What to buy in Hawaii? — 18+ best Hawaii gifts & best things to buy in Hawaii

Hawaii dubbed one the world’s best tropical paradise vacation destinations with many large and small beautiful islands lying close together. Up to now, there are around 19 islands and atolls with spectacular and breathtaking scenery, stunning beaches, many great diving spots, historical sites. It is an all year round destination that attracts millions of tourists every year from all over the world with its rich cuisine along with vivid and unique culture. Visitor come here not only to explore and conquer this land favored by “Mother Nature” but also to satisfy their passion for shopping and collecting meaningful items, gifts, souvernis and other products that bearing bold Hawaiian style to bring back. So, what to buy in Hawaii and what should I buy in Hawaii? Let’s check out our Hawaii shopping guide with suggested +18 best Hawaii gifts (best gifts for Hawaii trip), best Hawaii souvenirs, best things to buy in Hawaii, good souvenirs from Hawaii as well as where to buy in Hawaii and 10+ best places to shop in Hawaii to find out the answer. Now, let’s walk the streets of Hawaii to find out what Hawaii has and bring back lots of gifts that are considered “must-have” in Hawaii to give to your loved ones!

Are you planning a trip to Hawaii but don’t know what to buy in Hawaii as a gift? Here are gift suggestions that you should note for your trip.

What to buy in Hawaii: Hawaiian paintings

Hawaii is famous for its creative art paintings with various themes simulating natural landscapes, creatures, flowers, people, culture and unique architecture… You can bring it home to decorate your home or give it to your loved ones. The lovely Holualoa Gallery (Address: virtual, Holualoa, HI 96725, United States/Phone: +1 808-322-8484) on the Big Island of Hawaii is the great place to choose for yourself beautiful paintings of different sizes. The price of these paintings is quite high, but its aesthetic value is the best thing that makes tourists will not hesitate to withdraw their wallets to buy as gifts.

Best Hawaii gifts: Hawaiian Jewelry

In Hawaii you will definitely not be able to resist the allure of sparkling jewelry. You can find intricately designed necklaces, chains, bracelets, and more. The pretty bracelets are made from colorful shells or kukui nut beads, etc. Most of the jewelry here is typical of the coastal city. Pearl necklaces, shell bracelets, lovely hats studded with shells, etc. are typical jewelry that many tourists choose. So, you can buy it as a gift to introduce the places you’ve been visited or to keep memories after a long travel journey in Hawaii.

When you shop in Hawaii, you’ll likely see jewelry inspired by the island itself for both women and men. Some examples: Necklaces with fish head pendants carved from bone or wood. Jewelry made of glass (glass is created from the sea sand here) or Leis shells (colour decorated necklaces) made of kukui nut beads that have been polished or painted in vibrant colors.

Best Hawaii souvenirs: Ukulele

Hawaii is very famous for the melodious and gentle tone of this ukulele (a type of the lute family of instruments which originated from Portugal). Many tourists choose the ukulele as a gift for their relatives and friends when they return home. This instrument is considered a prominent symbol of Honolulu’s music to the world. You can find this instrument at many stores in downtown Honolulu. With its soft sound and small design, the ukulele is the most meaningful gift you should choose.

When you explore Hawaii, you’ll enjoy the happy tunes of the ukuleles. Some hotels and shops offer free ukulele lessons, which may inspire an interest in learning how to play the four-stringed instrument. Ukulele has a fresh melody, its playing is similar to a guitar but somewhat simpler.

Best things to buy in Hawaii: Macadamia nuts

This is a specialty of Hawaii that many tourists from all over the world choose as a gift when come back home. Macadamia nuts are best when roasted or covered with chocolate to enjoy, you will feel its characteristic flavor. Most visitors love the taste of chocolate covered Macadamia nuts of Macadamia Hershey Kisses. Macadamia nuts are dried and preserved for a long time, so you can buy them as gifts or use them for a long time.

What should I buy in Hawaii: Kona Coffee

Kona Coffee is a typical Hawaiian coffee brand known around the world. This coffee is grown in famous lands such as Oahu, Molokai, Kauai, etc. This is a good candidate for your gift at the end of your journey in Hawaii. All coffee shops in the city center sell this premium coffee. You can find a lot to buy as gifts for your relatives and friends.

