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Click on the island
name for more on shopping at that particular location.
l Big
Island l Kauai l
Maui l Oahu
l Best Buys
Maui,
and in particular, Lahaina, offer shopping to the max. There
are doubtless more shops per block in Lahaina than anywhere
this side of Waikiki. The monster Kaahumanu Center in Kahuli
is a great place to shop on a rainy day or after dark when
it's open late on Thursday or another night.
Liberty House and all the other usual Hawaiian stores
cluster here, and, like the Kahuli Mall, it's an excellent
"one stop for all" choice for the shopping
impaired. There's even a food hall to sample various ethnic
items. Take a
group, order "United Nations" and graze off
everyone's plate. Then if you find something special, aim
for an ethnic restaurant to match later in your trip. The
other monster Kahuli
Mall is the Maui Marketplace which is handy to the Hana
Highway for those who plan to picnic after the Hana Highway
marathon. "Before" isn't a good idea for the
carsick souls.
In
Lahaina the Lahaina Center offers all sorts of clothing
including a ubiquitous Hilo Hattie's. There's a free hula
show on Wednesday and Friday plus, and this can be a problem
in Lahaina, parking. On
a hot afternoon head for the Lahaina Cannery Mall, which San
Franciscans will recognize as a sort of Hawaiian Ghiradelli
Square built in, what else, an old cannery.
It's air-conditioned for days when the trades don't
blow.
Much
other upscale shopping has moved towards the Whaler's
Village out towards Kanapali beach. Besides, all the posh
French designer's shops browsers on a budget can enjoy
handicraft exhibits, evening hula and more than anyone needs
to know about whales at the Whale Center of the Pacific on
Tuesday and Thursday nights.
This last is an excellent spot to sit and see slides
while slurping a shave ice and resting shopper's feet.
If
you want to deal direct with artists, and have the eye or
confidence to separate the nice from the necessary, Friday
and Saturday Art in the Park shows by local artists run all
day Friday and Saturday.
Blow by first thing for the best selection, and drop
back just before closing for the best bargains. Otherwise,
the galleries in Lahaina stay open from seven and ten Friday
nights.
Outside
the high rent districts, artists gang up in places like
Paia's Maui Craft Guild or Makawao's Viewpoints, a sort of
artist's co-op where the quality, prices and subject matter
varies wildly.
Food
and edible take-homes can come from Safeway or Foodland that
are open 24-hours a day so you don't waste sun shopping.
Don't overlook local treats such as Maui onions, the
wonderful local potato chips, and some surprisingly good
Maui coffee. Maui is, of course, famous for other
agricultural products as well.
For
those with lots of time and an eye for bargains, the all-day
Mauai Swap Meet's 50 cent admission is a deal.
Get there for the 5:50-6:00 o'clock opener for the
best deals: come late for leftover bargains. Check out the
Pupus and other eat-along items like chicken on a stick too. |
