Support Local. Be Mindful. Stay Rooted. You can do all these things at a beautiful small business in Wailuku town that’s making it easier to live a more sustainable — or as they call it sust-‘āina-ble — lifestyle.
Rooted in Wailuku is two things in one sweet spot at 1942 Main Street.
A Refill Bar to Help Reduce Plastic
This is an awesome place to buy and refill eco-friendly products like hair and facial products, lotions, sunscreens, toothpaste tabs, laundry soap, dish pods, household cleaners and more, thanks to co-owner Ashley Kawaihalau. There are also offer self-care items and household goodies.
The process is super simple. You can bring in your own bottles, or purchase containers there, then pay by the ounce to fill them up!
“It’s been really fun to see people bring back bottles they bought from like the first month that we opened,” smiles Kawaihalau.
Rooted opened its doors in July of 2021 and has seen a steady flow of loyal customers ever since, responding to the call to keep materials out of Maui’s landfill and do their part to care for their bodies, homes and earth.
“Reuse what we have, use it consciously and not wastefully,” explains Kawaihalau. “Be aware of what’s going in, on and around us.”
A Hair Salon with a Higher Purpose
You may not realize it, but your haircuts, colors and styles produce a lot of environmental waste. While you may be admiring your new hairdo in the mirror, longtime local stylist Keli Lau wanted to reflect a shift in the industry. She was well aware of the ongoing impact on our earth, and aimed to do things differently.
As co-owner of Rooted in Wailuku, she separates out and recycles nearly all the haircare products: the color, the aluminum foil, even the hair itself! This mother of six wanted to do her part to care for not only present, but also future generations.
“I’m very aina-conscious, and feel there are little things I can do as far as recycling,” says Lau. “About 95% of our waste is recycled. That’s my contribution to our ‘āina and to Maui.”
Besties in Business Together
These co-owners work, play and dance together, as best friends and members of the same hula hālau. Their business name rings true in their lives — they say Wailuku is where their roots are planted.
“Everything that we do is based out of Wailuku; our hālau, our ‘ohana, we’re all here and I really feel a connection to Wailuku, Waihe‘e, Wai‘ehu, so I’m really happy we get to be here,” explains Lau.
Rooted is typically open from Tuesday to Saturday, though it can vary, so they post their hours weekly on Instagram and display them in the window of the shop.
“You know how it is, Mom Life,” laughs Kawaihalau. “Sometimes there are afterschool activities, I gotta pick up my kids, so that’s my number one priority; as far as being a mom, I have to reflect my hours to support that.”
Shop the Street to Support Local in Wailuku
Rooted also takes part in “Shop the Street,” a pop-up collective every second Sunday of the month to help showcase Maui’s small businesses. It includes several pop-up locations for shoppers as they cruise Main Street: Rooted in Wailuku, Friends & Faire, Wailuku Food Trucks and Maluhia Collective.
Learn more about this special local brand in our #SmallBusinessSupport series video above, and at the Rooted in Wailuku website. #MauiInspired