[Specifically for the Big Island]
1. No organized groups, at all [unless you count animal welfare organizations such as trap, neuter, release programs].
2. Very few veggie-friendly restaurants [that focus or highlight vegetarian items].
3. Small [< 200,000 people] and very spread out population which makes it hard for people to get together if someone wants to organize an event.
4. Five to six “health food stores”; three are owned by the same individual. Three are on the Hilo [east side] of the island; two are on the west side [Kailua-Kona area] of the island. There used to be two more on the west side, but they closed in 2013, so the choices are now even more limited. There may still be one at the north end of the island. Also, these stores are rather small, and there is nothing like a Whole Foods or other larger ‘health food store’ on the Big Island [and I haven’t heard of any plans to bring one]. There was a “Down to Earth” but it closed.
5. The ‘big box’ supermarkets have pretty typical offerings; a few are incorporating more organic and ‘natural’ products, but not many.
6. Few veggie-friendly places to visit or stay [I know of only a couple that have as one focus vegetarianism, but it is not their primary focus].
7. The main businesses of Hawaii are tourism [specifically for the mainland U.S. and Japanese travelers, as well as a few other more minor countries] and medical-related companies.
8. The host culture focuses on meat-based items [the luau highlights a roast pig, for example].
1. No organized groups, at all [unless you count animal welfare organizations such as trap, neuter, release programs].
2. Very few veggie-friendly restaurants [that focus or highlight vegetarian items].
3. Small [< 200,000 people] and very spread out population which makes it hard for people to get together if someone wants to organize an event.
4. Five to six “health food stores”; three are owned by the same individual. Three are on the Hilo [east side] of the island; two are on the west side [Kailua-Kona area] of the island. There used to be two more on the west side, but they closed in 2013, so the choices are now even more limited. There may still be one at the north end of the island. Also, these stores are rather small, and there is nothing like a Whole Foods or other larger ‘health food store’ on the Big Island [and I haven’t heard of any plans to bring one]. There was a “Down to Earth” but it closed.
5. The ‘big box’ supermarkets have pretty typical offerings; a few are incorporating more organic and ‘natural’ products, but not many.
6. Few veggie-friendly places to visit or stay [I know of only a couple that have as one focus vegetarianism, but it is not their primary focus].
7. The main businesses of Hawaii are tourism [specifically for the mainland U.S. and Japanese travelers, as well as a few other more minor countries] and medical-related companies.
8. The host culture focuses on meat-based items [the luau highlights a roast pig, for example].
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