Whether you need beachwear for your upcoming adventures or want fun souvenirs to take back home, you can get it all at Hilo Hattie. Since the early 1960s, this East Side Kauai shop has served as the top place to go for Made in Hawaii fashion, snacks, and everything in between. They’re always adding new items to their inventory, too, so it’s well worth visiting again and again.
Upon walking through the doors, the staff will always throw a warm greeting your way and welcome you to browse the shop at your leisure. They’ll also put a cute complimentary shell necklace around your neck as a thank you for coming by. As you look around, the first thing you’ll notice is their huge selection of authentic island wear. From Hawaiian shirts and boardshorts to swimwear and fitted dresses, there’s no shortage of cute men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing to explore.
No matter what type of clothing you’re after, you’re welcome to try everything on to perfect your look and get a comfortable fit. After you find your ideal outfits, check out all their excellent accessories, including sunglasses, straw hats, and tote bags as you look around.
Don’t miss out on their stunning jewelry either. Their items are handmade using seashells, mother of pearl, blue opals, and other amazing materials, including high-quality metals like sterling silver. In their racks of jewelry, they have tons of fun island fare, like pineapple charm earrings, plumeria flower bangles, and baby turtle anklets.
You’ll definitely want to check out their many gifts if you’re looking for something awesome to bring home to your friends and family. They have keychains, bottle openers, shot glasses, wood signs, nightlights, mugs, aprons, and the whole nine yards. You can easily find something for everyone while browsing all their souvenirs.
Each time you waltz through the doors, don’t miss the chance to pick up tasty candies, snacks, and other edible goods as well. They proudly source all their island treats from Hawaiian companies, like Kauai Kookie, MacFarms, and Hamakua. Their edible goods will look great on your shelves at home and remind you of all the fun you had on your trip.
They even have their own brand of dried fruit and candies, including crystallized ginger, mango hard candy, and sweet papaya chunks. As you go on all your beach excursions, you’ll love having these sweet treats on hand when sugar cravings strike and your energy stores run low.
Their prices run a bit higher than nearby shops, so consider doing a bit of comparison shopping before buying if you want to keep more money in your pocketbook. On the other hand, it might be worth the higher price to get everything you need in one easy stop.
When it comes time to check out, be sure to treat yourself to Dole Whip soft-serve ice cream from their machine. You’ll just need to let their cashier know you’d like a cup, and they’ll get it for you after finishing your transaction. Just beware, it’s so good that you’ll likely find yourself coming back here again and again for yet another taste – and likely to spend a lot more money.
Insider Tips:
-While exploring the store, sometimes you’ll encounter high-pressure, independent salespeople hawking beauty products, custom pearl jewelry, and more. Just let them know if you’re not interested and decline the opportunity to talk to their boss about it as that just brings on even more pressure to buy.
-Want to take memorable family photos during your island adventures? Be sure to check out their family matching attire to find outfits for the parents and kids all in the same patterns and color schemes.
-They offer a discount to veterans. Just present your card at the checkout counter and they’ll take a bit off the total.