CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Fay Lee, center, and June Sato, right, tried some cheese at Whole Foods this morning at Kahala Mall.

Kahala crowd greets Whole Foods' debut

About 150 people line up before the grocery chain opens its first Hawaii store

Whole Foods Market, the Texas-based natural foods retailer, opened its doors to an eager crowd following a traditional bread-breaking ceremony at 7 a.m. today at Kahala Mall.

Among the first to be there were Whole Foods fans Christine Lecklie of Portlock and Carlene Damon of Kahala, who donned specially made hats adorned with recycled flowers and produce for the occasion.

"I've been waiting eagerly for 10 years for (Whole Foods) to come," said Damon, who has shopped at the store in California, Texas, Florida and New York. "I stayed in hotels near Whole Foods."

A crowd of about 150 waited before the 7 a.m. opening, some since the break of dawn. Dozens of shoppers continued to pour in throughout the morning for free food samples, as well as to check out the long-awaited store.

The gleaming, 28,670-square-foot Whole Foods offered colorful display of produce - from a wall of green lettuce to mounds of glistening mangoes, red dragonfruit, and starfruit.

Near the front entrance, the gelato bar, with all the different flavors laid out in pre-made scoops, was popular, as was the coffee bar, bakery, hot foods bar and prepared foods section.

At the of the back of the store, the silvery gleam of a large opah (moonfish) was on display with other catches from the ocean.

"I like it - it's something different," said Elizabeth Oyabu, a first-time shopper from Honolulu.

Whole Foods Market plans three more stores in Hawaii over the next two years, at Ward, Kailua and Maui.

Kahala Mall's Whole Foods Market will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.