Stores, Malls or Markets in Hawaii (State of)

I got this tip from a fellow VT friend before I came out (Thanks Robyn!)

There are more ABC stores than the Jackson 5 had hits, no joke!

Some like them - some don't but I found them very usefull, very cheap and with a good selection of food, drink and island goods to boot. There's always one open near you and if you keep all your reciepts you'll probably get yourself a free mug before you go home.

What to buy: Buy whatever takes your fancy, something to remind you of your stay. The shops are good for Hawaiian gifts though many are made in the phillipeans.

I bought my work colleagues some Macadamia nut toffee and they Lurrrved it!

What to pay: Items are cheap so you'll probably buy lots.

Do you have enough time to go to the Ala Moana Center? Is transportation your problem? Are you tight on the budget? If you don't have time and you just have a few days to explore the islands but don't miss out in bringing home gifts, make sure to check the stores at the streets back of Kalakaua Avenue. The t-shirts, jewelries, Hawaiian items are much cheaper than those found at the shops found at hotels. Of course, it is still cheaper to pick up gifts at the Kam Market or at the Wal-mart store (yeah, brahdah, there is Wal-Mart in Hawaii now) to buy inexpensive gifts.

What to buy: Inexpensive Hawaiian puka necklaces, t-shirts and other gifts - refrigerator magnets, picture frames, bathing suits, Hawaiian beach towels, etc.

What to pay: 3 for $20 for Hawaiian t-shirts, $7.95 for each puka necklaces.

Ala Moana houses an array of expensive signature clothing and purse stores and inexpensive locally-owned and managed Hawaiian stores. There is also Macy's on the third level, Sears on the first level. There are different chain stores inside the mall. Also, there is a food court inside the Ala Moana Center, fast food restaurants, ice cream parlors and little shops that sells mementos, chains, necklaces and local Hawaiian jewelries.

What to buy: Whatever you want: from Gucci, Louiv Vuitton, Fendi, Coach, Bebe to bargain t-shirts. You name it, the mall has it.

What to pay: Not sure. But if I were you, I will just go to the food court and eat. After eating, just walk around the mall if I have a lot of time. But if you are shopacaholic, then there are so many things to buy!

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It's a local swap meet where you can find anything - people sell new stuffs to old items. Some people sell all those mementos and gifts that you can find in Waikiki Shops but you save a lot of money by coming here. A Hawaiian t-shirt at the Waikiki shop would cost $3 for 20 but at the Kam swapmeet, you can get 10 shirts for $20!

The swapmeet is located in a huge lot and you can park your car. You pay 50 cents to get in. You can park your car inside the swapmeet.

The best time to get to the swapmeet is at 7-8 am in the morning. You can find a lot of parking. An hour, later? Forget it! Go park close to the Circuit City and walk up the hill!

What to buy: I bought some Hawaiian necklaces- those that you find at Waikiki Beach. The stores over in Waikiki sell each necklace for $7.95 to $25.00. At the swapmeet, you can get 8 pieces for $10.00!

The Hawaiian t-shirts are very cheap, too! It cost $2 per t-shirt - small, medium and large. It didn't really matter what size. These are tagged $2 per item.

What to pay: Spend about $50 to buy all your gifts to bring home to your family or friends and relatives.

Wal-Mart is a very popular store in the mainland United States. Almost all cities have Wal-Mart! It's taking over America! I can understand why. It is very inexpensive.If you wanted to save on anything that you wanted to buy, go to Wal-Mart!

Then just recently, Honolulu has one! Then two! Then another one is opeing in December!

A lot of the businesses don't like it. The native Hawaiians opposed it. There's a lot of talk about it. But, they can't keep Wal-Mart from opening its business!

My family went to Wal-Mart to buy toiletries and some beach necessities (bottled water and mat) because it was so expensive to buy these items close to Waikiki. But then I found out that the Wal-Mart in Hawaii sells a lot of things that a tourist wanted to bring home!

What to buy: Most of the items you can find at tourist stores in Waikiki. Besides, Wal-Mart sells video games, electronics, toys, apparel, appliances, garden, sports, gifts, jewelries, home furnishings, clothings, cosmetics, toiletries, and food.

Wal-Mart also sells Hawaiian t-shirts, Hawaiian refrigerator magnets, shot glasses, Hawaiian key chains, Hawaiian leis, puka shells, mats, bathing suits, Hawaiian towels, hats, postcards (the postcards are way cheaper than in Waikiki!), Hawaiian car stickers, etc. You name it, they got it!

What to pay: regular postcards - $0.17 a card
postcards with stickers at the back - $1.00
refrigerator magnets - $2.99
bigger regrigerator magnets- $3.99

These are the two stores that carry most of the cheaper Hawaiian gifts - Hawaiian necklaces, bracelets, refrigerator magnets, Hawaiian shirts, etc. You can also come here buy beach mats, slippers, bathing suits and sun tan lotion.

My daughter needed slippers and a Hawaiian dress and we got these at the ABC store for $13.00! We got discounts! When you are flying Hawaiian Airlines, cut off the coupon they give out and there is a free Hawaiian mug that comes with a $50 buying spree at Hilo Hattie.

If you have enough time, you can also buy at the Walmart and or a Ala Moana.

What to buy: Gifts to bring to friends and family at home.

What to pay: 25-40% less than other stores

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Besides all the shops, there is a very nice place in Kona called Farmers Market!!!
There you can find fresh fruits, fresh drinks, flowers,seeds and lots of souvenirs that you can buy only there. it was my favourite place to go there every time. you can not miss it because it's on the main street, next to the church.

As a result of damage caused by hurricane Iniki in which flooding damaged Paradise Sportswear's T-shirts a new company was developed to use the pure Hawaiian red dirt as dye for T-shirts and other clothing. Nice if you like orange. Dyed by the people of Kauai. Other items are available and some blue colored stuff too. There are 4 stores in Kauai , 1 in Maui and 1 in Oahu. Great (and inexpensive) pressies for back home and definitely original!

What to buy: "Older than Dirt" baseball cap