Southern Comforts: Get Your Shop On

Poipu Shopping

The only shopping that can be done in Poipu (other than in your resort's general store) is at the Poipu Shopping Village that holds Mom's favorite jeweler Na Hoku along with a Starbucks and the Whaler's General Store that offers up a selection of souvenirs and valuable condo essentials (chip and dip, anyone?). The Poipu Shopping Village is located at 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Drive, which is directly off of Poipu Road. Every Monday and Wednesday at 5pm there is a live Polynesian dance performance on the stage at the center of the shopping center. I have stumbled across the performance during a Starbucks run and was amazed and was kicking myself for not bringing a camera. If you have some spare time, I would highly suggest the free biweekly performance. There is free parking in the lot but during hours, parking can often spill out onto Kiahuna Plantation Drive so carve out a little extra time if you are going to dinner at one of the restaurants in the shopping plaza.

Entrance to Poipu Shopping Village 

Koloa Shopping

Similar to Poipu, most of the shopping in Old Koloa Town is located together. There is the main strip of shops and eateries along Koloa Road that include my mom's favorite art gallery, Christian Riso Fine Art & Framing, Island Soap and Candle Works, and Jungle Girl. Every year, my husband and I stock up on soaps and candles from Island Soap & Candle Works and usually have to ship it home- yes, we treat this shop like Costco. 

Angled View of Historic Old Koloa Town

Panoramic Shot of the Line of Shops and Eateries in Koloa

In the past couple of years, a new shopping plaza has popped up in between Koloa and Spouting Horn that boasts a range of higher end stores and eateries and is also the location for one of the Island's many farmers' markets. The Shops at Kukui'ula has a gorgeous Tommy Bahama storefront, Poipu Surf, and Quiksilver. I have admittedly only browsed this shopping center a couple times while it was still growing so there weren't that many shops up and running but it is an absolutely gorgeous shopping center. The Shops at Kukui'ula are located at 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka. 

The Shops at Kukui'ula 

Lihue Shopping

The main attraction to any visitor staying in Kauai for more than a week is the Island's Costco. This has been a wallet saver for years as you can stock up on food, drinks, adult drinks, and sunscreen without having to pay the exorbitant prices at the local grocers. Remember that most of the products on the shelves in Kauai were shipped into the island so that shipping cost is reflected in the jaw dropping prices (get your ice cream from Costco, trust me). The Costco is located at 4300 Nuhou Street and is accessible from the Kaumualii Highway/Hawaii Route 50. 

The long line outside Costco

Across the street from Costco is the Kukui Grove Shopping Center that is a great place for quick eats and souvenirs. You can usually find Mom rummaging through the racks of the Macy's, shipping home the loads of bedding or clothing that she finds in the surprisingly well priced Macy's. Also of note in the shopping center is  a Kmart, GameStop, GNC, and Foot Locker. The main draw for our family to the Kukui Grove Shopping Center has always been the food but you'll have to wait a bit longer for those juicy tidbits. 

Further in the heart of Lihue is another retailer known for its prices, Walmart. For those without a Costco membership or who don't think they can go through a 24 pack of Pepsi, this is another cheaper alternative for groceries or other items that you either forgot or ran out of while on the island. It is located at 3-3300 Kuhio Highway in Lihue. 

Right down the road from Walmart is a Hawaiian souvenir staple, Hilo Hattie, that offers everything from kukui nut necklaces to hawaiian shirts and pearl necklaces. Hilo Hattie is located at 3-3252 Kuhio Highway in Lihue. When you are at the airport, grab a couple of the guidebooks or travel brochures as they often have coupons for area restaurants or shops. In many of the travel brochures, there is a coupon for Hilo Hattie that offers a "free" mug or travel bag. 

Also along the same stretch of highway is Discount Fabric Warehouse, a must stop for any crafty individual. The fabric hawaiian flowers that adorned the wedding favors from our nuptials in 2011. The warehouse is located at 3-3215 Kuhio Highway.

If the fabric at Discount Fabric Warehouse wasn't what you were looking for, you can head a little outside of Lihue and check out the Kapaia Stitchery located at 3-3551 Kuhio Highway in between Lihue and Hanamaulu. Home to some of the most beautiful fabrics on the island, the Kapaia Stitchery sells premade children's clothes and fabric toys along with guides for sewing the signature Hawaiian quilts. Never a fan of patience, I cheated and bought a premade quilt from Jungle Girl in Koloa.

Kapaia Stitchery 

Handmade Quilts Hang from the Ceiling