The Volcano Farmers' Market has become, as they say here, "choke." That means it's really busy and packed with people. I think it would be safe to say that the little venue has been discovered. It's always been a hoppin' place, a great community gathering of locals and the occasional visitor on Sunday mornings. This past weekend, there wasn't a parking spot anywhere near the Cooper Center where the market is held. I had to park about 1/4 mile up the road. And that was at 7:30 a.m! There are more vendors now than ever. The Volcano Farmers' Market has become popular, I think, because word has spread that it's a really great place to buy some beautiful produce and delicious prepared foods. It's really different than the bigger markets. It's 100% local. Really local. It's not just stuff grown or made in Hawaii or even on the Big Island. Most of the goods sold there are made or grown either in Volcano or within a few miles of the village. In fact, the Cooper Center has a commercial kitchen and most of the people selling pre-cooked food or baked goods either make it in that kitchen or set up with rice cookers and crock pots on the spot. There's a lady there who makes a killer, spicy green papaya soup. Don't knock it 'til you try it. I adore the sticky buns sold by the pastry people, right next to the soup lady. There's also a Mt. View guy who bakes fresh, whole wheat and multi-grain breads and English muffins. He also serves up hot breakfast sandwiches. His breads are dense and chewy. They toast up beautifully and soak up the butter and honey like the bread and the condiments were made for each other. At Volcano Farmers' Market, you can buy fresh noni juice (nasty but healthy), hot Thai specialties like curried pumpkin and masaman, homemade peruvian-style tamales, 100% Kau grown coffee, cookies, pies, homemade soaps and balms, flowers, and all manner of vegetables and fruits. There are photos, paintings, pottery, and sculptures by artists who live within walking distance. It's all crammed into and around the tiny community center that is the heart of Volcano Village. At the Cooper Center, there's a large room with a fireplace and some tables, perfect for small community gatherings and meetings. There's also an adjacent room filled with paperbacks that you can either buy for cheap for exchange for one you've already read. Once a month, the market features clothing and household goods. Ron and I once struck up conversation with a local man, seated at the table with us. As we scarfed down our soup and sticky buns (breakfast of champions), he bragged that he had purchase his entire "outfit" - sweatshirt, pants and a knit cap- for $1.00. The village used to be little more than a tiny enclave of artsy fartsies mixed with some long-time locals. It's grown, and is now home to even more artsy fartsies, along with a growing influx of free-spirited, simple-living retirees. Volcano Village is a very unpretentious place, to say the least.
After loading up on goodies Sunday morning, I took the opportunity to shoot a quick pic of the mountain. Mauna Kea looks pretty in the sunshine, under a blue sky, capped with snow.
A hui hou. Aloha!
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