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The Best Shopping
Products of Hawaii now merit their own festivals and trade shows throughout the year, and MADE IN HAWAII is a label to be touted. Here are a few places to score some finds.
Academy Shop (in the Honolulu Academy of Arts; tel. 808/523-8703): The recent expansion of the Honolulu Academy of Arts made a good thing even better. You'll find a stunning selection of art books, stationery, jewelry, basketry, beadwork, ikats, saris, ethnic fabrics, fiber vessels, accessories, and contemporary gift items representing the art and craft traditions of the world.
Avanti Fashion (tel. 808/924-1668 and 808/922-2828): In authentic prints from the 1930s and '40s reproduced on silk, Avanti aloha shirts and sportswear elevate tropical garb from high kitsch to high chic. Casual, comfortable, easily cared for, and light as a cloud, the silks look vintage but cost a fraction of collectibles' prices. The nostalgic treasures are available in retail stores statewide, but the best selection is in Waikiki.
Bailey's Antiques & Aloha Shirts (tel. 808/734-7628): Bailey's has one of the largest vintage aloha-shirt collections in Honolulu, with prices ranging from inexpensive to sky-high. Old Levi's jeans, mandarin jackets, vintage vases, household items, shawls, purses, and an eye-popping assortment of bark-cloth fabrics (the real thing, not repros) are among the mementos in this monumental collection.
Contemporary Museum Gift Shop (tel. 808/523-3447): This gets our vote as the most beautiful setting for a gift shop, and its contents are a bonus: extraordinary art-related books, avant-garde jewelry, cards and stationery, home accessories, and gift items made by artists from Hawaii and across the country. Only the best is sold here.
Honolulu Chocolate Co. (tel. 808/591-2997): Life's greatest pleasures are dispensed here with abandon: expensive gourmet chocolates made in Honolulu, Italian and Hawaiian biscotti, boulder-size chocolate "turtles," truffles, chocolate-covered coffee beans, and jumbo apricots in white and dark chocolate, to name a few.
Mana Hawaii (tel. 808/923-2220): Authentically experience Hawaiian culture in the heart of Waikiki, where five successful Native Hawaiian partners have combined their talents into one mega-culture shop. You will find everything from Hawaiian books to Hawaiian-made gifts, clothing, jewelry, and art, even hula implements and ukuleles, plus healing Hawaiian lotions and oils.
Native Books & Beautiful Things (tel. 808/596-8885): Hawaii is the content and context in this shop of books, crafts, and gift items made by island artists and crafters. Musical instruments, calabashes, jewelry, leis, books, fabrics, clothing, home accessories, jams and jellies -- they're all high quality and made in Hawaii -- a celebration of Hawaiiana.
Silver Moon Emporium (tel. 808/637-7710): This is an island-wide phenomenon, filled with the terrific finds of owner Lucie Talbot-Holu, who has a gift for discovering fashion treasures. Exquisite clothing and handbags, reasonably priced footwear, hats, jewelry, scarves, and a full gamut of other treasures pepper the attractive boutique.
Zuke's Magic & Jokes (tel. 808/847-7788): You don't have to be Harry Potter to enter here, but you may feel like him. Open only on Saturday, amateur and professional magicians stream into this magic store to get the latest "tricks" and learn the art of magic.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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