20 Best Hawaiian Souvenirs For Gift Giving

The Aloha state encompasses a series of islands in the Pacific Ocean. It’s a paradise destination filled with culture, tropical beaches, and great outdoor activities. Whenever I travel, I’m always looking for the best souvenirs from Hawaii to remind me of my journey when I return home.

So, if you’re looking for what to purchase on any Hawaiian Island, I have you covered. Whether you’re looking for something unique as a memento, or a gift for someone special, you have lots of options.

Hawaiian gifts are exceptional, and some of them are handmade. These are the top souvenirs to buy in Hawaii to rekindle the aloha spirit.

1. Honolulu Cookies

Treat loved ones to pineapple-shaped shortbread cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company. These premium treats come in flavors like dark chocolate Kona coffee, butter macadamia, matcha-dipped macadamia, and guava.

Visiting near Christmas? Try the pineapple ornament—a cookie and festive centerpiece in one. The company has shops in Maui and ten Oahu locations, including Ala Moana Center.

Cookies come in boxes or tins, ideal for travel and gifting. Recipients who love them can easily reorder online.

2. Hawaiian Quilts And Quilted Goods

Being a quilter, the distinctive style of quilting in Hawaii intrigues me. Traditionally done with two contrasting colors of botanical motifs, the designs are simple but striking.

Gift shops in Hawaii sell Hawaiian quilts, beach bags, pot holders, pillowcases, and other goods with Hawaiian motifs.

Unfortunately, most items are no longer made in Hawaii but overseas in the Philippines and other countries where labor is cheaper. Along with my quilted bag, I purchased a book on Hawaiian quilting, hoping that I would make a Hawaiian quilt of my own one day.

If you’re a quilter, I highly recommend visiting Hawaii’s royal residence, the Iolani Palace. On our visit, we learned the history of the Hawaiian royal family and saw Queen Liliuokalani’s quilt on display upstairs.

While not a traditional Hawaiian quilt but a crazy quilt, the bedding was made by Queen Liliuokalani herself while imprisoned during the displacement of the royal family.

3. Kona Coffee

When it comes to Hawaiian gifts, Hawaiian coffee comes to mind. Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee, with the Big Island having the best conditions for growing the beans.

Kona Coffee beans are the Cadillac of all coffees. There are numerous farms on all the Hawaiian Islands to sample the different flavors. So, step aside regular roast and enjoy pairings like chocolate macadamia nut, vanilla hazelnut, toasted coconut, and white chocolate strawberry.

While the Big Island of Hawaii provides the best places for sampling, travelers can purchase on all islands. Gourmet coffee connoisseurs will enjoy the Kona Peaberry, made from coffee cherries. Its robust unique flavor may be pricey, as is 100% Kona coffee.

Those not wanting to splurge on the premium beans, consider a wide range of Kona blends available at a budget-minded ABC Store.

4. Macadamia Nuts

Like Kona Coffee, we always enjoy sampling macadamia nuts on the Hawaiian Islands. While most know the Mauna Loa brand, its wide range of flavors isn’t always available on the continental mainland.

In Hawaii, I’m tempted by flavors like milk chocolate toffee, Kona coffee glazed, and Maui onion and garlic. It’s fun to visit the farms and see the rows of macadamia nut trees. At the Mauna Loa visitor center, I could watch the sorting and processing of the nuts through glass windows.

Should you purchase the Mauna Loa brand, I found the ABC Stores had better prices for the same item.

The Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut outlet offers complimentary samples and a self-guided factory tour on Oahu. Located close to Kualoa Ranch, it’s my go-to place when staying in Waikiki. Their cinnamon-glazed macadamia nuts are my personal favorite.

Macadamia nuts are readily available at most souvenir shops. Alternatively, if you have a Costco card and vacationing on Oahu, you could shop there instead.

5. Red Dirt Shirts

After cruising the Hawaiian Islands from Vancouver, I found each island remarkably different.

Kauai, the “garden isle,” surprised us with its red dirt that coats sidewalks, roads, and buildings. The red soil contrasts beautifully with Waimea Canyon’s lush greenery, making it easy to see why it’s called “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

The dirt stains everything it touches, but locals have turned it into a fun souvenir. After Hurricane Iniki hit in 1992, a silk-screen shop’s white shirts turned red from the iron-rich water. They sold them as “Hurricane Iniki” shirts—and they were a hit. Today, these shirts remain a unique keepsake from Kauai.

