Hawaiian Goodies to bring to Germany
 

Aloha,
I am traveling to Germany in October. I need to bring gifts. I dont want to bring something that they can get in Germany. I was thinking about Kona Coffee and assorted Macadamia Nuts. Please any advise on these or other suggestions?? All of the gifts will be for various age groups from teenagers to older adults Male and Female.
Mahalo,
Jeanne

T-Shirts. My parents brought me some really great ones when they went to Hawaii a couple of years ago, which I still wear and love. Something with tropical fish, for example, for the 'middle-aged' - my (age 41) favourite is a blue one with a batic-like pattern and dolphins on it. Soemthing funny for the teenagers.

Macadamia nuts are available here, but our supermarkets usually have but the salted ones, so if you bring different types/flavours, they will be appreciated.

Toffee-covered Macadamia nuts; ti-leaf logs; papayas, the kind treated for export; coconut syrup; tropical jams, such as guava.

I'm addicted to Hawaiian coffee, to the point where we order it all online from Kuaui Coffee. However, nearly every cup I've had in Germany of whatever local brand has been almost as good. I think I would skip that.

Macadamia nuts seem like a good idea - especially the spiced and flavored ones (I adore the coffee covered ones).

I like the t-shirt idea.... perhaps some kitschy things like the Hawaiian shirt shaped note pads. I brought those home from our last trip and people like them - they're usable!

escrowmanager:

You're going to laugh at how unhelpful this might be. I saw some homegrown stuff at the Diamond Head Farmers' Market on Saturdays. Remember telling myself that that next time I travel and need omiyage I would stop by there first. Can't remember off hand what they were (this is the "unhelpful" part), but they were Hawaiian and less expensive than at retail outlets. I figure I'll know them when I see them again!

When we lived in Hawaii my daughter did a study abroad and lived with a family in Spain. She brought plumeria stalks (approved for export, of course), and lots of kitschy stuff like coasters and notepads shaped like aloha shirts, piles of ABC Store keychains, the usual Hawaii crap. Everybody just loved that stuff, LOL.

We always take those ABC Stores key chains down to our family in Samoa. Big hit. The coffee is also a big hit.

go to Long's or the swap meet and buy those ornate hawaiian boxes made out of lauhala with the ribbons on them. They are only a couple of bucks but sure make an impression when they are filled with the coffee, mac nuts,candy,key chains, etc. They come in all sizes so you can make varying sizes of gifts.

Aloha!

Just wanted to add that I'm wearing my Maui dolphin t-shirt right now.

The Red Dirt or Black Dirt t-shirts might be good for the teens. Get fitted tees for the girls if you can...maybe something with a turtle or fish on it. I gave one of the big monkey towels (from ABC) to a teenaged girl which was a big hit. Definitely plain macadamia nuts and coffee. Maybe a koa wood salad bowl set and salad tossers. The cheap $2 white shell necklaces might also go over well. I get complimented on mine quite a bit. Those fishing hook necklaces are also kind of cool. Little things like sticky notepads are fun.

HTH!

Here, to make it even easier for you.

For the female teenagers:
http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/4,871.htm

Monkey towel:
http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/4,955.htm

Male teens:
http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/4,288.htm

Younger adults/teens:
http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/2,31.html

Older females:
http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/2,28.html
http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/4,1187.htm

If they celebrate Christmas:
http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/2,63.html

If you're going to get chocolate mac nuts, the ones that come in a canister taste better than those that come in a flat box. Just my opinion, though!

Good grief! How could I forget Iz (RIP, friend)!!!! Get one of his CDs, and maybe one or two other Hawaiian CDs that you like.

I'm wondering if the Hawaiian t-shirt is Sherri Reeves. Her shop is on Maui and her shirts are gorgous. One of her shirts might be fun for the older female. She doesn Dolphins, Turtles, Whales, really beautiful.

These all sound like some great tips, keep them coming I am making my list for the swap meet!! I like the idea of cut plantings (like plumeria etc). Do you think I will have problem getting them through "Customs"?
Mahalo,
Jeanne

Oh the music, how can I forget some great Hawaiian CD's!! and they are light and easy to pack!! Braddah Moe,Iz & Uncle Don they gotta come along for the ride!!
Mahalo,
Jeanne

Aloha
My wife and I went to Germany in 2004. and are going again next month. We took little cans of varieties of Mac Nuts (coconut, kona coffe, etc) to give out to people we "connected with" along the way. Everyone loved them. We also took Kona coffee and dried mangoes along for friends. Several newly found young nieces just loved anything with the Humuhumunuknukuapuaa on it. As you know it's a really unique looking fish, and kids being kids, they learned to say the name quite quickly. T shirts and small backpacks are a hit with the older kids (surfing and sharks were big hits with the boys.) I even did a little preliminary planning and bought a plumeria lei at the airport and it was in top shape even after the long flight.....
Have fun.....
Aloha und tschuss!
Terry

Aloha Terry,
Do you think I would have trouble bringing leis? I thought that this would be a No-No with international travel (I have never traveled out of the country). Thanks for the input!
Mahalo,
Jeanne

Hi Jeanne
No trouble at all taking lei with you to Germany. I took one two years ago when I went (without my wife) to get to know a new found cousin and her family. I ordered a fresh lei that was made the day I left, kept it in the plastic bag and had the flight attendants keep it in a cool place for me. It was plumeria, which is pretty fragile, so another kind (carnation, rose or tuberose) would travel even better. On another trip to California we took Ti leaves with us (to make kahlua turkey for thanksgiving). We just checked with dept of Ag at the airport to get the ok....
gute reisen
Terry

Jeanne
Is this your first trip to Germany? Or Europe? my email is [email protected]. I may have some tips for you regarding little things I have learned (the hard way in some cases....). Nothing earth shaking, but info that was NOT in any guide books.

Terry

Aloha Terry,
Thank you so much I was wondering if I could, but outside of calling the airlines I was not sure who to check with. I am going to meet my two uncles and their wives as weel as all of my cousins I have never meet before, so it should be an exciting trip but I really want to bring something from Hawaii.
Mahalo,
Jeanne