Top Hawaiian Souvenirs
People can hardly come back from Hawaii without getting or purchasing one or the other item. For their friends and family, or simply personal souvenirs, it has become a tradition among the majority of tourists arriving in the Hawaiian Islands to bring home with them plenty of all sorts of things.
The gifts expressed on this island are also as varied and as colorful as the Hawaiian Islands, themselves. These talented local artists have been making their art for years, though it reflects the spirit of diverse cultures and Aloha.
Therefore the following are some of the best things to purchase in Hawaii.
Interesting Personalized Hawaiian Gifts & Souvenirs
Nearly anything and nearly everywhere you can buy beautiful items in Hawaii to the extent that you may feel swamped. However, the following list is provided in case you seek products that are special to Hawaii. These are all crafted products, manufactured in Hawaii from materials found in Hawaii.
1. Lei Garlands
Leis are famous gifts of Hawaii. These ornamental necklaces can be fabricated from flowers or shells, seeds, paper, or beads.
Leis are used in specific events like birthdays, and graduations and are often offered to welcome visitors to the islands, and that is why you find most visitors with leis on them. Today’s Hawaiian flower leis may be purchased at local lei stands and florist shops in Hawaii and are best transported in plastic containers.
2. Natural Seashells
Shells are among the prettiest and cheapest souvenirs you can buy in Hawaii; if you go hunting for them yourself, they are free. Even though collecting shells on the seashore may not interest some people, it is possible to get the shells in stores at cheap prices.
3. Hawaiian Jewelry
Hawaii has seen a large number of jewelers and artisans specializing in beach jewelry designs. There is everything from gold and silver jewelry to beads, coral, mother-of-pearl pendants, and shells. Some stores allow the customer to pick the oyster, have it shelled to release the pearl, and then be placed in a setting for a jewel.
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4. 100% Natural Hawaiian bath and body products
Hawaii also provides other personal uses products that are all-natural and come in plant-based shower gels, soaps, creams, and lotions with the fragrance of vanilla, coconuts, and jasmine. You should look for organic, spa-quality aloe lotions, bath salts, and scrubs, some of which are fragranced with essential oils.
5. Old Lahaina Rum
Maui also has a rum factory and their Old Lahaina rum is a good buy if you’re a fan of the Mai Tai, a classic rum-based cocktail.
6. Sarong/Pareo
Sarongs also termed as Pareo are large pieces of material that are worn traditionally in the region of the Pacific. They can be used as beach covers or any other fashionable apparel which is suitable and they can be good souvenirs.
7. Hawaiian Spices
A delicious Hawaiian food can be enjoyed especially because of the spices that are indigenous to the Hawaiian area, including spices produced from roasted Kukui nuts and seawater and sea salt. There is a special favor known as Hawaiian Rub which is used in barbecuing and can be used in preparing any food.
8. Hawaiian Honey
Hawaii’s largest island is home to one of the most exotic honey known to man, the Kiawe tree, which blooms yellow flowers that the bees gather into honey. This honey is perfect if you want to give more than just the normal honey bought from the supermarket.
9. Aloha Shirts
Highland dress is very famous, and well known worldwide as kilts, formal suits, ties, and tweed jackets; Aloha shirts enjoyed by celebrities like Elvis Presley are known souvenirs of Hawaii. Prices differ according to the quality of the material as well as the type of fabric used in manufacturing these garments.
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10. Koa Wood Carvings
Koa wood carving is only found in Hawaii and every carving done on this wood has beautiful, deep tones of colors and grain that are different from each other. Koa wood occurred only in Hawaii and thus these carvings are valuable souvenirs.
11. Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts
While macadamia nuts are not native to Hawaii, they have now become part of the traditional crop of Hawaii. New harvest nuts are thus a perennial produce enabling lovers of the delicacies to always have some with them as souvenirs.
12. Kona Coffee
Kona coffee is unique in that it is very tasty and people love to take it with them as gifts for their loved ones. Beware of blends since some of them contain little as 10% of Kona beans. Ordinary genuine Kona coffee is relatively costly.
13. Ukulele
The Hawaiian local cultural icon and musical instruments such as the ukulele can be obtained here. Most ukuleles are made in Hawaii but some brands have some parts that are imported and others that are fully assembled in Hawaii.
14. Tropical Flavor Cookies
Honolulu Cookie Company presents a wide range of tropical flavors of shortbread cookies that help you recall your Hawaiian stay.
15. Hawaiian Quilts
Being a part of Hawaii, the latter is famed for its vivid colors and silhouetted applications. However full-size quilts may be costly, other homemade accessories such as hot pads, bags, and table runners are cheaper.
16. Nautical Wind Chimes
Most are relatively cheap and wind chimes, seashells and other navigational instruments such as the compass are unique and attractive.
17. Artwork
Hawaii also has established it selves as a place of art and local artists in Hawaii work in oil painting, wood carving, and many others. These works can become a beautiful souvenir of your trip, which will be stably maintained in a family in the future.
18. Exotic Fruit Jellies
The Hana Collection provides gourmet tropical fruit jellies with real fruit content. These are brilliant enzyme-boosting mints that arrive in several pleasant flavors, thus making them a fantastic gift.
19. Pineapple
Even though the pineapple is not a native plant in the Hawaiian Islands the fruit has become strongly connected with the archipelago. A fresh pineapple can always be bought and makes a very good memento, especially one from the Dole Company.
20. Poi in a Bag
Poi is a type of food native to Hawaii that is prepared from taro root and this type of food contains a very special flavor. The original formula is usually packed and sold in ready-to-mix bags to make it convenient when making it at home. Poi in a Bag is a great souvenir if you fancy yourself a lover of real Hawaiian food.
Hawaiian Souvenirs: Where to Shop
Hawaiian products can be bought in most of the island in malls, individual shops, craft stores, and artists’ galleries. The best places to buy cheap products include outdoor markets, craft fairs, and swap meets because they cost less to run than indoor markets. Some popular shopping locations include:
- ABC Stores
- Aloha Wear
- Walmart
- The Shops at Wailea
- Hilo Hattie
- Ala Moana Center
- Kings’ Shops
- Princeville CenterKahala Mall
Try to buy real souvenirs and only choose products labeled “made in Hawaii.”