It’s Earth Month: Here’s Where to Get Cool Eco-Products on O‘ahu

Photo: Kenna Reed, Courtesy of Protea Zero Waste

April is Earth Month, aka the perfect time to switch to more sustainable products and practices. To help get you started we’ve put together a handy cheat sheet of our go-to O‘ahu eco-stores dedicated to stocking environmentally friendly goodies.

Photos: Brie Thalmann

Every Day Better by Green Meadows

Who: Opened by Katie Meadows in 2019, this charming sustainable homewares and gift shop is tucked back behind Kaimukī’s Goodwill store in the Okumura Building.
 

What: Meadows fills her shelves with stylish and small-batch goods sourced from all over the globe. We’ve spotted everything from chic cotton napkin sets from Australia and machine washable copper cleaning cloths from Germany to British umbrellas made from recycled plastic bottles. She’s also mindful to carry brands that use sustainable packaging.
 

Refill Station: No refill station, but you can snag packaging-free shampoo and conditioner bars.
 

Where: 1223 Koko Head Ave. Suite 2, (808) 737-7770
 

When: Open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

everydaybetterbygreenmeadows.com, @everydaybetter_by_greenmeadows

Photo: Brie Thalmann

Kōkua General Store

Who: Jack and Kim Johnson opened Kōkua General Store as an extension of their nonprofit Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation, which is dedicated to environmental education in Hawai‘i communities. The foundation receives 100% of the shop’s profits.

What: One half of the store holds an extensive refill station, pantry, beauty and personal care items—think Kapa Nui nail polish, Bee’s Cotton Wrap food covers and the Indigo Elixirs natural beauty line. The other half is dedicated to vintage clothing, vintage records from Hungry Ear Records, home décor and more.
 

Refill Station: Includes MamaSuds dishwasher powder and Toilet Bombs, and Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Pure-Castile soap and Sal Suds cleaner. You’ll also find Hawai‘i-made refill items such as AIM HI body scrub, North Shore Soap Factory body wash and laundry detergent, and Keali Organics’ bar shampoos and conditioners.
 

When: Open Wednesday to Thursday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
 

Where: 66-249 Kamehameha Highway, Hale‘iwa

@kokuageneralstore 

Photos: Kenna Reed, Courtesy of Protea Zero Waste

Protea Zero Waste

Who: Texan Lori Mallini originally moved to O‘ahu to pursue environmental studies at Hawai‘i Pacific University. After learning about the microplastics that pollute Hawai‘i’s beaches and water, she was inspired to start Protea Zero Waste in hopes of cutting plastic pollution and protecting people from exposure to toxic materials.
 

What: Protea stocks a ton of great products that make the transition to a more sustainable lifestyle a snap, such as Unpaper reusable towels, biodegradable kitchen scrubs, organic cotton coffee filters and even reusable menstrual pads.
 

Refill Station: You’ll find all of the standard refill station products, along with trickier-to-find items, such as plant-based floss, hand sanitizer, baby oil and makeup remover. It’s even got dog shampoo.
 

Where: 35 Kainehe St., Kailua
 

When: Open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.­–4 p.m.

proteazerowaste.com, @proteazerowaste

Photo: Brie Thalmann

Keep It Simple Zero Waste

Who: Friends Jillian Corn and Hunter Logan opened Keep It Simple Zero Waste’s first location on Kaimukī’s Wai‘alae Avenue in 2020, inspired by the zero-waste shops they had encountered during their world travels. Now the company has two additional outposts in Waikīkī and in Kapolei at Ka Makana Ali‘i.

What: Find great home and beauty items, plus a nice array of gifts, swimwear, clothing and accessories. We’re especially fond of the bikinis and workout apparel from local label Tai Swim, which uses fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles, and the cloud-soft tees from LA brand Studio Ko, cut from bamboo, cotton and hemp.
 

Refill Station: Along with common refill products, snap up harder-to-find ones like laundry scent boosters, fabric softener, dishwasher pods, shower steamers, Epsom salt and clay detox masks.
 

Where/When: You can find Keep It Simple in one of three locations on O‘ahu:

• In Kaimukī at 3571 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 102A, open daily 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
• In Kapolei at 91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, #315, Kapolei, open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.­–6 p.m.
• In Waikīkī at 227 Lewers St., #R-103, open daily 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

keepitsimplezerowaste.com, @keepitsimplehonolulu, @keepitsimplekapolei

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