hanapepe Rd; 11am-6pm Mon-Thu & Sat, to 9pm Fri) Even if you’ve been lucky enough to see a koa tree on one of your Westside hikes, it’s still nice to see it in an elegant, polished form.
Amy Lauren’s Gallery (634-8660; www.amylaurensgallery.com; 3890 Hanapepe Rd; 11am-5pm Mon-Fri, to 9pm Fri) Here’s a chance to buy originals instead of gicleé, though the latter are usually more affordable. This boutique-style gallery is somewhat of a newbie, but still worth a perusal for its vibrant colours and on-site artists.
Jacqueline on Kaua′i (335-9911; 3837 Hanapepe Rd; 9am-9pm) Friendly and a bit eclectic, Jacqueline leaves her mark on her work in this consignment-store-cum-boutique, where she sews the nonconsignment products herself, including Japanese-inspired silk robes and custom-made aloha shirts while you wait ($45 to $52, usually about one to two hours).
JJ Ohana (335-0366; 3805B Hanapepe Rd; www.jjohana.com; 8am-6pm Mon-Thu, to 9pm Fri) Staffed by a friendly local family who sells everything from the $2 hot dog to the $7000 Ni‘ihau-shell necklace, this place is worth a peek for sure.
Talk Story Bookstore (335-6469; www.talkstorybookstore.com; 3785 Hanapepe Rd; 11am-5pm Mon-Thu, to 9pm Fri) The dusty, often hot