We are going to Maui next Feb 2006 and I want to pick up a tiki (totem pole) from one of the many vendors in Lahaina. When I was there over a year ago, I hesitated as I wondered if I would ever see the merchandise after paying for the item AND shipping.

I noticed that there is a Mailboxes, Etc. in Kihei. Has anyone ever shipped something that large (I want at least a 4' one) from Maui back to the mainland (I live in Michigan). Will they pack it up and ship it for you and how outrageous would the shipping be?

Don't know if this would apply in your situation, but I stopped by the side of the road to buy a bear carving and the price included the shipping home. Or, at least when it was obvious that I liked the piece but expressed concern about getting it home, the vendor indicated the price included shipping. I bought it on the spot.

By the way, the bear for my mountain place was bought by the side of the road in the Keys! I think that is just too funny.

MBE does charge a premium for packaging and shipping. I'd be sure to ask the vendor - his livlihood depends on tourists taking his products home.

My bear carving is about 8 inches in diameter and hip-high. I used it as a doorstop to prop the front door open when I'm there.

Has anyone ever bought a tiki in Lahaina from the guy who sits across from the Banyan trees? He has the best selection, but it's hard giving my money to a guy that I will never see again, and if the tiki doesn't arrive in Michigan, how will I ever track him down again?

If you pay with a credit card and it doesn't arrive, dispute the charge and have them track it down. I can't imagine a vendor that has been around for a while being able to stay around selling if he's shafting customers.

I found a carving I wanted on the black sand beach in Anse Chastanet in St. Lucia but didn't bring enough money to buy it. "Sunshine Biscuit" made several suggestions including "just take it and send the money tomorrow with the water taxi driver". Coming from a US perspective I was a bit too skeptical. When my water taxi arrived later that afternoon, Sunshine Biscuit rushed up with the carving wrapped in fabric and told me to pay his girlfriend who was selling T-shirts at "my" beach at the Hilton. Then, my water taxi driver brought out a couple of small carvings I bought.

"They" (those supporting the tourist trade) all know one another and have been friends for years if not already relatives.

That's a lot of verbage to say that if the same guy has been selling stuff to tourists for years, he has a reputation to safeguard and he will.

PS - I paid Sunshine Biscuit's girlfriend the next day with cash.

Why don't you check out Hilo Hatti's?
It's the famous tourist SUPPLY STORE and they have coupons in all the tourist magazines at the luggage claim at the airport. If you are looking for true art work, all the luaus have local carvers selling their works. No need to go to the luau. Just shop before the event (as I have after leaving the beach dripping wet while passing the luau site, but never beyond shopping for a deal!) .However, if you want the local food, entertainment and aloha...book the luau, too! But shower first!
Aloha

Mailboxes Etc can ship anything, any size, anywhere UPS or FedEx or the US Postal Service can deliver...worldwide. Very dependable (but I think they're all UPS stores now, aren't they?).

As for cost, that will depend upon not only the dimensions of the tiki, but also the weight.

We have a tiki in our yard -- 5' tall, carved from an old telephone pole on the mainland, weighs approximately 100 lbs.

The good news is, if you ship via UPS from here in Hawai`i, you can get _ground_ rates. Yes, they do air it to the mainland west coast (no highway from the islands yet...), but then it's trucked from that point, to the final destination.

A lot of my friends and I have had things shipped from Hawaii (and other places we've traveled to), and never had a problem. Always charge to your credit card .... the CC company will handle any problem that arises. (Now, I wouldn't pay cash for something and feel sure they'd send it... although they probably would.)

As for S&H, it's never going to be cheap to have something that large shipped......... but if you can't get this special item at home, it's probably worth the money spent on S&H!

I ended up purchasing several tikis from the guy in Lahaina by the Banyan tree. 2 in the park and as it turns out he is also a regular vendor at the old Lahaina luau. He was shown on the travel channel at one time for a honeymoon episode. FYI he also will barter in price especially if you buy more than one.

Thanks, everyone. I am going to book the Old Lahaina Luau so I will look for him in case I miss him in downtown Lahaina. I can't wait to pick a tiki out for my foyer! I'm sure my friends and family will think I'm crazy, but I fell in love with them when I saw them.

Stores want your business and often will ship things for less than what you would have to pay at the UPS Store or Mail Boxes Etc. I feel the best bet is to buy from a store, not from a street vendor. And as someone posted, always charge it on your credit card, so you can protest to the credit card company and get a charge-back against the merchant if the item he promises to ship does not show up.

LOTS of Maui information (hotels, restaurants, activities, sights, photos) at
www.mauihawaii.org