6. Hawaiian Shirts And Dresses

No trip to Hawaii is complete without bringing home at least one Hawaiian shirt or Aloha wear. Hawaiian shirts aren’t just for wearing in Hawaii; their bright colors bring a ray of sunshine to any place.

When on a cruise, Hilo Hattie provides a complimentary shuttle to their nearest store. While Hilo Hattie’s prices tend to run high, their selection is vast, and the free bus got us to town, even without a purchase.

Alternatively, visitors can find an aloha shirts at Walmart, ABC Stores, Costco, and numerous markets. If you have a friend who sews like me, consider purchasing Hawaii fabric by the yard instead.

7. Li Hing Mui Powder

I discovered Li Hing Mui powder, made from red plums, during a trip to Hawaii. Its sweet-and-sour flavor enhances tropical fruits like pineapple.

The red seasoning comes from plums soaked in sugar, salt, licorice, and food coloring, then ground into powder. I remember eating the dried fruit in Malaysia as a child—its tangy taste took some getting used to.

As a seasoning, though, the powder adds an addictive kick. In Hawaii, it flavors shave ice, smoothies, spare ribs, margaritas, candies, and dried fruit.

8. Aunt Sandy’s Banana Bread

With 620 curves and almost 60 bridges, the winding road to Hana attracts Maui visitors for its unique coastal highway with picturesque vistas and cascading waterfalls.

One of its best stops is Keanae Peninsula for a one-of-a-kind Hawaiian souvenir, Aunty Sandy’s banana bread. Gordon Ramsay recommends the memorable bread which out-flavors all other loaves of bread on the famous Maui highway.

Aunt Sandy has been making banana bread for over 30 years. The business has now expanded to include an online store. While its store ships the bread mix to make four mini loaves, it won’t be quite the same without the Maui bananas which are very sweet.

Trust me on this one; don’t buy just one loaf on the drive to Hana, because you’ll want more on the way back.

9. Lei Necklaces

If you’re honeymooning in Hawaii, a lei necklace adds to the romance and makes a great gift. Visitors may opt to have a Hawaiian Lei greeting when cruising from Vancouver to Hawaii cruise or arriving at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. 

The locals traditionally make the leis or garlands from tropical flowers, leaves, berries, or seeds.

In Hawaii, most visitors purchase fresh flower leis made from purple orchids. I know, I’ve bought a few. However, while they are pretty, those made from tuberose or plumeria have more fragrance. Keep the lei in a plastic bag and refrigerate to prevent spoilage when not worn.

If your home country does not allow you to bring home a fresh lei made from native Hawaiian flowers, consider purchasing one made from seeds or shells.

10. Hawaiian Music

During my first cruise through the Hawaii Islands, I was enraptured by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “somewhere over the rainbow” played on the cruise ship.

So much so that I went out and purchased his CD. Every time I hear him sing, it whisks me back to Hawaii and transforms me with the Aloha spirit.

There’s no better way to remember Hawaii than with Hawaiian souvenir music. The music is calming and distinctive and takes you back to the land of hulas, Pina Coladas, and tropical trade winds.

11. Flower Roots Or Plants

Depending on where you reside and your country’s import rules, consider purchasing bulbs or roots of Hawaiian native flowers. Hawaii has the most fantastic choice of orchids, many I had never seen before.

I visited Akatsuka Orchids Gardens on a Kona shore excursion, and its selection was jaw-dropping. The garden center will ship purchases by FedEx express to mainland USA.

Other than orchids, unusual hibiscus and plumeria varieties are available. In Lahaina, Maui, I found a grower selling plumeria roots under the giant banyan tree at an outdoor market.

12. Kiawe Honey

On the Big Island, the Rare Hawaiian Honey Company makes Kiawe Honey, one of the world’s rarest varieties. It comes from a 1,000-acre Kiawe forest.

At the Fairmont Orchid, 80,000 bees create this delicate, organic, unpasteurized honey, which naturally crystallizes in the jar. It’s best enjoyed within four months but won’t spoil.

13. Ukulele

Hawaii’s iconic stringed instrument, the ukulele, are made from various types of wood, and the price varies greatly depending on the material and quality of the crafting. Mast-produced ukuleles are available for as little as USD 20.00 to over USD 100.00 for a finely crafted one.

