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The Ultimate Guide to Best Shopping on Maui

Alert for Visitors: Maui has experienced significant wildfires in August 2023, causing major disruption for both locals and tourists. For your safety and up-to-date information, please visit the Maui County website before planning any activities or travels. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated. Stay safe!

Shopping in Hawaii is a lot of fun! There are cute souvenirs, hand-made items, local products, and more. Scroll to find out the best places for shopping in Maui, Hawaii!
This shopping on Maui post was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

Every vacation should involve some shopping! After all, how else will you bring home the best souvenirs from Maui?

Maui is home to plenty of shopping centers with handmade craft vendors, Hawaiian clothing, and touristy gifts to give to your friends back home. It’s no wonder that shopping at Maui is one of the most popular tourist activities on the island!

When shopping in Maui, avoid the tourist traps. That hula dancer figurine is probably made in China, not on a neighboring island. Instead, look for island-made Hawaiian goods to take home with you.

Also, be on the lookout for national chain stores that carry the things you left at home. If you just need one basic tank top, it may make more sense to find it at Old Navy than at a boutique shop. Don’t spend more than you have to on essentials!

If you’re looking for an authentic shopping experience on Maui, check out these retail hubs. They include malls in Maui Hawaii, shopping districts, and communities with plenty of fun Maui stores to explore.

While this post mainly focuses on small businesses in Maui, you’ll find the best places to find familiar brands towards the end.

Before buying anything on Maui, remember that you will have to go back on the plane with you. Make sure everything you buy will pass a TSA baggage check!

Keep scrolling to find out where to shop in Maui for any budget!

Don’t have time to read a bunch of Hawaii blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Maui.

Popular Maui Tours/Activities

Favorite Maui Resorts/Hotels

  • Hyatt Regency Maui (this has a swim-up bar and tons of amazing amenities)
  • Andaz Maui (this is a luxury resort with the best luau on Maui)
  • Honua Kai Resort & Spa (this is one of our personal favorites because there are tons of pools and there are condo options)

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The Ultimate Guide to Shopping on Maui featured by top Hawaii blog, Hawaii Travel with Kids.

Where to Go Shopping on Maui

Here is our guide for the best shopping in Maui Hawaii!

Front Street in Lahaina

Due to the recent Maui fires, most of the shops in Lahaina were burned. While things are slowly opening up in that area, you might not find shopping in Lahaina, at least not what it used to be like.

Front Street Lahaina used to be one of the best Maui shopping areas, but unfortunately, the fires destroyed the shops, galleries, and so much more.

One day it will be rebuilt, but in the meantime, you will enjoy the other Maui best shopping down below.

Click here for step-by-step Maui travel planning help

Paia

This “hippie” town on Maui is a great place to find locally-made goods. You’ll also find some cute cafés in this North Maui spot.

Aloha Bead Company has an Etsy store, but you can buy the seller’s products on Hana Highway.

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping on Maui featured by top Hawaii blog, Hawaii Travel with Kids
Photo credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson

If you’re looking to buy clothing, you’re in luck: boutique stores like Mahina, Boutique Aloha, and Nectar Creations have fashionable pieces to try on. These are some of the best clothing stores in Maui.

Don’t forget to browse the art galleries while you’re here, too! Find surf-themed art at Maui Crafts Guild, Art Project Paia, and Cesere Brothers. You won’t just find wall art in these galleries – you’ll find ceramics, woodwork, and other art forms to marvel at, too.

You will find some of the best gifts from Maui at these local shops!

Paia is a small town in Maui near Kahului Airport. It’s also close to Haiku and Wailuku, places you might be more familiar with. The town is fairly accessible to those staying in North Maui.

Makawao

Not too far from Paia sits Makawao, a place that’s earned the name paniolo (cowboy town). Anyone looking to do clothes shopping on Maui should stop by the boutiques in this town!

The Ultimate Guide to Shopping on Maui featured by top Hawaii blog, Hawaii Travel with Kids: Woman trying on hats while shopping in Makawao, Maui
Photo credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Max Wanger

Pink by Nature carries well-known designers (like Havaianas), but you’ll likely stumble upon brands you’ve never heard of, too.

For eco-friendly finds, head to Fleur de Lei.  This boutique only curates clothing from brands that share their values, so you can feel confident in your purchases.

If you’re not in the mood for these Maui clothing stores, don’t cross Makawao off of your Maui bucket list!

The town has some specialty shops and galleries to browse, like Hot Island Glass. At this gallery, you can watch the glassblowers make high-quality pieces that will then be sold. It is one of the top Maui Hawaii stores to check out!

Chefs and tea lovers should stop at Dragon’s Den Herb Shop. In addition to their wide variety of bulk herbs and teas, they sell incense, candles, crystals, and other gifts.

