Shopping on Kauaʻi
Kauaʻi isn't known for shopping like Oʻahu and Maui. I find the best shopping is in towns and neighborhoods rather than in resorts, but you have to know where to look. Old Kapaʻa Town on the East Side is my favorite neighborhood to shop on the island. The main street is lined with locally owned boutiques selling women's apparel, unique gifts, vintage finds and handmade goods at fair prices. Poʻipū on the South Shore is where to go for resort wear, such as aloha shirt brands Tori Richard and Reyn Spooner. Hanalei on the North Shore is good for souvenirs and gifts in a beach-town setting. Farmers markets across the island are some of the best spots to find locally made products. And Līhuʻe is where to go for practical needs — it has the island's only full-size mall and major box stores, close to the airport. The guide below covers what kind of shopping you'll find by area, where to shop for specific things and where to go for everyday travel essentials.
Best For
South Shore
The South Shore has the biggest concentration of resort shopping on Kauaʻi, centered around two open-air centers within a few minutes of each other near Poʻipū Beach. The Shops at Kukuiʻula is an open-air complex with plantation-style architecture, high-end boutiques, contemporary art galleries, award-winning restaurants and a farmers market every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. — stay for the chef demonstration at 5 p.m. and live music in the wine and beer garden. Red Koi gallery carries original paintings by local artists. Martin & MacArthur offers products crafted with Hawaiian koa wood, including koa rings that have made it a destination for couples exchanging vows on the island. SoHa Living has beach-themed home goods and gifts. Mahina carries casual sundresses, linen apparel and jewelry. Tori Richard is the place for classic resortwear. I recommend dinner at Merriman's Fish House and Lappert's Ice Cream for dessert or mid-afternoon treat. Best for: visitors staying in Poʻipū who want a walkable evening of shopping and dining with locally made goods alongside resort brands. Worth the drive from the East Side for the Wednesday farmers market. Skip if: you're on a tight budget — this is resort pricing. Hours: Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Address: 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St., Kōloa, HI 96756 Phone: 808-742-9545 Parking: Free on-site Poʻipū Shopping Village is a more casual alternative nearby, with locally owned galleries including Fish Eye Kauaʻi — photographs of marine life by underwater photographer "Scuba Tom," alongside handmade jewelry and original paintings — plus a range of Hawaiʻi-inspired gifts and apparel. The village hosts a free hula show with live Hawaiian music every Monday and Thursday afternoon. Address: 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive, Kōloa, HI 96756 Phone: 808-742-2831 Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Parking: Free on-site Resort Shopping — Nearly every resort along Poʻipū Road also has some retail on-property. The Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi's boutique at Anara Spa carries a curated selection of pieces by local designers alongside high-end beauty and body products. It’s worth a visit if you're already on the property.
Old Kōloa Town
A short drive from the South Shore beaches, Old Kōloa Town is a compact strip of shops in historic plantation-era buildings that's worth 45 minutes to an hour. It's not a serious shopping destination — more of a pleasant browse with local ice cream, a small grocery and a few gift shops mixed in with working local businesses. Best paired with lunch and a visit to Kōloa itself rather than a dedicated drive. Free street parking. About 35 minutes from Līhuʻe.
East Side
Old Kapaʻa Town is the best neighborhood shopping on Kauaʻi in my humble opinion. It’s an easily walkable stretch along Kūhiō Highway with locally owned boutiques, Hawaiian-made goods and jewelry, thrift shops and vintage finds at fair prices. The neighborhood feels more local than touristy, although it’s likely about a 50/50 split. Best for: value, locally made goods and a genuine sense of what the island's retail scene looks like outside of resorts. Free street parking throughout. About 15 minutes north of Līhuʻe.
Līhuʻe
Līhuʻe is great for practical shopping. It's not a destination area for most visitors, but it's where you go when you need something specific at a price that hasn't been marked up for tourists. Kukui Grove Center is Kauaʻi's largest mall — an open-air 50-acre center with more than 50 stores including Target, Times Supermarket, Longs Drugs, locally owned shops, casual dining and a food court. The Monday farmers market in the south parking lot, in partnership with Kauaʻi County Farm Bureau, runs weekly and is one of the better produce markets on this side of the island. Kukui Grove is a good stop for last-minute gifts, practical supplies and anything you need from a full-size retailer. Hours: Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Address: 3-2600 Kaumualii Hwy., Līhuʻe, HI 96766 Phone: 808-245-7784 Parking: Free Harbor Mall is a smaller, older shopping center near Kalapaki Beach, close to the airport. More modest than Kukui Grove, but a convenient stop for visitors in Līhuʻe. Hours: Daily, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Address: 3501 Rice St #50, Līhuʻe, HI 96766 Phone: (808) 245-6255 Parking: Free Best for: practical needs, standard retail, shopping near the airport. Skip if: you're looking for locally made goods or a more scenic shopping experience.
