10bestlogo

  • 10bestlogo

  • Awards
  • Arts & Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Trip Planning
  • City Guides
  • Home

SEARCH: by place + food, budget, style, hotel, attraction, etc

SEARCH
10BEST: Trusted Travel & Lifestyle Advice
Honolulu:
Overview

overview

See & Do

see & do

Eat

eat

Party

party

Stay

stay

Shop

shop

Regions

regions

Cruise

cruise

 
  • facebook share
  • twitter share
  • google plus share
  • pinterest share
  • stumble upon share
  • linkedin share
  • Flipboard
graphic

Most Popular 10Best Lists

  • #
    Chicago: A cut above the rest: Chicago's top steakhouses
    View This List
  • #
    Las Vegas: 10 Fun and Free Things to do in Las Vegas
    View This List
  • #
    Orlando: New Additions & Venerable Classics in Orlando: the Best of the Theme-Park Capital
    View This List
  • #
    Las Vegas: Las Vegas Romance: 10 Things For Couples to Do in Sin City
    View This List
  • #
    Tampa: Explore a Host of World-Class Beaches, Just a Short Drive from Tampa
    View This List
graphic

Most Popular 10Best Articles

  • #
    Vote now to help us choose America's best small towns
    View This Article
  • #
    Want to go to Westworld for real? Head to Nevada
    View This Article
  • #
    Want to go to Westworld for real? Head to Nevada
    View This Article
  • #
    These are the best beaches in America
    View This Article
  • #
    10 ways to eat shrimp in the Carolinas and where to find the best
    View This Article
 
10bestlogo
facebook twitter instagram pinterest
  • About 10BEST
  • 10BEST Local Experts
  • Sitemap
SHOW MORE INFORMATION
  • Honolulu
Save This Page +

Unique Holiday Finds in Honolulu Make Great Gifts, Souvenirs

Discover hot holiday shopping on Oahu

December 17, 2014 // By Jade Eckardt

By Jade Eckardt
December 17, 2014

 

One may imagine that a tropical island could be lacking in holiday cheer. But from the decorations and events to the island style and locally produced gifts, the Honolulu area has it all. Shopping on the island of Oahu results in unique finds year-round, but during the holidays, local crafters boost their creations. This means there's an abundance of knickknacks, clothing and jewelry that exudes island style.

Ala Moana Shopping Center is the largest shopping mall in all of Hawaii. So as one may expect, the huge open-air shopping center becomes adorned with decorations, and the shops stock their shelves with Hawaiian-style holiday gifts.

Shop Hawaiian styles in Honolulu — Photo courtesy of Prayitno Photography

Macy's becomes the best resource for island-themed ornaments, which make great memories for locals and visitors alike. Martin & MacArthur, a shop featuring locally crafted hard woods for furniture and jewelry, expands their high-end selection greatly.

Out in historical Haleiwa town on the North Shore, Global Creations puts the most islandy spin on holiday gifts. Those looking for ornaments will find clear glass balls filled with North Shore sand and shells. Textiles like dish clothes, pot holders, and table runners boast Christmas colors and the saying Mele Kalikimaka, which is Hawaiian for "Merry Christmas."

Down the street at the Growing Keiki, the shop stocks their shelves with books and toys Hawaiian and holiday themed. A huge array of books written by local authors tell island-style holiday tales, and locally made children's jewelry, clothing and room decor deck the shelves with holiday style.

Two of the best places on Oahu for outdoor holiday shopping are the Haleiwa Farmers Market and the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.

At the former, an abundance of local crafters sell their goods on the tropical lush grounds of Waimea Valley, a cultural preservation area. From locally grown fruits turned into snack to North Shore-made cosmetics and jewelry, this is one of the best places to find unique holiday gifts.

At the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet in Central Oahu, shoppers can get lost for hours in the numerous booths that sell the most varied array of goods. This shopping area sells everything from aloha print luggage to imported purses and shells to pandanus leaf clutches to home decor.

Also at the swap meet are perhaps the best holiday gifts and hand-crafted ukuleles. As the Hawaiian version of the guitar, the ukulele features different chords and tuning range, which is the basis of traditional Hawaiian music.

Hawaiiana, as the island style here is called, is different than anything found anywhere else. So whether you're gifting to locals or those back at home, be sure to find the most unique and eclectic island gifts on Oahu.

x

Next Up

Watch the World's Best Surfers Compete on Oahu's North Shore

Read More »


About Jade Eckardt

Jade was raised in Hawaii while traveling between New York City. She much prefers Hawaiian-style gifts to 5th Avenue upscale fashion.

Read more about Jade Eckardt here.

Connect with Jade via: Google+


Share

Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
Pinterest
StumbleUpon
LinkedIn
Flipboard
×

×