Best gifts for Hawaii trip: Hawaiian Honey

Hawaii is extremely famous for its honey. Not only attracts visitors by its passionate aroma, but it is also a very good thing for health, increasing resistance for those who are debilitated, the elderly and especially if used for skin care, you will have a beautiful, bright and healthy skin. Honey is a confident gift that can satisfy all your relatives and friends.

Good souvenirs from Hawaii: Handmade soaps and candles

Handmade soaps and candles in Hawaii are the small and handy gifts that you should pick up at the end of your journey. The soap bars with different scents and shapes, along with the scented candles will make you captivated first sight. With their inherent convenience to pack, you can buy a lot of gifts for your loved ones.

What should I buy in Hawaii: Lovely coffee and tea cups

You can choose cute and lovely coffee/tea cups printed with Hawaii’s logos to give to your relatives and friends. Owning these lovely and unique cups right away, you will be able to decorate and adorn your home space more bright, luxurious and vivid. In particular, this will be the best gift that can please your relatives and friends. Go to the stores in the city center to buy them.

Must buy and best Hawaii gifts: Coloful, vivid Aloha shirts

The brightly colored Aloha-style shirts are a great gift you must buy in Hawaii. With gentle design, rich textures and patterns of landscape, sea, marine life, flowers, natural scenery… with many different colors and sizes. You can go to famous places such as Reyn Spooner, Sig Zane Designs and Tori Richard,… in the Honolulu city center to buy these special shirts as gifts.

For T-shirts, we recommend purchasing at Crazy Shirts in Hawaii. Their T-shirts are of good quality, various designs and they have many stores all over Hawaii.

Good souvenirs from Hawaii: Hawaiian Calendars and retro posters

In Hawaiii you can find a lot of landscape calendars showing the breathtaking beauty of the islands, beaches, vivid and eye-catching images right at the souvenir shops in the city center. Choose it as a gift to give to your loved ones! These landscape calendars can make your space brighter and more luxurious, vibrant than ever.

In addition, you can also buy beautiful retro posters, it will help to adorn your vintage space.

Best things to buy in Hawaii: Hawaiian fabrics

Hawaiian printed fabrics follow rich and delicate colors, patterns showing the traditional beauty of this place. With these printed fabrics you can sew youthful and beautiful clothes. Not only beautiful, but this fabric is extremely durable and of high quality. You can order a tailor to immediately tailor an outfit you like in Honolulu with this fabric to have a gorgeous and beautiful outfit before going home.

What to buy in Hawaii: Koloa Rum

Koloa Rum is one of the finest and most famous Hawaiian liqueurs that you can find in Honolulu. In this city, there are many famous distilleries and many brands are selected to export to many countries around the world. Koloa Rum has a rich flavor, is produced in its own way, so it has a unique uniqueness. You can go to the distillery to buy the original and best quality liquor.

You can buy and taste directly this spirit at Kōloa Rum™ Company Store & Tasting Room (Address: 3-2087 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI 96766, United States/Hours: 10AM–5PM;Sunday: Closed).

Best gifts for Hawaii trip: Tedeschi pineapple wine (Maui Wine)

Tedeschi pineapple wine is one of the drinks that will not disappoint you. This is a popular sparkling wine of choice for gifts quite a bit in Honolulu. It is made from delicious pineapples that grew along coasts, which undergoes distillation and fermentation to create a distinctive flavor. This wine can be suitable for many drinkers, the alcohol level is not too strong, the taste is light sweet… so you can drink it like a normal wine in parties.

Best things to buy in Hawaii: Music CDs

Hawaiian music CDs are also quite popular. Classic, gentle, coastal melodies are loved as the most characteristic gift of this place. This is also a gift for you to bring the classical music culture of Hawaii back home.

What to buy in Hawaii: Longboard Island Lager

Longboard Island Lager is a specialty beverage (a quintessential beach beer) from Hawaii. It undergoes a cold fermentation process for 5 weeks to yield its exceptionally smooth flavor, resulting in a straw yellow beer with a subtle spicy aroma and come in bottles, cans. A bottle of this light carbonated beer has been known to pair perfectly with grilled steak or chicken, pizza or itself with a tropical Hawaiian sunset. These beverage bottles are often used in bars, restaurants, luxury eateries, etc. You can buy them as gifts for colleagues or use in large family parties.

Best Hawaii gifts: Red salt

Red salt (Alaea salt) is a Hawaiian specialty that you can find at many stores in the city for both seasoning and preserving. This sea salt is blended with the mineral-rich volcanic clay called alaea, has a red color and is very suitable seasoning for many dishes such as: grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, crab, fruit, etc. The taste of this salt is very unique and rich. Therefore, many tourists have bought it to give to their relatives and friends.

Best Hawaii souvenirs: Vintage Hawaii Silk Scarf

Colorful Hawaiian scarves depicting nature, rich patterns are often made with a neutral background, with a very delicate design are the most meaningful items that you can choose as a gift. In Hawaii it is handcrafted, sophisticatedly designed with many vivid images such as flowers, leaves, animals… You can buy it to use when swimming or as a gift when returning home.

Best gifts for Hawaii trip: Handmade Koa Wood Products

Honolulu is very famous for handmade products from the wood of the Koa tree. This is a tree that grows only in Hawaii, in the forests of the Big Island, and is known as the rarest, hardwood in the world. However, Koa products have a relatively high price, so you can choose simple Koa accessories at a cheaper price to bring back.

In addition, you can buy other gifts such as: Tropical Fruit Jam, Honolulu cookies, Black Pearl, Koloa Wine, Tuna Jerky (also a specialty of Hawaii), Hawaiian Quilt, Hawaiian Keychains, Coconut Oil and other handmade crafts…

Hawaii shopping guide: Where to shop in Hawaii and best shopping places in Hawaii

Where to shop in Hawaii: Royal Hawaiian Center

Address: 2201 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
Hours: 11AM–8PM

Royal Hawaiian Center belongs to the type of shopping center, where items such as clothes, shoes, cosmetics, electronics, toys, food are concentrated. All your needs will be met when you set foot in this place.

This place is home to more than 150 large and small shops with a full range of items for you to choose to bring back as gifts. When finding souvenirs or gifts in Hawaii, you must definitely visit this center to admire and own the best that Hawaii wants to give to every visitor. Luxurious, elegant suits, elegant dresses like princesses will definitely make you swoon. Coming here, visitors can also relax and enjoy Hawaiian food and drinks. All ready and waiting for your arrival to enjoy.

Barnes & Noble

Address: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd Suite 1272, Honolulu, HI 96814, United States
Hours: 10AM–9PM

Barnes & Noble is a place that specializes in books and stationery and cafe. Come here, if you are a passionate fan of collecting precious books, one thing is for sure, all the books, all the genres you desire will be found here. From all kinds of science books, classic novels, stories, economic books,… are all gathered and sold here. Therefore, if you want to choose old or newly published books to bring back as gifts, this is exactly the place you need to go. You will definitely be extremely satisfied and pleasured.

The number of visitors who gather here every day is very large, you can find yourself a quiet little corner to immerse yourself in books, flying with words. The space is extremely elegant and polite. Indeed, there is a “paradise of knowledge” in Hawaii that you should explore.

Where to shop in Hawaii: Nordstrom

Address: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd Suite 2950, Honolulu, HI 96814, United States
Hours: 10AM–8PM

If you are having a headache about the eternal problem of what to buy in Hawaii, come to Nordstrom. This place is known as a store specializing in fashion for all ages. When you come to Nordstrom, you will be really overwhelmed by the grandeur of a series of “trendy” clothing models. Classy suits, personality and dynamic T-shirts will “fascinate” visitors at first sight.

Here, all visitors can easily choose for themselves the right “quality” outfits, brand clothing, which is suitable for their fashion style. Not only stopping there, capturing the desire of visitors, besides stylish and trendy clothes, beautiful shoes will be a very harmonious and delicate combination to help you become very luxurious and noble when wearing the most trendy set of clothes. In particular, with a staff of experienced and highly qualified consultants, we will ensure that you choose the right products for you. Do not hesitate any longer, hurry to Nordstrom to make your life more interesting!

Best places to shop in Hawaii :Hōlualoa Gallery

Address: virtual, Holualoa, HI 96725, United States
Phone: +1 808-322-8484

If you are tired of walking the streets of Hawaii, then come to Holualoa Gallery, this is a shop located on Mount Hualalai, with an extremely ideal view, helping you to see the beautiful Kona Sea.

This is truly a paradise for visitors with special interests in art, here with 8 galleries designed for very specific displays. Coming here, visitors can freely choose for themselves art works that are created very sophisticatedly and beautifully, here will help you have a lot of choices about products such as ceramics, sculptures, paintings, products made from glass,… Especially, visitors can also create their own works of art with their own preferences and styles. Impressive and interesting, isn’t it? If you still wonder what to buy in Hawaii, where to shop in Hawaii and one of the best places to shopping in Hawaii, come here once, you will be surprised by the simple, rustic beauty of this land!

Best places to shop in Hawaii: International Market Place

Address: 2330 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
Hours: 11AM–8PM

International Market Place is known by tourists as the best place to visit and shop in Hawaii that you should not miss when traveling here. The market has more than 130 shops and stalls, specializing in providing a full range of products for people in the region and of course, tourists from far away, from clothes, shoes, food, jewelry,… You can delight in choosing unique souvenirs that are only available in Hawaii to give to relatives and friends.

When visiting the International Food Court, you can also enjoy a lot of delicious, world-famous dishes, as well as dishes with traditional flavors of this region. Coming here, you will get a lot of new experiences for yourself, learn about the culture and cuisine of the native. And especially, you will definitely choose for yourself the most meaningful and unique items.

Best places to shop in Hawaii: Kahala Mall

Address: 4211 Waialae Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816, United States
Hours: 10AM–9PM

A busy shopping place that attracts many tourists to Hawaii is Kahala Mall. This is not only a shopping mall but also a place for visitors to rest and relax after a long trip to beautiful Hawaii.

Kahala Mall is home to more than 90 shops selling many different products. In addition, this place also has 28 restaurants, allowing you to reward your beloved belly with the best food in Hawaii. The 8 theaters and cinemas at Kahala Mall will meet the maximum needs of visitors when coming here with the latest and hottest movies in the world updated very quickly. So you will enjoy the best that this shopping center has to offer during your trip.

Not located in the city center, but Kahala Mall still attracts the attention of many shoppers with more than 90 stores that are world famous brands such as: Macy’s, Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble, Aveda, Ann Taylor. Especially, after shopping, here you can also enjoy relaxing moments at the 8 cinemas or dining at its food court.

Where to shop in Hawaii: Ala Moana Center

Address: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814, United States
Hours: 10AM–9PM

According to the shopping experience in Honolulu, Ala Moana is a place you must definitely visit once when traveling here. Because this center is not only a top shopping place in Hawaii but also an ideal place to visit. At this open-air mall you will find more than 300 large and small stores with a wide variety of items, including local products. Besides, there are more than 70 restaurants, giving visitors the best dining options.

Where to shop in Hawaii: T Galleria By DFS

Address: 330 Royal Hawaiian Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States
Phone: +1 808-931-2700

For more economical shopping, you can’t miss the T Galleria By DFS. This place is likened to a perfect shopping paradise for fashionistas, brand enthusiasts and those who often hunt for promotions. Here you can freely choose clothes, fashion, cosmetics, jewelry and also traditional souvenirs and exquisite crafts.

Hilton Hawaiian Village

Address: 2005 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815, United States

With more than 100 shops and a variety of stalls, Hilton Hawaiian Village is one of the top shopping malls in Honolulu. The shops here are scattered in 7 locations, providing the perfect shopping opportunity for all visitors, especially women. Some prominent stores here such as: Louis Vuitton in Tapa Concourse, Harley – Davidson in Bazaar Rainbow,…

Best places to shop in Hawaii: Hilo Farmers Market

Address: Corner of Kamehameha Avenue and, Mamo St, Hilo, HI 96720, United States
Hours: 8AM–3PM

Hilo Farmers Market is the first shopping spot that tourists choose when coming to the Big Island, Hawaii. The market was built and started meeting in 1988, mainly selling agricultural products and crafts of local people. Currently, the market has more than 100 stalls with many typical items on this island. In the market, there are many kinds of tropical fruits for sale. Most of the fruits here are purchased from fruit gardens in the region, so they are very fresh and the prices are reasonable.

Besides, coming to Hilo Farmers Market, you will see beautiful flower stalls with hundreds of flowers competing for color. This is a pretty famous flower market in the area. If you want to choose unique and eye-catching clothing, jewelry, this is also the ideal place. In the market, there are many handmade items such as rings, silk, handmade jewelry… all very sophisticated and unique.

Victoria Ward Centers

Address: 1240 Ala Moana Blvd Honolulu, HI 96814-4260

Victoria Ward Centers is a major shopping center in Oahu. There are 4 shopping areas interspersed with large cinemas. The center is likened to a shopping island in all styles, from sports fashion, men’s fashion to women’s fashion. Not only that, this is also a paradise of gems and jewelry. The variety of models will satisfy the ladies. If you want to buy furniture or gifts, it is easy to find here.

The center always ensures the quality of the goods. The goods here are all genuine products of large companies and corporations, so visitors can rest assured when choosing. Rich models, diverse colors, trendy, so this has long become an ideal destination for everyone. Besides, there will be an area dedicated to food. The freshest local foods are available here. Guests can enjoy the specialties of this place easily.

Kinipopo Shopping Village

Address: 4-356 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746, United States
Hours: 9:30AM–5PM/Monday, Sunday: Closed

Kinipopo is a large shopping mall in Kauai. The center is located on the Kuhio Highway. Coming to the center, visitors can easily choose the items they like or buy as gifts for friends and relatives at home. The items in the center are very rich such as the most trendy clothes, shoes, household appliances, electronics, toys, etc.

In particular, visitors will be surprised at the variety of gems and jewelry here. With the desire to bring customers the best products at affordable prices, the goods in the center are all genuine, colorful and durable. If visitors are confused about which type to choose, the center’s professional staff will advise customers on the product that best suits the needs and style of customers.

Where to shop in Hawaii: Parker Ranch Center

Address: 67-1175 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd, Waimea, HI 96743, United States
Hours: 9AM–7PM

Parker Ranch Center is a pretty famous shopping center on the Big Island of Hawaii. This center is located on an area of ​​​​nearly 5,000m2 with many stalls and shops offering a variety of goods for both locals and visitors.

Parker Ranch Center includes 1 supermarket, coffee shop, restaurants and many fashion clothing stores. Besides, customers who love painting can find here beautiful and famous frescoes, including a collection of paintings depicting the life of Paniolo cowboys in history. From the Parker Ranch Center, you can also visit the Parker Ranch museum located nearby.

Hawaii shopping guide: Hawaii shopping tips

• Similar to other cities in the United States, the big sales season in Honolulu will also focus on major holidays such as: Easter in April, National Day in July, summer and Summer Sales, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. At these times, retailers will launch a series of promotions to stimulate the shopping needs of consumers. The number of promotional items is also extremely rich and diverse, from fashion clothes, accessories, cosmetics to household items, electronics,… Especially, preferential prices on these sales are extremely attractive, maybe even up to 80 – 90% of the original price.
• The Honolulu travel experience of many visitors also recommends choosing Outlets for a more perfect shopping experience. Because these are the direct selling points of the brands without going through any intermediaries. Therefore, the product price here is usually about 30% lower than other stores, the goods are more assured in terms of quality and origin. In particular, outlets often have many large and small sales throughout the year, helping you to choose products more easily and economically.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Hawaii you can refer to

• Hawaii Atlantis Submarine Experience
• Go Oahu Card – All Inclusive Pass
• Shared Honolulu International Airport (HNL) Transfers for Honolulu
• Germaine’s Luau in Oahu
• Hawaii Polynesian Cultural Center Day Tour
• Shark Encounter Adventure Private Trip with Sea Life Park Admission in Hawaii

Are you looking for more top things to do in Marina: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here. And Hawaii travel blog — The fullest Hawaii travel guide blog for a great trip to Hawaii islands for first-timers.