Musa Musa farm sits on an 11-acre parcel in Captain Cook. The farm is aptly named as it has been planted in tens of thousands of banana trees over the years. The high production of musa (the botanical name for banana) warrants its double musa name.
Alfred Stein and his wife Amanda bought the lease to the farm in 2022. It was here that they dreamed up the idea of opening a grocery store featuring local produce and products.
Last year, they opened their brick-and-mortar farm stand called Kainaliu Fresh. They started in a small shop that was an art gallery but had historically housed a fruit and vegetable stand. They are located on the commercial strip which makes up Kainaliu town and imagine expanding as their business grows. They recently added to their space and hope to continue growing.
When I visited their store, I found it a great place to buy some of Musa Musa’s bumper crop of apple bananas as well as a chance to pick from a delightful assortment of produce from Big Island farms.
According to Alfred, “We found a wonderfully supportive landlord. The Nozaki family has owned the property for several generations and they were delighted to add a local grocery store to the strip.”
Alfred and Amanda are high school sweethearts who married and started honing their farming chops working on farms in Florida and New Mexico. At one point, Alfred took a job as a chef in an upscale farm to table restaurant on the Oregon coast. There he learned creative ways to prepare the farm produce that was growing on an attached farm. Eventually his passion took him outside to the farm itself where he truly enjoyed working.
The idea of farming year-round brought the couple to Hawaii in 2018. They spent time looking for a farm that was successfully planted and producing. Once they found this Captain Cook farm that fit their requirements, they started working there. Four years later, they purchased the lease.
Though most of their bananas were sold wholesale, they decided to venture into retail sales and rented a booth space at the Sunday Green Market at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook. There they met other farmers who shared their dream of a larger outlet for their produce.
According to Amanda, “We wanted to offer a place for local farmers, ranchers, fishermen and producers to offer food grown with aloha and ‘aina conscious methods to the community.”
Early on, Kainaliu Fresh carried cucumbers and eggs from Sonstone Farm in Ocean View as well as veggies and root crops from Ginger Ridge Farms. From Kua Wright they added ulu and citrus to their offerings and filled in with some of their own soursop and mamey sapote.
Business picked up and their offerings increased. Beef from I’o Processing Company has recently been added as well as Sundog Bread. In addition to locally grown coffee, they are featuring an assortment of teas from Eva Lee’s Tea Hawaii &Company.
Mangoes, cacao pods, ginger, turmeric, citrus fruit, yams and sweet potatoes were piled high in produce bins the day I visited. Squash, pumpkins and gourds were also proudly displayed. Some artfully designed stands held locally made candles and ceramics as well as soap, cosmetics, jewelry, nuts and small bottles of herbal remedies. They also offer plants and t-shirts. All are grown or produced on the Big Island.
I found Alfred checking out customers the day I visited. When I commented on the artful design of the store and the attractive way that local art and products were arranged, Alfred was quick to credit Amanda.
“Amanda is an essential partner on the farm and in the store,” he let me know. “She does what I can’t including the store’s design as well as the administrative tasks.”
Though the two have been managing the store themselves they are now considering hiring at least a full-time helper and maybe a couple of part-time staffers.
Then there is the farm. Amanda is definitely part of the farm labor along with Alfred. I saw photos of her wielding a week whacker and participating in new crop plantings. For now, they are managing the farm themselves. A busy duo.
Alfred and Amanda are both fully dedicated to food security for Hawaii. Part of their effort to see that residents eat well is to encourage customers to apply for food stamps and use them at Kainaliu Fresh.
The EBT program is designed to serve those who are challenged by local food prices. It is easy to apply to the program and applicants who meet the low income requirement can get helpful supplements to their food budget paid for by our taxes. Alfred is also working to get Food Bux certification which would offer significant discounts on fresh produce to EBT card holders.
Kainaliu Fresh also offers a chance for bargain seekers to try some of their products. Their Aloha Friday bargain bag is $20. It is a grocery bag pre-packed with a mix of fruit, veggies and herbs that is worth about $30.
As they continue to expand their offerings, Kainaliu Fresh’s raw pressed fruit juices have become very popular. They are now selling bottled juices and syrups made from their sugar cane, mango, lilikoi and a variety of citrus fruits. Their fruit leathers offer a way to buy a variety of fruit in a non-perishable form. Though most of their customers are local residents, products like the leathers and their fruit preserves offer a tasty Hawaiian treat that visitors can take home with them.
As a way to serve the community, Alfred makes himself available in the shop all day on Tuesday to answer questions about their products and how to use them. He is available to offer advice to local farmers and gardeners as well as to shoppers.
When I asked Alfred what advice he might offer to anyone who wants to open their own shop, he quickly replied, “Find a good landlord who will be supportive of you and your business.”
They are glad they have found that. It has allowed Alfred and Amanda’s dream to become a reality that continues to grow.
The store is at 79-7404 Mamalahoa Highway and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can call them at 808-494-0029 or contact them by email at kainaliufreshgrocery@gmail.com
Do go to Kainaliu with your shopping list to check out the Big Island products at Kainaliu Fresh and know that you are supporting local farmers and businesses in the process.
Gardening events
• Saturdays: Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Come with a mask and be prepared to practice social distancing. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Visit the website www.amygreenwell.garden/get-involved/volunteer-1/ and sign up for the weekly email for more information on work days.
Save these dates
•Thursday, July 18 through Saturday, July 20: “Hawaii Coffee Association Conference, Trade Show and Cupping Competition” at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. For more information go to hawaiicoffeeassoc.org/event-5652011.
• July 1 through June 30, 2025: “Surveying Tropical Crops” UH and HDOA collaboration to detect plant diseases to prevent major outbreaks on papaya, banana, sugar cane, coffee, cacao, potato, solanums and cucurbits. Growers interested in participating should contact Josiah Marquez at 808-973-9528, 808-391-7159 or email Josiah.mk.marquez@hawaii.gov.
•Friday, Saturday &Sunday, October 4, 5, 6: “34th Annual Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers International Conference” at the Maui Food Innovation Center + farm visits. Talk by Dr. Johathan Crane from the Tropical Research and Education Center at the University of Florida plus workshops. For more information as the event gets closer go to htfg.org.
Farmer direct markets
(Check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
•Wednesday &Friday: Ho’oulu Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.- Sheraton Kona Resort at Keauhou Bay.
• Saturday: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center; Kamuela Farmer’s Market, 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables; Waimea Town Market, 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea; Waimea Homestead Farmers Market, from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground.
• Sunday: Pure Kona Green Market, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook; Hamakua Harvest, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honoka’a.
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@hawaii.edu
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu, 322-4893, or walk in.
Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo, 981-5199, or himga@hawaii.edu.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.
