Whole Foods - Kahala Mall. Oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways (LOL just wanted to start off this blog with something corny).
1) Large Supply and Variety:
They have the largest supply of organic, natural, grass-fed, non-GMO, etc. foods on O'ahu, Hawaii. However, not all their food is organic. They have fresh baked goods, a gelato/ice cream bar, hot and cold foods bar, burger station (they use grass-fed, non-GMO, cage-free meats), sushi station, fresh deli meats, a cafe, pizza station, various donboris, fresh (never frozen) meats, fish and poultry, poke bar, antipasto bar, cured meats (i.e. prosciutto), cheeses by the slice and wheel, alcohol, fresh produce, a small gardening section (yay because I love gardening), a mini coffee station, frozen food section and all other kinds of foods. I really like their variety of gluten-free foods as well.
2) Friendly staff:
Yes, you will always have those one or two sales clerks that just get on your nerves for whatever reason. But Whole Foods Kahala has amazing, very knowledgeable staff. And, if they cannot answer your question, they will find someone who would know to help you out.
3) Representing the local farmers/businesses:
They have lots of local products here, despite their "big corporation/big shoulders" appearance. Some items I've seen include Maui grass-fed, cage-free, non-GMO, antibiotic-free meats; organic li hing mui (surprisingly, the organic li hing mui is yellow! Just goes to show you what other food vendors put in there), various fruits and vegetables, and poke!
4) The convenience of the Food Bar:
Whenever I am running late and cannot make my food for the day, I always stop by Whole Foods Kahala's food bar, especially their hot food. They change up the hot foods all the time (except this past Thanksgiving...I guess they had a lot of turkey left over). They even list all the ingredients in each food they prepare so that the customer is well-informed.
What I Like To Get:
1) Scrambled Eggs (although I wish they made it without milk and cooked with olive oil instead of canola oil)
2) Roasted Potatoes with extra Roasted Bell Peppers and Red Onion
3) Baked Goods (I don't always buy, but if you ever have a sweet tooth, organic baked goods are always the best! Everything tastes real and looks amazing!)
4) Some groceries, especially their meats (I haven't found much places that sell fresh organic meats on the island).
5) Soups! I especially love their Spit Pea and Beef Bourguignon soups!
6) Ice Cream! (low glycemic, non-dairy, gluten-free, soy-free, organic and made with coconut milk!)
7) Salad Bar!
But Buying Organic Food is Expensive!:
Whole Foods Kahala is great and buying organic can be the best thing you do for your health, but yes it comes with a price. So, you really gotta shop around and buy the items on sale. I try not to buy food from their food bars because its $8.99/lb. and they do not have a scale to weigh your food....so u might end up spending more than what you bargained for. I shop according to sales and use their coupon book (conveniently located at the store's entrance). I only buy foods that I cannot get elsewhere such as the meats, fish and poultry. On top of that, I rarely buy any of the packaged foods (except when rice, rice products, or gluten-free products are on sale). What would be great is if they started a Rewards Card. Stay tuned for tips on how to shop for organic foods on Oahu!
Whole Foods Kahala also gives tours for children, and for adults on how to shop in their store according to specific diets and budgets. They give you a bag credit if you bring your own bag (I believe), and they give you a complimentary bag of ice to keep your food cold (so convenient since I'm always in a rush, forget to pack ice packs and a cooler, and need to commute back home during peak traffic hours).
I can't wait for their new store to open in Kailua, O'ahu, Hawaii! They are also talking about opening another one either in Mililani or Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii.
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