* The People's Open Markets will reopen under their regular schedule beginning Saturday, Sept. 19. Click here for more information

Founded in 1973, the People's Open Market (POM) was formed to accomplish three goals:

Provide the opportunity to purchase fresh agricultural and aquacultural products and other food items at low cost. Support the economic viability of diversified agriculture and aquaculture in Hawaii by providing market sites for local farmers, fishermen, or their representatives to sell their surplus and off-grade produce. Provide focal point areas for residents to socialize.

An estimated half a million people shop at the 25 market sites each year. Prices are usually lower than retail stores. Many ethnic fruits and vegetables not normally found in the large retail stores are found here. Each market operates once a week and lasts about an hour.

The markets are closely regulated by the POM staff. They conduct weekly price surveys at various stores to determine a recommended price for the POM vendors to follow, supervise the arrival and departure of the POM vendors to ensure safety for both vendor and consumer, and monitor each vendor to ensure that they comply with all City, State and Federal government rules and regulations, ordinances and laws affecting their participation in the POM.

HISTORY OF THE OPEN MARKETS

The beginning of the open markets is attributed to Mrs. Joyce Fasi. After hearing concerns of women in a discussion group regarding the high cost living in Honolulu and in particular the high cost of food, she relayed these thoughts to her husband, then Mayor Frank F. Fasi. The People's Open Market were thus started to assist farmers with selling their "off-grade", "ungraded" and surplus produce and at the same time help lower food costs for the citizens of Honolulu. Today, the People’s Open Market has evolved and farmers now bring mainly first grade produce to sell at discounted prices.



The first People's Open Market (POM) was started at the Banyan Court Mall location in Kalihi in November, 1973. People in other communities began requesting their own POMs. Soon, a caravan of POM farmer/vendors were traveling to various sites to help citizens purchase low cost food items.



The POM staff determines a recommended price that the vendors may sell their produce at (usually 35% below the retail prices). This is done by having the staff do weekly price checks of the retail stores in the city to calculate the POM price. The City also requires all vendors to be authorized to accept food stamps to help those who are on fixed incomes. Vendors may sell below, but not over, the recommended prices.



At the POM, you will find many kinds of ethnic fruits, vegetables and other food items that are not ordinarily available in grocery stores. Depending on the ethnic make-up of the neighborhood, you will find different varieties at different sites.

If you are interested in being a POM vendor, please contact the POM office at (808) 768-9299. There are only a few basic requirements to sign up and best of all, it’s free!

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Market Schedule

Markets are CLOSED on all City Holidays!

Click on the Day of the Week or on the *name of the open market to see more information about the open market and how to get there.

TYPES OF PRODUCE

In multi-cultural Hawaiʻi, you'll find a variety of foods associated with the different ethnic groups. Fresh ocean and pond fish as well as farmed shrimps and prawns are also available - many sold "live." In addition, a variety of Hawaiʻi grown flowers, such as ginger, orchids and anthuriums are for sale.