Shopping · Kauaʻi · United States
Shopping in Kauaʻi
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Hanalei Bay, Kauaʻi · Photo: Jawed Karim, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Shopping is small-scale: galleries in Hanapēpē, surf shops and boutiques in Hanalei and Kapaʻa, and local food products. Best souvenirs: Niʻihau shell lei, Kauaʻi coffee and Red-dirt shirts.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Niʻihau shell lei
Plan a trip to Kauaʻi
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Where to shop
Hanapēpē
Art galleries and an independent bookshop in historic storefronts.
Old Kōloa Town
Clothing, souvenir and jewellery shops in plantation-era buildings.
Kapaʻa
Boutiques, surf shops and craft stores along the main road.
Hanalei
Surf brands, beachwear and gifts in small centres near the bay.
Markets
Sunshine farmers markets
County-run weekly markets in towns around the island selling local produce and flowers.
What to buy
Niʻihau shell lei
Finely made necklaces of tiny shells from Niʻihau, often very valuable; buy from reputable dealers.
Kauaʻi coffee
Beans from the South Shore estate near Kalāheo.
Red-dirt shirts
T-shirts dyed with Kauaʻi's red volcanic soil.
Local hot sauces and jams
Lilikoʻi butter, guava jam and chilli-pepper water from small producers.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Waimea and Hanapēpē
Hanapēpē
A small West Side town of old wooden storefronts with art galleries, a bookshop and a swinging footbridge over the Hanapēpē River.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Shopping
- After dark
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Shave ice, Lilikoʻi chiffon pie, Kauaʻi coffee and Tropical fruit. Shave-ice stands in Waimea, Kapaʻa, Kōloa and Hanalei. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Poʻipū and Kōloa | $$$$ | Sunny South Shore resorts, beaches and the island's first sugar town |
| Princeville | $$$$ | Clifftop resort community above Hanalei Bay |
| Kapaʻa and Wailua | $$$ | East Side towns of the Coconut Coast, Wailua River and a coastal path |
| Līhuʻe | $$$ | Island capital by the airport and Nāwiliwili Harbor |
| Waimea and Hanapēpē | $$ | Dry, quiet West Side towns at the gateway to the canyon |
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 boat crews, tour guides and hotel staff.
- Do not stack rocks or take lava rocks and sand as souvenirs.
- Choose a condo with a kitchen and shop at supermarkets and farmers markets.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in May and September–October; the busiest months are July and December.
- July: Kōloa Plantation Days festival (usually late July)
- December: Christmas and New Year holidays
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Kauaʻi?
Niʻihau shell lei, Kauaʻi coffee, Red-dirt shirts and Local hot sauces and jams.
+Where is the best shopping in Kauaʻi?
Hanapēpē: Art galleries and an independent bookshop in historic storefronts.
+What are the best markets in Kauaʻi?
Sunshine farmers markets.