Maui shopping guide – where and what to shop and buy

Organic food, island crafts and the eponymous Hawaiian shirt – Maui is a great place to fill your suitcase with quirky souvenirs. Head to sleepy towns like Makawao and Wailuku for traditional Hawaiian crafts, or stop at beachfront resorts like Kaanapali and Wailea for high-end brands and designer shops. Lahaiana, Haiwaii’s former capital, is good for shopping like a local, as you wander through the characterful streets to old book shops and markets.

Lahaina

 

Lahaina is the tourist center of Maui, and it’s well equipped with souvenir shops catering to these whirlwind visitors. Amidst these, however, are small, secret stores worth a longer browse, reflecting its artistic population. Wander the historic streets to chance upon stores like the Old Lahaina Book Emporium, all narrow aisles and overflowing shelves. Lahaina Cannery Mall is another maze of small shops, where you can find rows of glittering jewelry and brightly colored Hawaiian shirts.

 

Kaanapali

 

Kaanapali’s beachfront location has attracted a slew of upmarket hotels and resorts. Catering for these types of travelers, a collection of luxury brands have sprung up in nearby shopping and restaurant complex the Whaler's Village. Made up of over 60 shops and restaurants, designer labels are emphasised here; along with a few smaller shops tucked amongst them, like Lahaina Printsellers, which sells a beguiling mixture of antique and modern cartography.

 

Makawao

 

Makawao is made up of the kind of small, independent shops that make shopping on Maui so enjoyable, and the modest boutiques and galleries here are staffed by its resident artistic population. The Hui No'eau Visual Arts Center has a gift shop stocked with arts and crafts by local artists, and is the perfect place to purchase a unique souvenir. You can also find a range of edible souvenirs in Makawao. Small delicatessens and bakeries make for worthy culinary accompaniments to the nearby sunrise at Haleakala Crater.

 

Wailea

 

Wailea is a small resort town on the south coast of Maui. Accommodation here takes the form of high end hotels and condos, and these are accompanied fittingly by luxury shopping complexes. Visit the Shops at Wailea for a range of upmarket stores and several restaurants, a complex stuffed with designer brands like Louis Vuitton, mid-range high street stores like GAP and Banana Republic, and - the most authentically Mauian - local shops and galleries, like the Ki'i Gallery.

 

Wailuku

 

Wailuku is a great place to purchase edible goods. A small, authentic town far from the tourist trail, the pretty architecture and antique stores here are accompanied by charming markets selling local produce. Come here for picnic food and appetizing souvenirs which reflect Hawaii’s diverse ethnic makeup. Asian heritage is represented in the Takamiya Market, where you can find fresh chilled fish, which is whipped up into sushi and sashimi for you to sample as you browse. Chinese noodles and Kalua pork also make worthy fuel for your shopping spree.

 

Maui shopping tips

 

Before you fill your suitcase with some of the fantastic local food and high quality ingredients found on Maui, make sure you check the export rules – you can’t take certain products outside of the island. Some items are made especially on the island and make perfect gifts, like Ocean Vodka. It’s a locally produced spirit which is manufactured using water from hundreds of meters below sea level - this supposedly makes it great for the skin.