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Residents like to complain that there isn't a lot of great shopping on the Big Island, but unless you're searching for winter coats, you can find plenty to deplete your pocketbook.
Dozens of shops in Kailua-Kona offer a range of souvenirs from far-flung corners of the globe and plenty of local coffee and foodstuffs to take home to everyone you left behind. Housewares and artworks made from local materials (lauhala, coconut, koa, and milo wood) fill the shelves of small boutiques and galleries throughout the island. Upscale shops in the resorts along the Kohala Coast carry high-end clothing and accessories, as do a few boutiques scattered around the island. Galleries and gift shops, many showcasing the work of local artists, fill historical buildings in Waimea, Kainaliu, Holualoa, and Hawi. Hotel shops generally offer the most attractive and original resort wear, but, as with everything else at resorts, the prices run higher than elsewhere on the island.
High prices are entirely too common at the island's resort spas, but a handful of unique experiences are worth every penny. Beyond the resorts, the Big Island is also home to independent massage therapists and day spas that offer similar treatments for lower prices, albeit usually in a slightly less luxurious atmosphere. In addition to the obvious relaxation benefits of any spa trip, the Big Island's spas have done a fantastic job incorporating local traditions and ingredients into their menus. Massage artists work with coconut or kukui (candlenut) oil, hot-stone massages are conducted with volcanic stones, and ancient healing techniques such as lomilomi—a massage technique with firm, constant movement—are staples at every island spa.
You might lose yourself exploring the trove of fine art and collectibles in every price range at this gallery, which represents hundreds of local artists and has a low-key, unhurried atmosphere. The "things" include hand-stitched quilts, ceramic sculptures, vintage kimonos, original paintings, koa-wood bowls and furniture, etched glassware, Niihau shell lei, and feather art by local artist Beth McCormick.
C. J. Kale is an accomplished, award-winning photographer famous for capturing extraordinary images of lava flowing through the curl of a wave. Not a believer in using photo manipulation or special effects, Kale produces work that is as authentic as it gets. He and gallery partners Linda and Don Hurlzeler showcase their fine images of the beauty of Hawaii and other scenic places around the world.
Kapaau-based artist Gary Ackerman features his oil paintings and multimedia art in an impressionistic and abstract style at this small gallery.
Woodworker Gerald Ben and his wife, Renee, own this fine gallery that specializes in offering contemporary and abstract pieces while supporting the Holualoa arts community. It features a variety of art, including woodworking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and painting.
Supporting the Waimea Arts Council, the gallery presents annual juried shows of local art as well as solo and group exhibitions by its many award-winning multimedia artists and artisans. It's in Waimea's original firehouse building at the intersection of Lindsey Road and Mamalahoa Highway. Always call to check before visiting, as the gallery is staffed by volunteers and hours aren't always regular.
Since 1990, this gallery has been enticing visitors with a vast collection of paintings and sculptures by more than 200 Big Island artists. There are also antique maps and prints, wooden bowls, paddles, koa furniture, jewelry, and glasswork. The shop hosts two annual wood shows and actively supports the local arts community.
Gary and Elizabeth Theriault showcase a variety of local art here, including Gary's Big Island life photos and Elizabeth's hand-painted drums and rattles. The gallery owners also feature work from other artists, including Hawaiian ipus (gourds used as instruments in hula), exotic wood items, paper sculptures, quilts, and jewelry, at their sweet cottage gallery.
Mike Field's iconic, high-graphic artwork is on display at this small, quaint gallery. An active waterman raised in Hawaii, Mike captures the island lifestyle of canoe paddling, surfing, and sailing as well as island plants and landscapes. T-shirts and other inexpensive items are also for sale here.
Watercolorist and oil painter Patrick Louis Rankin showcases his own work at his shop in a restored plantation store next to the bright-green Chinese community and social hall. The building sits right at a curve in the road on the way to Pololu Valley, at the first gulch past Kapaau.
In a vintage home, this quaint gallery showcases finely crafted wooden bowls, koa furniture, paintings, and jewelry—all made by local artists. There's also a great little café where you can pick up a sandwich or house-made ice cream before descending into Waipio Valley.
Run by local artists Peter and Jeanette McLaren, the gallery showcases their woodwork and photography collections along with beautiful ceramics, photography, glass, and paintings from other Big Island artists. The historical building still has a working soda fountain dating from 1935.
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