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Hawaii shopping
Shopping in Hawaii varies wildly from island to island. For Polynesian kitsch—grass hula skirts, Hawaiian print shirts, tiki mugs, et cetera—you can do no better than the one-stop emporium of Hilo Hattie, which has locations on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. Macadamia nuts, Hawaiian red rock salt, cookies, candies, syrups, spices, and coffee also make for great gifts. You can find find the best prices on these and other souvenirs at Longs Drugs.
Real Hawaiian handicrafts, like carved wood, quilts, and traditional jewelry made from animal bones, are more serious investments. You can save by buying directly from the makers at specialty stores, local swap meets, and open markets. If you're concerned about authenticity, deal with museum shops or established art galleries. Na Hoku and Maui Divers are two local jewelry chains that specialize in what's known as Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry: namesake gold Victorian mourning jewelry now embraced by Gwen Stefani.
Of course, since Hawaii is part of the United States, you can find all of the usual stores and even outlet malls, but the real shopping finds are the one-of-a-kind boutiques such as Sig Zane, Anne Namba, Na Mea Hawaii Books, Hawaiian Island Creations, Island Glassworks, Volcano Art Center, Tamara Catz and Maggie Coulombe.
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see the Oahu guideEvery Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm, local vendors set up shop on the grounds of the Maui Community College, across the street from the Queen Kaahumanu Mall. The...more
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see the Oahu guideThe official store for Na Mea Hawaii, an organization dedicated to sharing Hawaiian culture, language, and traditions. The stock here ranges from academic books...more
see the Oahu guideHoused in a historic plantation right as you drive into Paia Town, Puka Puka is a white-walled boutique, art gallery, and gathering place for locals looking to...more
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see the Oahu guide
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