Where to Buy Lychee in Honolulu: Your Guide to the Sweetest Season

It’s officially an exceptional lychee year in Honolulu, and if you’re a fan of this tropical fruit, you’re in for a treat. After extensive “research” involving visits to Chinatown markets, a bit of elbowing through crowds, and a significant personal consumption of seven pounds of lychee, the verdict is in: the lychee season is truly outstanding this year.

Last year’s lychee crop was meager, and the year before showed inconsistent sweetness across different vendors. However, this year, every single lychee tasted has been perfectly sweet and bursting with juice.

Ken Love, president of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, explains this phenomenon: “Lychee is never consistent from year to year. It’s a combination of weather: both rain and dry times plus hot and cold. When we get a perfect combination, we have a great year.” This year, it seems, nature has provided that perfect combination.

While the fruit stands in Chinatown may not specify the exact lychee varieties they offer, The Wine Stop has been consistently stocking Kaimana lychee every few weeks. Given the fleeting nature of lychee season, it’s advisable to get your hands on them soon.

Where to Find These Delicious Lychees:

Chinatown Fruit Stands: Explore the vibrant fruit stands in Chinatown, where prices range from $4.50 to $4.99 per pound. Check out vendors like Chau’s Fresh Fruit at the entrance to Maunakea Marketplace, and the market located at the corner of Kekaulike Mall.
The Wine Stop: For Kaimana lychee, head to The Wine Stop. Keep an eye on their Twitter feed for updates on lychee shipment arrivals. Lychee at The Wine Stop is priced at $6.99 per pound.

Fresh, vibrant lychees for sale in Honolulu. Find out where to buy the sweetest lychee this season.

For those interested in learning more about lychee varieties and their sweetness levels, refer to these resources from the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers: