What's your favorite souvenir?
 

Going on our first trip to Oahu and Maui soon...
I'd like to bring back some things for friends/secretary/etc. And of course, something for me! :-)
What souvenir is a favorite that is (uniquely) from Hawaii??

Chocolate covered macadamia nuts. MMMMM!!! :D

Another idea could be Kona coffee.

A non-edible possibility is pottery with a sea turtle on them.

Art... tapa cloth... Hawaiian quilts... any craft made in Hawaii.

Aloha ((R))

Lion Coffee <http://www.lioncoffee.com/>.

Scented lotions, candles, flavored Mac nut cooking oils from... "Oils of Aloha" & "Island Soap & Candle Works". All offered in small gift worthy sizes.

Sarongs.

Pineapple shaped shortbread cookies, various macadamia nuts, local coffee, all good!

I picked up some nice thank you (mahalo) notes, birthday cards and post it notes.

The orchid I brought back has survived nicely, I wish I would have brought back a couple more.


For the gardeners in my life I brought back some bird of paradise seeds. Most of us were surprised that they were grown from seeds. And we live in So. Calif where bird of paradise is a common plant.

My favorite souvenir is a necklace and earring set.

Give the "secretary" a real present and start calling him/her an "assistant" - welcome to the 90's. ;)

Here are some of my favorites from my many trips to Hawaii:

- A coffee table book of Gary Reed's art.
- Coconut Syrup
- Mac nuts are ALWAYS a big hit.
- Handmade scented soy candles
- Handmade Plumeria scented soap

When I'm back on the mainland, I've purchased several things from this site: http://www.doublebrush.com/ It has all been very good quality and it's all made in Hawaii.

One thing you might want to look for as you shop for gifts, check to see where it's made. Many shops carry lots of stuff that's made in China. I like to try to buy something that's actually made in Hawaii when I can.

I collect starbuck mugs, from every city ive been to. They have special city mugs.

I have been to Hawaii a dozen times and always shop at the ABC store and Hilo Hatties to find small trinkets (cell phone charms, braclets, turtles or other marine mammals made of ceramic, etc). We also always bring back Kona coffee for our coffee drinking friends.

We also shop at the local markets for hand made Hawaii items.

Christmas ornaments with a Hawaiian touch.

Fresh flower leis--although they don't last very long the ones I've given were very much appreciated. Excellent selection and prices in Honolulu Chinatown.

Iolani Palace in Honolulu has an excellent gift shop, and the Art Institute a wonderful museum store.

Interesting jewelry with sea turtles, lovely shell pieces, pearls, etc. I have a silver bracelet that I love. Each link is engraved with a Hawaiian flower.

I have bought souvenirs both great and small but my favorite is a small piece of ocean worn coral that I keep in my pocket - free from the beach on Maui... here's a picture:
http://tiny.cc/dD6bB

We got a carved wooden tiki statue that we have up in our living room.

The thing I have received the most compliments on is a small shell pendant, long and curled in shape, beige to slightly rose in color, and edged in gold-colored paint. I wear it a lot and invariably receive compliments on it. I got it at the International Marketplace for $1.00.

I began life as a stenographer and ended as an executive assistant, doing much the same work with added responsibilities. I never minded being called a secretary, which is what I was, and always appreciated being remembered with any sort of gift. Chocolate macadamia nuts rock!

Forgot to mention, for gifts for other folks we got chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. They were a hit!

If you get coffee, make sure you buy the 100% Kona or other Hawaiian coffee. Kona is the most expensive, but you can get 100% Maui or Kauai coffee at a slightly cheaper price. The other cheap varieties contain only 10% Kona coffee with 90% Columbian. Lion Coffee is my least favorite brand. There are many others to choose from.

