Shopping · Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · United States
Shopping in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Maunakea, Big Island (Hawaiʻi) · Photo: Vadim Kurland, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Shopping highlights are local products: Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, koa wood crafts, aloha shirts and art from small galleries in Hōlualoa, Hāwī and Hilo. Best souvenirs: 100% Kona coffee, Macadamia nuts and Koa wood crafts.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- 100% Kona coffee
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Where to shop
Aliʻi Drive, Kailua-Kona
Souvenir shops, surf shops and aloha wear along the seafront.
Hōlualoa
Galleries of local painters, potters and woodworkers on Māmalahoa Highway.
Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace, Waikoloa
Resort shopping centres on the Kohala Coast.
Downtown Hilo
Vintage stores, crafts and local shops in historic buildings.
Markets
Hilo Farmers Market
Produce, flowers and crafts, busiest on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Kona Farmers Market
Fruit, flowers and souvenirs on Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona.
What to buy
100% Kona coffee
Beans from a specific farm, rather than a 'Kona blend'.
Macadamia nuts
Roasted, flavoured or chocolate-coated nuts grown on the island.
Koa wood crafts
Bowls, boxes and jewellery made from Hawaiian koa wood.
Aloha shirt
Printed Hawaiian shirts, best from local makers rather than souvenir chains.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Hilo
Hilo Farmers Market
At the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Mamo Street, this market sells tropical fruit such as rambutan and lilikoʻi, orchids, baked goods and crafts.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Kona coffee, Kaʻū coffee, Malasadas and Sweet bread. Farm tasting rooms along the Māmalahoa Highway and coffee shops in Kailua-Kona. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Kailua-Kona | $$ | The west side's main town with Aliʻi Drive, snorkel beaches and harbour tours |
| Kohala Coast | $$$$ | Resort enclaves on black lava fields with white-sand bays |
| Hilo | $$ | Old-fashioned bayfront town of farmers markets, gardens and rain |
| Waimea (Kamuela) | $$$ | Upcountry ranch town of paniolo cowboys and green pastures |
| South Kona and Hōlualoa | $$ | Coffee country on the slopes above Kealakekua Bay |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping follows US norms: about 18–20% in restaurants, a few dollars per drink at bars, and tips for tour guides, boat crews and hotel staff.
- Stay in condos with kitchens in Kailua-Kona and shop at supermarkets to cut meal costs.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May and September; the busiest months are December.
- February: Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival (usually early February)
- April: Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo (week after Easter)
- September: Aloha Festivals events (usually September)
- November: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (usually November)
- December: Christmas and New Year celebrations
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
100% Kona coffee, Macadamia nuts, Koa wood crafts and Aloha shirt.
+Where is the best shopping in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Aliʻi Drive, Kailua-Kona: Souvenir shops, surf shops and aloha wear along the seafront.
+What are the best markets in Big Island (Hawaiʻi)?
Hilo Farmers Market and Kona Farmers Market.