North Shore
Hanalei Town is a small strip of locally owned shops on Kauaʻi's North Shore. It’s great for a slow, post-beach browse after a morning at Hanalei Bay. You'll find souvenirs, gifts, surf gear, aloha wear and a handful of independently owned boutiques that reflect the North Shore's laid-back character. Hanalei Surf Company is the local surf shop. The Ching Young Village Shopping Center has beach rentals, Big Save Market, a few casual dining options and small shops. Hanalei Center has some of the island’s best restaurants, coffee and baked goods, along with retail shops and surf lessons. Parking is limited in Hanalei — expect to park on the road and walk. The North Shore road is also subject to closures during heavy rain, so check conditions before making a dedicated trip. The drive is about 60 to 75 minutes from Poʻipū and about 30 minutes from Līhuʻe. Best for: post-beach browsing, surf gear, souvenirs and a relaxed shopping pace. Skip if: you're making a special trip for shopping alone.
West Side
Hanapēpē calls itself Kauaʻi's "biggest little town." Hanapēpē Art Night has run every Friday since 1997, with galleries, local artists, musicians, food vendors and shops open along Hanapēpē Road from 5 to 8 p.m. Visit the town's weathered storefronts — art galleries, gift shops, clothing boutiques and restaurants — and the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge, which is just off the main strip. From Poʻipū, plan on about a 20-minute drive. From Līhuʻe, about a 25-minute drive. From the North Shore, it's close to 90 minutes one way. Drive in before dusk, eat dinner, browse the galleries and head back before the road darkens. Best for: art buyers, evening entertainment and history lovers. Skip if: you're staying on the North Shore and don't want a long round-trip evening drive. Hanapepe Art Night — Fridays, 5 to 8 p.m. Admission: Free
Kauaʻi Shopping by Category
Hawaiʻi-made goods and souvenirsThe best places to find locally made products on Kauaʻi are Old Kapaʻa Town, the farmers markets, Old Kōloa Town, Hanapēpē and Hanalei. Old Kapaʻa Town has the widest variety. The farmers markets — particularly the Anaina Hou market in Kīlauea on Saturdays and the Wednesday Kauaʻi Culinary Market at The Shops at Kukuiʻula — are the best single stops for locally made food products, fresh produce and handmade goods. Hanapepe's Art Night is a fun stop for local artwork. Avoid airport shops and ABC Stores for gifts — most of what's on those shelves is imported regardless of how it's packaged.
Art and galleriesHanapēpē’s Friday Art Night is a fun event for checking out original work from local artists. Hanalei has a small number of galleries worth browsing while you're on the North Shore. Old Kōloa Town has a few art-focused shops mixed into its plantation-era strip. The Shops at Kukuiʻula's Red Koi gallery is the most polished gallery experience on the South Shore.
Coffee
- Java Kai roasts its own beans and has a loyal following at each location. Find them in Kapaʻa, Kīlauea and Kōloa.
- Outpost Coffee at Hanalei Market is the North Shore's best coffee stop, sourcing local beans and roasting in-house.
- Hanalei Coffee Roasters (also known as Kauaʻi Gourmet Roasters) is also a local roaster on the North Shore.
- Aloha Roastery is another roaster, which sources single-origin beans.
- Kauaʻi Coffee Company in Kalāheo offers tours, tastings and take-home bags — it's a large-scale commercial operation and tourist destination, but the coffee is grown on Kauaʻi and the tour provides context on island agriculture that most visitors find worthwhile.
Surf shops
- Hanalei Surf Company in Hanalei is the North Shore's local surf shop — rash guards, board shorts, surf gear and beach apparel from a shop that's been part of the community for years.
- Poʻipū Surf in Kōloa covers the South Shore.
- Aloha Exchange has two locations: 2-2535 Kaumualii Hwy. in Kalāheo on the West Side and 2484 Keneke St. in Kīlauea on the North Shore.
- Deja Vu Surf Hawaiʻi has three locations: The Shops at Kukuiʻula in Kōloa, 1419 Kūhiō Hwy. in Kapaʻa and Kukui Grove Center in Līhuʻe.
Buying Everyday Essentials
Essentials
For groceries, prescriptions and practical supplies, Līhuʻe has everything you need at affordable prices not marked up for tourists.
Costco has the best prices on the island for bulk sunscreen, snacks, alcohol and practical supplies. Membership is required. Located in Līhuʻe at 4300 Nuhou St. Open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Target is the island's main big-box retail option for beach gear, sundries and over-the-counter medications at reasonable prices. Located in Līhuʻe at Kukui Grove Center.
Foodland and Big Save are the island’s local grocery chains with multiple locations in Kapaʻa, Hanalei, Kōloa and Waimea.
Longs Drugs (CVS-owned) is the most reliable pharmacy chain on the island for prescriptions and after-hours essentials. There is one located in almost all areas throughout the island.
Convenience
For last-minute items you need now, like sunscreen, snacks for the beach or a cheap rain poncho — ABC Stores in the Poʻipū and Kapaʻa areas stock water, snacks, sunscreen and basic beach gear. Hotel gift shops on-property are similarly convenient. Both are useful, but prices will be marked up. Not recommended for Hawaiʻi-made gifts to bring home.
Insider Tips
Know Before You Go
- 1Before you shop:
- 2Reusable bags are required at Kauaʻi retailers — bring one or expect to buy one at checkout.
- 3Store hours are shorter than mainland norms. Many small shops close by 5 or 6 p.m. and some are closed Sunday or Monday. Check before you go.
- 4Weather shifts dramatically by area — rain on the North Shore does not mean rain in Poʻipū. Don't let the weather on one side of the island cancel plans on the other.
- 5Farmers markets are worth building a day around. See our Guide to Kauaʻi Farmers Markets for the full schedule.