I've gotten some neat stuff at Maui Hands. They have things locally made in all price ranges. I fell in love with some really cool key chains and got four or five of them. They can also be put on a cord and worn as a necklace or used as a fan pull chain. If one has the funds, they have some fabulous pieces in there, also great local jewelry. They have a shop in Paia and also they had a branch at the Hyatt. I think there is another shop someplace else, but can't remember where. I love that place.

There is a craft fair close to Lahaina and I got a great silver and gemstone necklace there.

I also get some soaps and lotions. I'm not one for "trinkets". None of the things I have purchased are "cheap", but not terribly expensive either. The necklace was 110.00 as I remember, so not bad.

Those would be the things for you..the other suggestions for friends, business associates are good. There's all kinds of things you see all over the place to pick up. Costco has some good stuff so if you are a member you might check that out also.

We really liked our back scratchers made out Kona wood -- not expensive and very useful.

Wow...these are great ideas. I'm going to print them out to take with me. Thanks so much!

I'll not get into the whole "secretary v. assistant" debate...just want to explain that the person in question works for my husband and she ALWAYS refers to herself as his secretary. So I just go with the flow! :-) But point taken :-)

If you can figure it out, I've always wanted to try & sneak a hula girl onto the plane w/me...Just a thought.

<< I've always wanted to try & sneak a hula girl onto the plane w/me...Just a thought.>>

Hmmm...those pesky airline carry-on restrictions! :-)

i HAVE to bring case of pineapples

li hi mui powder. put it on fresh pineapple and mango. i've seen people put it on apples, oranges, peaches, any fruit, or even in tequila

i've brought a case of taro chips, from old town Hanapepe (not the one from Longs or Walmart – bleh)

dried mango

one year everyone liked those hawaiian print lanyards you see at the swapmeet, i made my own

for the picky ones, haupia pies, frozen lychee, fresh fish, and chili pepper water.


what souvenir do i bring back from the mainland for the guys at work - any kine pistachios

How prevalent is the superstition to not bring back coral, lava, rocks, sand, etc to avoid bad luck?

Very prevalent! At least in my circle of friends, many of whom were born in Hawaii and some who still live there. Pele doesn't like it!

No, really? We brought back film canisters of sand from our honeymoon - have I been jinxing us?!

volcanogirl, return to Hawaii immediately and return that sand!

Well, it's a good excuse to go back!

Costco has great assortments of mac nuts, chocolates, etc. We also love to bring back caramel macadamia nut popcorn you can get there!

What is li hi mui powder?

I'm off on the next plane - LOL! I was wondering what that powder is too.

its li hing powder. i used to eat choke seeds as a kid til i heard it causes cancer. now i keep the powder for ice cream and fruits. its onolicious.

http://tinyurl.com/36ajf2

http://tinyurl.com/3xsvoy

btw, its an acquired taste.

don't forget the wasabi peas.

kauai, get the ling hing powder without the aspartame or acesulfame (phenylketonurics). You can still find them made with sugar. Jade brand has it, but some Jade brand li hing mui contains aspartame.

My husband and I took his nurse manager to Kauai and let her choose her own souvenir. She choose Kauai coffee.

Karin

I got a small carved wood tiki. A vendor was sitting there carving them and had many on display already carved. I think I got it in the international marketplace on Oahu, but can't recall. I like it because it wasn't something that would be consumed and forgotten--everytime I look at it I rember my trip.

Always try to pick up a Christmas tree ornament from the place we are visiting. We manage to do so even in the middle of summer.

My Daughter Natalie!

ol, that's exactly what i have. i used to think jade products had a funky after-taste but the powder does not. after reading this, i had a bowl of vanilla ice cream, pineapple chunks, topped with macs and a little sprinkle of powder.

this thread is killing my diet. oi.

I like any of the products from Aunty Lilikoi in Waimea, Kaua'i. Yumm!

kauai, ONG, you're not expecting, are you?????

Scented lotions, bath salts, etc. Kona coffee - a must have for coffee lovers. (100% Kona) Macademia anything....

LOL, i'm only hapai if i added jarred ginger.