clever Hawaiian souvenirs idea
 

If I do say so myself...

I have eight coworkers I am almost obligated to bring souvenirs home to. Which isn't easy. So, since I'm visiting the Big Island and Maui this time, I'm going to order their souvenirs online right before I go, and they'll receive them the week I'm away!
"Donkey Balls" from the Big Island and a box of Maui Gold pineapples from Mr. Pineapple.

Locals flip flops. Cheap.

Bring back little pieces of coral.

Bring them a fresh plumeria lei. You can buy them at the airport and carry them on the plane in a small cooler. To me, that is the BEST gift from Hawaii!

Crazy: If you're buying for women, try kopahaiku.com. Great soaps and lotions. I prefer the soaps and they make really nice gifts for women. I plan on stocking up when I visit Maui next month, but I have bought many times online and just love them.

O.k., I'll bite. What are "Donkey Balls?"

Donkey Balls = Chocolate covered macadamian nuts?

Friends have like the brightly colored tropical shirt LUGGAGE TAGS that I picked up at discount stores.

If that's what they are, then good choice! I couldn't get enough of them and even ate the tiny little $15 jar out of the mini-bar, which I ordinarily wouldn't do, but I was having a moment of desperation. Never heard that name before . . . .

I have a friend who loved the coconut-shell bra and grass skirt combo I brought for her - she threatens to wear it while grilling. :)

I like the tropical shirt line. I haven't got luggage tags yet (good idea!), but have brought back tropical shirt key chains, note pads and magnets.

They have lots of stuff at Longs Drugs. My mother-in-law uses them as stocking stuffers at Christmas.

I was just in a store in NJ and they had Hawaiian taffy - cool tropical flavors. The box was only $3.99. But if you buy the chocolate macadamia nuts, please add me to your list!!! I received them as a souvenir and I couldn't get enough!

Hawaiian taffy in NJ :-)

Reminds me of finding Provencal soaps and sachets in TJMaxx after I got home. And, yes, I did bring some home from France to give as gifts.

I, too, love kopahaiku but I think it's too special for souvenir gifts.....more for regular gifts for occasions! mmmmmm

Yep, "donkey balls" come from Surfin' Ass in Kona. I'm sure there are other good brands of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, but ya can't beat the impact of that name...snort...snort.

I bet will be glad you aren't taking a western vacation -
http://www.allthewest.com/proddetail...oycandynovelty

These are sure fire winners and ABC is the most reasonably priced, best souvenir sizes for large groups:

Macademia nuts from Mauna Loa

http://www.maunaloa.com/

Maui Soap and lotions

http://www.mauisoap.com/surf-soaps.html

Kona coffee

http://www.konalea.com/coffee_store/...ee_special.htm

ABC Stores has very inexpensive versions of all of this too.

http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/4,431.htm

http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/4,444.htm

http://www.abcstores.com/browse.cfm/4,19.htm

We order from ABC all the time and the others less often but haven't experienced any problems.

Heh...heh...heh....Crazy4 said <i>&quot;donkey balls&quot;</i>....heh...heh...heh.

Costco on Maui had several kinds of macadamia nut assortments (including chocolate covered) that were very reasonably priced.

Crazy, I think you have come up with a good idea...you won't have to figure out how to pack the gifts and your coworkers can share some Hawaii while you are there. I like it!

You could also get &quot;Bad Ass Nuts&quot; from Bad Ass Coffee.....
http://www.1konacoffee.com/

check out the souvenier section at Walmart. Plenty of inexpensive choices.

We, too, bring home a box of Dole pineapples, and it's a hit with family and friends. We always get them at the airport--unlike the mainland, gifts at the airport, at least on Maui, are very reasonable because of the competition from the other stores.

I would sure rather deal with local businesses than someplace like Wal-Mart. It has a knack for &quot;killing&quot; the competition. I'm from Arkansas. - They killed us first. I just can't darken their door in Hawaii... (The prices are hard to beat, though. I'll give them that.) I'm willing to pay more to keep stores with the word &quot;Ass&quot; in them going. Tee Hee.

crazy4, I'm sorry....I went to the Bad Ass website and could not find the &quot;Bad Ass Nuts.&quot; I could swear I saw them in the store. But they do carry &quot;Big Ol' Balls&quot; (pretty much the same product) on that website.

<i>Unite and save our (Bad) Asses!</i>

:D

And, when you've spent $100 at ABC, you get a free gift...I'm still enjoying my set of 4 Hawaiian mugs. (Also couldn't resist buying one of the Bad Ass ones as well at the Coffee Co....I use it when I'm feeling BAAAD!)

We did send pineapples,too. Some people send coconuts with the address on the actual coconut. We also sent home macadamia nut cookies and Taro chips...I love those chips! I bought special people 'handmade' (not sure they really are - but I like them anyway!) necklaces and bracelets. A REALLY special person got a gold ring from Naku at PCC, just like mine!