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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.
Since 1980, Mrs. Barry and her family have been serving yummy homemade cookies, including macadamia nut, white chocolate–macadamia nut, oatmeal raisin, and coffee crunch. Packaged in beautiful gift boxes or bags, the cookies make excellent gifts. She even makes cookies for the family dog. Stop by on your way to Costco or the airport and pick up a bag or two or three—or just ask Mrs. Barry to ship your stash instead.
As local as it gets, this little shop is a classic Big Island tradition, selling preserved Hawaiian-style seeds, li hing mui (sweet and sour plums), Japanese snacks such as arare (small crackers), and handmade candies, in addition to authentic Hawaiian souvenirs.
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