At the Polynesian Cultural attraction, one of the gift shops features a great selection. There were photos of famous artists like Elvis Presley and “Iz” Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, holding ukuleles on the walls. Should you want to purchase a ukulele on vacation, it’s best to make sure it’s a Hawaiian-made souvenir.

The shop has a ukulele workshop and it’s fascinating to learn how they bend the wood. There were samples of the different woods and ukuleles in various stages of production.

14. Hawaiian Red Sea Salt

On Kauai’s west side, red Alaea sea salt forms in salt flats rich with iron clay. Hawaiians use it on kalua pork, poke, and pipikaula. It also pairs well with Hawaii cocoa for a unique flavor.

Black Hawaiian salt, colored by activated charcoal, adds crunch to fish, steak, and fries. Sea salt has less sodium and more minerals like calcium, iron, and potassium than table salt.

Visitors often buy red sea salt as bath salts or body scrubs. Its coarse grains help remove impurities and promote new skin growth.

15. Dole Whip Mix

The Dole Plantation on the north shore of Oahu sells Dole Whip. Dole Whip or Dole soft serve melts in your mouth with an incredible pineapple flavor. If you’ve visited Disneyland, you may already know about this frozen treat.

I’m lactose intolerant, but there’s good news…..Dole Whip is dairy-free! While those who have tasted it know the pineapple flavor, the soft serve comes in other flavors too. So next time, try the cherry, lime, raspberry, or mango.

While I couldn’t bring home the Dole Whip itself, I could relive my trip to the Dole Pineapple Plantation by purchasing the Dole Whip mix instead.

At the Dole Plantation, select from a vast variety of pineapple gifts from candy and gum to gummy bears and cookies. They also carry a selection of beauty products made of pineapples.

16. Koa Wood Products

Native to Hawaii, Koa wood is prized for its rich color and tone. Found mostly on the Big Island, guitar and ukulele makers favor its golden and red hues for heirloom-quality instruments.

Though once abundant, Acacia Koa trees have declined. The best grains come from old trees, which can’t be harvested from protected lands, making the wood rare and costly.

Hawaiian shops sell Koa wood jewelry, bowls, pens, watches, and carvings. We bought Koa keychains with our names at Kualoa Ranch—a keepsake from our Hawaiian honeymoon cruise.

17. Hawaiian Jams And Jellies

The Hawaiian Islands offer the ideal environment to grow fresh fruit. Having mango, guava, pineapple, dragon fruit and passionfruit in abundance is the perfect scenario for making jams, jellies, and flavored butter. My favorite jam is mango, but the Hawaiian Sun guava jelly I purchased on Oahu is terrific also.

If you’re stuck for a gift for someone you don’t know what they like, you can’t go wrong with a jar or two of jelly or jam. Selections of jams are available from gift shops, markets, roadside booths, and farmers’ markets.

18. Pearl Jewelry

Pearls come in many colors, not just white. Like diamonds, they’re graded for shape, color, smoothness, size, luster, and quality. Bigger doesn’t mean better—smooth pearls with high luster are most valuable.

Maui Divers Jewelry offers colorful pearls and Hawaii-inspired designs featuring seahorses, shells, turtles, and hibiscus. Their “pick a pearl” lets you create custom jewelry by choosing both design and pearl for a unique keepsake.

19. Pineapple Wine 

Only in Hawaii can you find wine made from pineapple. With pineapples available year-round, it’s a natural choice. Maui Wines uses Maui Gold pineapples grown on Haleakala’s slopes to craft crisp, flavorful wines. Maui Blanc offers a semi-dry taste with lavender notes, while Maui Splash is sweeter.

For something bubbly, Hula O’ Maui blends pineapple with a hint of lemon. These tropical wines make perfect Hawaiian gifts for wine lovers.

20. Coconut Peanut Butter

North Shore Goodies have some innovative products that scream Hawaiian! How about coconut peanut butter, made from two ingredients; peanut butter and coconut?

Other Hawaiian flavored include macadamia nut peanut butter, Kona coffee peanut butter, and spicy Hawaiian peanut butter.

Of course, the best Hawaiian souvenirs are the photos and memories created in Hawaii, and you can’t replicate those.

Walmart, ABC Stores, and Costco have the best prices if you need to purchase your gifts in bulk. Walmart and Costco sell macadamia nut boxes in twelve packs. They offer Kona coffee in bundles too.