Mālama Market Pahoa is a large store with a great selection of produce, various items, and many products, including quite a few organic options, grass-fed beef, and unique choices like A2 milk. The store is typically stocked, clean, and well-organized, with a professional and friendly staff that exhibits an aloha spirit, helps customers, and resolves issues easily. Its location is good with multiple access points, though the parking lot could be bigger. However, prices are consistently described as high, pretty high, expensive, atrocious, and all over the place but mostly over expensive, likened to Beverly Hills prices. This is attributed to its convenient location for those not wanting to drive to Hilo and high costs from landlords. Some appreciate the manager specials, discount bins, price breaks, and rewards like a gas card. Critical notes concern prepared food, with a warning to avoid room-temperature items like pizza due to a policy of leaving it out, which has caused severe food poisoning. Some product choices, like Dole bananas and spam, are also criticized. Overall, it is considered a great place for ingredients close by, with lovely workers, but with very high prices.
