Best souvenirs of Hawaii??
 

Thanks for all the wonderful advice on this forum. It has really helped me in planning my trip. I leave on the 10th for 5 nights on Oahu and 3 nights on the Big Island. This is my first time in Hawaii -- I think it will be great!<BR><BR>I'm now looking for advice on what to bring back as far as souvenirs. I'm not a big shopper and I don't want to spend lots of time looking for gifts. I also can't spend a lot of money (we're blowing it all on the Halekulani!). <BR><BR>What things do you recommend taking home that really say "Hawaii"?<BR><BR>Thanks!! PW

An Hawaiian shirt of course. Lots of options. For "good stuff cheap" go to Hilo Hatties (multiple locations).

Lava Rocks!!!

For gifts, you'll find the requisite chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and Kona coffee in all the gift stores. One year I got my mother a beautiful jade necklace from one of the street vendors in Waikiki and it looked like it was much more dear than what I had paid for it. I got myself some black pearl earrings that take me back to warm Hawaii whenever I wear them. But for gifts I like to give women either soaps or lotion from Hawaii because it smells like the islands. Jewelry is small and can be inexpensive. Try and find some made by local artists.<BR><BR>Oh! And for fairly inexpensive but fantastic gifts be sure to visit the Pegge Hopper gallery in Chinatown. Pegge Hopper is the artist who paints all those beautiful pictures of Hawaiian women and you can get postcards, a calendar or even signed prints for very reasonable prices (like $30 or so for a signed print). Aloha!

I believe that it is illegal to take lava rocks.<BR><BR>Also, legend has it that those that do take lava rocks..will be have a curse put upon them

Bishop Museum now has a small gallery with bedroom furniture from the monarchy. I like the gift shop and would reccommend for gift shopping. I found a grey/black velvet seed necklact in there this summer. Could kick myself for not buying this...just did kick myself. I also like the gift shop in the Sheraton Moana called the NOA gallery. <BR><BR>I like Quilt patches from Hawaii or a fresh lei if you will see friends soon after getting home. The cigar leis can be purchased for about $10 in China town and travel all the way back to the east coast in great condition. I can't think of an inexpensive gift that says more about Hawaii than a lei just remember to buy in China town. The cigar leis dry nice also so you can always keep them hanging around a framed photo of your trip. Oh I also like the polished Kokui (sp) nut leis again I lay them on a table near framed photos of Hawaii. You will see a number of these washed up on some beaches so it is nice to take a necklace home to remember a beach walk ect. You can buy these at Dai (sp) stores (similar to K-Mart/Wallmart Asian style) Dai are wonderful and ususally offer a break in Hawaiian gifts. Dai are all over the islands and they are large so you are bound to bump into one. Off the top of my head I know there is one in Honolulu, and Kailua. You can also find interesting Asian candy and cakes here. I took two kids this summer who had a ball exploring treats and took gifts home for friends. Fun to watch kids get excited about something from another culture. You can buy many of the Hawaiiana nick-nacks and coffees you will see in Waikiki only they will be cheaper here. <BR><BR>anywho<BR>Beyond this there is a lot of ticky tack in Hawaiian souvenirs. I am afraid you do have to spend a little to stay away from this.

The Bishop Museum Gallery is in Waikiki and around the Ilikai which is near the Hilton Hawaiian village. This is not the beach path but just a few blocks from if memory serves.

The pineapple shaped shortbread cookies are really good. I think they are actually better than the macadamia nuts as an office type gift. They are individually wrapped in a yellow box. You can get them at ABC and Dole Plantation.

The day before you leave, go to a grocery store and buy some jars of guava, papaya, etc jams, some Kona coffee, and some other packaged (not fresh, they can't be flown back) local food items. I love the Diamond Head packaged locally made graham crackers! They are so much more delicate and tasty than the regular ones. Also go to the spice section and get some local spices to give as gifts. I have some friends that just wait every year for their jams from my trips.

You may not be superstitious, or believe in Pele the Goddess of Fire, but anyone who has worked in a Post Office in Hawaii can tell you about all the lava rocks returned each year from people who took them and went back to the mainland, and then had nothing but bad luck! How about just bringing back memories?

At numerous places on the islands, you can purchase these reproductions of airline advertisements from the early days of air travel.<BR><BR>They were done as very tropical looking pictures for Pan Am, etc. They have different sizes and run from $10 to $25.<BR><BR>I know it sounds tacky, but Hilo Hatties actually has pretty decent prices.

What if you personally don't take the rocks but someone on your plane does? Does that bring bad luck to the whole plane or just that person?

You can go to Ala Moana Center and go to ABC store or Longs Drugs. Kona coffee (even the flavored kind) is always a big hit when I give it out. I also like to get variety packs of macadamia nuts. Since you are at the Halekulani, do walk over to DFS Galleria--they have LOTS of souvenir things, good stuff at good prices.<BR><BR>You know, Hawaiian music CDs are also good gifts. If not as souvenirs, at least for other occasions.

Get a cd of Kealii Reichel, his voice is beautiful and he sings in English and Hawaiian.

Out of respect for Hawaii, and Hawaiians - DO NOT bring back lava rocks. Why is there someone who always has to make rules to suit himself?

if you are going to maui, go to the k-mart for macadamia nuts...choc. covered, lots of different ways. also silly things like magnets or pens and little hula skirts for kids on your list. <BR><BR>i fell in LOVE with hawaiian quilts. but sadly, at least on maui, it's rare that you'll find them still made on maui. i bought one anyway...but they are not cheap at all. <BR><BR>also, Kona coffee always a good bet, also can get that at kmart. <BR>

I bought a gold plumeria charm with a little diamond in it. I wear it on chain around my neck, and it always reminds me of my wonderful 2 weeks in Hawaii.

Yes! Hawaiian print tea towels and potholders can be found at Kmart and Walmart. Those are nice nonperishable gifts. Ooooh, you know what else is pretty good? Hula Girl Pancake mix. They have mango flavored (featuring mango bits) and coconut macadamia nut, as well as kona coffee choco chip. Also you can buy poi-based products (check out www.thepoicompany.com). Even if you don't like poi in its raw form, it's great (and lowfat) in baked goods. It was even hailed in Womens Week as a miracle diet food.

Our first ever trip to Hawaii (Oahu) was in August, and my favorite souvenir of our trip didn't cost me a cent: it's a bowl of shells that hubby and I collected ourselves every morning wandering the beach in front of our cottage. The shells are small and bleached, and none are particularly noteworthy or beautiful, but they still have the power, every time I walk by them, to take me back to that georgous beach and the relaxing Hawaiian breezes and hubby with a big smile shouting out about his latest "find"..... <BR><BR>We also had a photo taken of ourselves draped in Hawaiian pareaus and leis with a computer backdrop of a beautiful beach scene - it's "kitschy" but still a great memory of our trip - we look like we're having so much fun! (and we were.....)<BR><BR>Beyond that Hilo Hattie's was the best for a lot of affordable choices all in one place.....

Whenever we go to Hawaii, we send ourselves flowers( usually direct from a grower).<BR><BR>Then, within 48 hours of returning home, we get fresh Hawaiian flowers as a remnder of the islands.