*The contents listed are current as of the time of article publication. Please check the website of each spot for the latest information.
INDEX
- "This is an American supermarket"
- A wide variety of "hot food" that can be eaten immediately or taken home.
- An impressive selection of products. You'll want to buy the classic logo goods here
- Enjoy the time before and after shopping in this spacious shop-in-shop
- If you are staying for a long time, it is recommended to come by car. You can use the lift inside the store smoothly and feel like a local.
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Whole Foods Market is a supermarket that sells natural and organic foods that meet its own quality standards (no artificial seasonings, synthetic colorings, preservatives, etc.). It has about 300 stores around the world, mainly in the mainland United States, but it has not yet opened in Japan, so it is also a popular tourist spot for Japanese tourists in Hawaii.
There are currently four stores in Hawaii, the newest and largest of which is the Queen store, which opened in May 2018. The other three stores are located a little further from Waikiki, but the Queen store is just a 15-minute drive from the center of Waikiki, making it an attractive place to do your grocery shopping and even buy souvenirs during an extended stay.
"This is an American supermarket"
As you would expect from an American supermarket, the carts and products are large in size. Just looking around is enough to get you excited by the sheer amount of stuff.
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In addition to fresh foods such as vegetables and fruits, processed foods such as bottled foods that are popular as souvenirs are also worth checking out. There are over 900 processed products that are made in Hawaii. They also have Sweet Aloha Honey, Oahu Kauai Juice, and Hala Tree Coffee, which are only available at Whole Foods, so it's a must-see for those looking for something new.
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Whole Foods Market is widely known as an organic food supermarket, but in addition to organic, you can also learn about various American trends such as gluten-free, non-GMO (genetically modified), and eco-friendly packaging.
If you are staying for a long time, we recommend buying drinks such as mineral water and food you eat every day in large quantities or in bulk. Try to do what the locals around you do, such as buying large quantities of drinks and nuts by weight, and do your shopping in a "Hawaiian" way.
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Additionally, the Queen store is located just under 2km from the fish market, which allows it to receive fresh fish every day, meaning there is a wide selection in the fresh fish section.
The lineup of vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat is overwhelmingly larger than other stores, but even just looking at all the corners, which also include beverages, processed foods, and alcohol, is fun, and you'll feel like "this is a true American supermarket."
A wide variety of "hot food" that can be eaten immediately or taken home.
The deli section for hot food is called a "hot bar," and this Queen store actually has the largest selection of any Whole Foods Market not only in Hawaii but in the region (four states: Southern California, Arizona, Southern Nevada, and Hawaii). There is a wide variety of menu items, from smoked meats to mac and cheese, with a total of 43 types of prepared foods.
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Not only is there a "hot bar" with hot prepared foods, but there is also a "salad bar" and a "pizza bar" where pizza is baked on the spot, so it's hard to decide which one to choose. You can take it out and eat it at your accommodation, or you can eat it in the eat-in space inside the store.
It's very convenient when you don't want to cook or go to a restaurant.
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An impressive selection of products. You'll want to buy the classic logo goods here
Whole Foods Market logo goods are becoming a standard souvenir in Hawaii. They are known for having a wide variety of designs and seasonal limited items at each store, but the Queen store has a corner that gathers all of the lineup together.
This is the first time that a brand shop has been set up in a Whole Foods Market across the US. Eco bags, beach towels, hats, mugs, and other items that are very popular with Japanese tourists are all gathered here, so you can easily find what you're looking for. It's great that you can also purchase limited edition goods from other stores here, so you'll probably end up buying a lot.
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Enjoy the time before and after shopping in this spacious shop-in-shop
In the Queen store, you can not only shop, but also enjoy services before and after shopping. What makes it different from other stores is the extensive shop-in-shop.
The first and second floors of the Queen store are occupied by the bar restaurant "Two Tides Bar," a full-service bar restaurant offering 24 types of Hawaiian craft beer and wine, as well as food to go with them.
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As you'd expect from Whole Foods Market, even the snacks on the menu are vegan.
There are plenty of counter seats, table seats, and sofa seats, but the terrace seats on the second floor are cute swing chairs that will make you feel like a child again. You might think that you have to order at the bar, but you can also eat and drink what you bought at the supermarket here.
Not only does it serve alcohol, but it also has healthy options.
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Lanikai Juice, a smoothie shop that is very popular among locals, offers not only smoothies, but also cold-pressed juices, acai bowls, etc. The shopping cart has a drink holder, so you can get a drink first and then walk around the store at your leisure.
There is also a Whole Foods Market exclusive coffee bar that uses a high-tech espresso machine to brew coffee.
It's great that you can use the store to relax and enjoy your time before or after shopping, or as a spot to wait for family and friends to finish shopping, allowing you to enjoy your shopping without any worries.
You can also check out popular health and beauty products in the US, such as cosmetics, supplements, and organic shampoos and conditioners, so it's a fun place even just to look around!
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If you are staying for a long time, it is recommended to come by car. You can use the lift inside the store smoothly and feel like a local.
There is a zone on the side of the escalators inside the store where you can place your cart.
This system is not very familiar to Japanese people, but it is common in large supermarkets in the United States. Even if the parking lot is on a different floor from the shopping floor, you can take your cart to your car. It is a common practice for locals to use this system when there is no elevator or it is crowded. Indeed, if you buy large items, you would like to be able to take your cart to your car.
It's easy to use: just place the cart on the lane and push it hard.
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Once the cart has been placed in the groove, it will be automatically transported by the conveyer belt. Then you can move forward on the escalator.
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In fact, escalators for people are faster than escalators for carts, so even if you get on late, you will naturally reach the upper floor before the cart.
Once the cart is delivered, you will arrive. You may be confused at first if you don't know how to use it, but once you try it, it's surprisingly easy.
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Whole Foods Market can be used for various purposes, such as gathering ingredients during your stay and bulk buying souvenirs, but the secret to its popularity is its "local style." Perhaps it's because you can enjoy the feeling of traveling as if you were living in Hawaii. On your next trip to Hawaii, be sure to visit the Whole Foods Market Queen store and experience the Hawaiian way of life.
Whole Foods Market Queen | ||
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address | : | 388 Kamakee St, Ste 100 Honolulu, HI |
telephone number | : | (808)379-1800 |
business hours | : | 7:00~22:00 |
Closed Day | : | none |
web | : | https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ |
Interview and text: Miki Kabat
Photo by Kaz Tanabe
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.