Buy Souvenirs in Honolulu Without Being Ripped Off!
Updated: Feb 12, 2023
Do you ever feel like every time you do your souvenir shopping & after buying something... you see something cheaper down the street!? This guide will help you buy souvenirs more efficiently & budget-friendly!
It depends on how much you care about the person you're buying souvenirs for. Let's break these souvenirs into tiers. From tier 1 to 3, people you care less about to most cared about. ☻
Honolulu has some truly amazing souvenir shops that will help you preserve your holiday memories in style. Here's a list of the best and most affordable places to buy souvenirs in Honolulu:
Tier 1 Souvenirs
This is one of the oldest markets (1979) in Honolulu, and with over 200 vendors, it's easy to find some truly unique and interesting pieces. Whether it's art, jewelry, clothing, or even antiques, you're sure to find something special that will serve as a reminder of your holiday for years to come! There are a lot of vendors that sells the same thing, but there are unique vendors as well with handcrafted items. Plus, everything here is incredibly affordable – so it won't break the bank.
* There's no shades so try to bring a hat.
Admission: $2 per person
Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday
It's almost like a smaller version of Aloha Swap Meet in an alley of Waikiki on Dukes Lane. This alley has around 30 little vendors with similar items. It's a great little place to get cheap bracelets, keychains, and magnets. They also have many Made in Hawaii kid's aloha sets (shirt + pants) for cheap prices of $20. This street market is perfect for people that didn't rent a car and can't get to Aloha Swap Meet.
Hours:
10 AM - 8 PM
Address:
Nobody is gonna know. Where do you normally get your cheap stuff from? Walmart. Duh. They have a whole section for you to browse Hawaii souvenirs. You can find aloha shirts, tees, keychains, calendars, and mini woodcrafts. The best thing about Walmart is that you can get a wide variety of items at extremely affordable prices.
Tier 2 Souvenirs
Get there early on Saturday because they start packing up around 11 or sold out fast. You can eat while you shop for all the local products. You'll find everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to locally-made jams, honey, jewelry, clothes and so much more. KCC Farmers Market is located at Kapiolani Community College near Diamond Head.
Address:
A store you'll see on every corner in Waikiki filled with apparel, island home & gifts, aloha jewelry, and things that are made in Hawaii. There are many options to choose from here and when you spend a total of $100 then you can redeem a gift. Remember to keep all your receipts from ABC and redeem it at the end of your trip.
Not only that you get to shop here, but at the same time you can enjoy the beautiful view of Waikiki Beach. There are many shops on this avenue with chain stores, local souvenir shops, and restaurants.
Tier 3 Souvenirs
If you have watched Aloha State Terrace House, then you know Avian Ku's family clothing store, 88 tees is located on Kalākaua Ave. You can find some unique tees, hoodies, pants, and swimsuits there for souvenirs. Their tees are on the pricier side, but you can tell it apart from the 4 for $20 tees.
Locations:
Simply Wood Studios have a large variety of handcraft art & gift woodwork. Perfect place to shop for people you actually care about. The good thing is that there is a retail store in Royal Hawaiian Center near the Cheesecake Factory. Also, in case you forget to buy souvenirs, you can find their products online as well! I won't tell on you I promise.
Address:
Royal Hawaiian Center
These would be such great souvenirs for your musician friends. Handcraft Ukuleles from KoAloha are one of the finest Ukuleles you can find on the island. Make sure to check on their website to see which locations are KoAloha Authorized dealers. Also, if you're interested in checking out their factory then make sure to make a reservation on their website for a factory tour!
Authorized Dealers: https://www.koaloha.com/
Hawaiian jewelry is one of the most special souvenirs you can buy. If you're looking for something special, then Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry is your place. They have lovely pieces made with gold, Koa wood, and pearl shell inclusions to capture the spirit of Hawaii. To make it even more special, design youYou can find their stores at Pearlridge Shopping Center and Downtown Honolulu.
Locations:
Downtown Honolulu
Pearlridge Shopping Center
You must be wondering why?! If you live somewhere in the warmer part of the world, you can pick up some flowers/fruit seeds already inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). After eating all the delicious & juicy fruits from Hawaii, won't it be great to grow some in the backyard too?
What is the best souvenir to buy in Honolulu?
It depends on your personal taste, so make sure to browse around and find something that resonates with you! But, always think about things that you can't buy or are too expensive to buy when you are home. The souvenirs you need to buy in Honolulu are handcrafted woodwork, macadamia nuts, kukui oil products, ukuleles, plant seeds, Kona/Macadamia coffee beans, and ahola shirts.
Tips:
I've learned from the locals that if kukui oil is cheap, it is either fake or only has a drop of kukui oil. They explained how much work it is to get kukui oil out of a kukui nut. Therefore, kukui oil is super expensive! Keep that in mind when you are buying kukui products!
Regardless of where you choose to buy your souvenirs from, all these places will help you bring home a little piece of Honolulu. Aloha!
What are things you can only get in Hawaii?
There are many unique items you can only find in Hawaii! These include macadamia nuts, Kona coffee beans, and much more. You can also look out for local crafts and handmade jewelry which are one-of-a-kind pieces that will remind you of your holiday long after you've returned home.
This is a great list of places to find the perfect souvenirs from Honolulu and things you can only get in Hawaii. Now, all that's left to do is go out there, pick up your favorite items, and enjoy the rest of your holiday! Mahalo!
Macadamia nuts the best souvenir, don't @ me