What You’ll Find at The Silos at the Waialua Sugar Mill

Tucked away on the North Shore amid a cluster of old silos, a collection of vibrant, trendy businesses breathes life into a space that shut down its operations 30 years ago.

Since 2004, the old Waialua Sugar Mill—once a major supplier of refined sugar in Hawai‘i—has served as the eccentric home to charming small businesses. In past days, the facility housed agricultural workers and tons upon tons of sugar. Now, there’s a growing community of creatives and entrepreneurs, with the silos at the back of the property home to its most recent additions. 

On any given day, The Silos at the Waialua Sugar Mill is filled with people looking to shop, grab a treat or catch up with friends. Customers seat themselves at picnic tables out front or climb spiral staircases to find reprieve from the goings-on down below. Walking through the space, you feel a calm, positive energy. Maybe it’s the wellness-focused angle of so many of the businesses. Or the tight-knit community that’s formed among the store owners and staff. Whatever it is, it makes for a special place.

67-106 Kealohanui St., Waialua, @thesilos.waialua

And the current lineup of businesses, all of which have trickled in within the past few years, are worth checking out. Here are some of the ones we visited:

Bungalow

Step into a quaint little world built on the owner’s love of textiles, vibrant colors and patterns. You’ll find vintage mu‘umu‘u, jewelry and prints made by local female artists.

bungalowguchi.com, @bungalow.guchi

The Country Eatery

Fuel up at this health-focused snack bar, where options range from gluten-free carrot cake and cookie dough protein to Mediterranean salads and yogurt parfaits. You can also pick from an assortment of vitamin juices and wellness shots.

thecountryeatery.com, @thecountryeatery

The Den Waialua

Take a cycling or Vinyasa yoga class before winding down in the studio’s no-phone recovery room, complete with a sauna and cold plunge. Finish off with a coconut smoothie from the bar out front.

thedenhawaii.com, @thedenhawaii

Mele Mele Bakery

Grab a matcha with house-made strawberry syrup or a Norwegian cardamom bun at this small-batch bakery. The owner sources many of her ingredients from local farms down the road, offering customers a truly sweet taste of Waialua.

melemelebakery.com, @melemelebakery

North Shore Arts Center

Learn to make your own pottery and bangles alongside other budding artists. The center sits at the heart of the Silos and frequently hosts date nights, workshops and creative meetups.

nsartscenter.com, @northshoreartscenter

B7anks

Stock up on sandpaper, fiberglass and resin to build your own surfboard. The shop also has surf blanks and shaping tools—essentials for life on the North Shore.

b7anks.com, @b7anks.hawaii

Browse through pre-loved books at this cozy reading nook, which boasts everything from thrifted contemporary fiction novels to vintage Hawaiian titles. The owner also hosts a monthly reading group in the space.

@bluelawnbookshoppe

A former HONOLULU editorial intern, Annabelle Ink is a graduate of Pomona College in Southern California and now a contributor.