Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Sorry! We don't have any recommendations for Maui right now.
We hope you've saved room in your suitcase. With our shopping guide, you can find the top shops for everything "Maui-grown," from lilikoi (passion fruit) jams and fresh pineapples to koa wood bowls and swimwear. Style hunters can get their fill of bohemian-resort chic in Paia, luxury brands in Wailea, and paniolo (cowboy) threads in Upcountry's quiet Makawao town. And before packing up your plunder, conjure up some Zen by soaking in Maui's natural resources at one of the island's top spas.
If you're seeking authentic Hawaiian artistry, check out the handcrafted instruments at Mele Ukulele and Maui Divers' jewelry designs. Splurge on an heirloom Niihau shell lei found in art galleries around the island or score pretty puka charms from the Maui Swap Meet in Kahului. Maxed out on your luggage weight? No problem. There’s Hello Makana (www.hellomakana.com), a subscription service that curates food and gift items from high-quality local artisans and ships to your doorstep. Although the cost of basic goods might be higher on the Islands, keep in mind that the state has a much lower sales tax (4%) than the mainland.
Specialty food products—pineapples, coconuts, or Maui onions—and "Made in Maui" jams and jellies make great, less expensive souvenirs. Cook Kwee's Maui Cookies have gained a following, as have Kitch'n Cook'd The Original Maui Potato Chip Company. Coffee sellers now offer Maui-grown and roasted beans alongside the better-known Kona varieties. Remember that fresh fruit must be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture before it can leave the state, so it's safest to buy a box that has already passed inspection.
Business hours for individual shops on the island are usually 9–5, seven days a week. Shops on Front Street and in shopping centers tend to stay open later (until 9 or 10 on weekends).
To unwind on your trip, you can rejuvenate in a yoga class and then enter one of the island's world-class spas. Many treatments use ingredients indigenous to Hawaii, like kukui nut and coconut. With coveted beauty lines like Eminence or Epicuren sharing the shelves with locally made Ala Lani Bath and Body, you're bound to find a spa product or two to bring home.
Traditional Swedish massage and European facials anchor most spa menus on the island, though you can also find shiatsu, ayurveda, aromatherapy, and other body treatments drawn from cultures across the globe. It can be fun to try some more local treatments or ingredients, though. Lomilomi, traditional Hawaiian massage involving powerful strokes down the length of the body, is a regional specialty passed down through generations. Many treatments incorporate local plants and flowers. Awapuhi, or Hawaiian ginger, and noni, a pungent-smelling fruit, are regularly used for their therapeutic benefits. Limu, or seaweed, and even coffee are employed in rousing salt scrubs and soaks.
Spread across two complexes on either side of South Kihei Road, this no-frills shopping center is in the heart of Kihei. The mall is comprised of more than 50 stores, including a scuba shop for rentals and dive bookings, a gas station, several great takeout and dine-in restaurants, a coffee shop, and a post office. Ample free parking makes this an easy stop to fulfill your basic needs.
Besides an eclectic mix of eateries, this plaza includes stores that sell surf gear and beach-chic apparel. Also found here is Foodland Farms, a local grocery store with excellent Maui-grown, organic, and fine-foods sections.
Condo guests can do some one-stop shopping at this mall—it offers salon treatments, Hawaiian gifts, local art, plate lunches, snorkel rental, and a liquor store.
This new open-air shopping center is mere steps from the area's more established mall, The Shops at Wailea, making it a convenient stop for anyone already in the neighborhood. Retailers include home-decor favorite Hue, Bikini Market, and a pair of art galleries, among others. Akamai Coffee will put some pep in your step, Manoli's Pizza is a great spot to grab a pie and a cocktail, while Wailea Urgent Care is open from 8 am to 8 pm daily, and accepts walk-in patients. The shopping center offers the Sunset Market featuring outdoor vendors, music, and other fun every first and third Thursday evening.
Sign up for Travel Tips & News
Thank you for your interest!