Makawao is just 10 minutes away from Paia and Pukalani, and roughly 30 minutes away from Wailea and Kihei. Stop by after a day at the beach!

Maui Swap Meet

Another place to find locally made Maui products is at the Maui Swap Meet. It’s not your typical swap meet. Instead, it’s like a local arts and crafts fair.

Here, you’ll find t-shirts, jewelry, ornaments, baked goods, and one-of-a-kind souvenirs. It’s a lot smaller than the Aloha Swap Meet on Oahu, but it’s still worth a stop.

It’s held every Saturday morning from 7 AM to 1 PM, in the parking lot of the University of Hawaii Maui College in Kahului.

Plus, they have food trucks and vendors that sell snacks, shave ice, and plate lunches. In my opinion, the Maui Swap Meet is one of the best places to shop in Maui Hawaii if you want to shop local.

Shopping on Maui: the Best Shopping Malls

Malls on Maui are filled with the brands you love, along with some smaller souvenir shops.

WHALER’S VILLAGE

Across from the Kaanapali beach, you’ll find Whaler’s Village.

Since this Maui shopping mall is right across from the beach, you’ll easily find Hawaiian surf brands here, like Honolua Surf Company and Volcom. If you left your rash guard at home, grab one at the mall before surfing!

There’s also an escape room at Whaler’s Village for those who want to spend time away from the Maui heat.

Whaler’s Village has some of the best shopping Maui Hawaii has to offer.

THE SHOPS AT WAILEA

If you want an amazing, high-end resort shopping experience, head to The Shops at Wailea.

You’ll find designer stores like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. But, you’ll also find Lululemon, Billabong, SoHa Living, Honolua Surf Company, and more. The Shops at Wailea has the luxury shopping Maui offers.

It’s also one of the few places on Maui to find Honolulu Cookie Company (the place with the adorable pineapple-shaped cookies!)

You will enjoy all the Wailea shopping here!

QUEEN KA’AHHUMANU CENTER

The largest mall on Maui is Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, also known as Queen K.

One of the best Maui shopping malls is the Queen Kaahumanu Center in Kahului Maui.
Queen Ka’ahumanu Center on Maui.

Unlike Whaler’s Village, parking is free here, making it the best Maui Hawaii shopping location. Get your fast fashion fix at Forever 21, or grab that much-needed pair of shoes at Journeys.

If you’re looking for an authentic Hawaiian gift and have a large budget, check out Na Hoku, a Hawaiian jeweler with locations nationwide.

This is the best mall in Maui to go shopping at!

LAHAINA CANNERY MALL

This was partially affected by the Lahaina fire, but has limited opening currently.

If you’re looking for a fully enclosed, air-conditioned mall, this is the place to go. It’s pretty small, but they have a cool toy store, an ABC store, Hawaiian clothing shops, and even a Denny’s.

Another great place to shop on Maui is the Lahaina Cannery Mall. Image of the entrance to the Lahaina Cannery Mall on Maui.
Lahaina Cannery Mall on Maui.

Not only do they have a few great stores and restaurants, but they also have a 24-hour Safeway. This is super helpful if you arrive on a late flight and need something to eat on the way to your hotel.

Plus, they have a Longs Drug Store which will have everything you forgot to pack.

This mall is another one of the great places with shops in Maui Hawaii to check out.

MAUI MALL

If you’ll be in Kahului on a Sunday, visit Maui Mall. The mall hosts a hula dancing event every Sunday morning, and visitors can join in!

There are about 30 stores here, one of which is a Whole Foods. However, you should still stop in if you could use something from TJ Maxx or a locally-owned apparel brand.

This mall offers some of the best local shopping in Maui.

Kihei Kalama Village

For some shopping in Kihei Maui, you will love Kihei Kalama Village! It offers a wide variety of clothing stores, dining, and even some fun activities.

Here you will find some Maui boutiques like Aloha Snorkel and Surf, 808 Clothing Company, IPO Boutique, and so much more!

It is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM.

Big Box Stores on Maui

Right outside the Kahului Airport, you’ll find several big box stores where you can stock up on groceries and vacation essentials before heading to your hotel.

Check these out for more shopping in Kahului:

Walmart

Walmart is one of the original Maui Big Box Stores. It’s an easy place to grab some groceries, beach essentials, clothing, etc.

It’s also a great place to get cheap souvenirs, like calendars, t-shirts, silk flower leis, grass skirts, tiki statues, etc.

If you need to do some cheap shopping in Maui, head to Walmart.

Target

One of the newest Big Box Stores to open on Maui is Target. They have a fairly small souvenir section, but they have a nice selection of Aloha shirts and dresses for the whole family.

It’s also a great place to stop for pool toys/inflatables, swim diapers, baby supplies, snacks, and just about anything you can think of.

Costco

I’m ending this list with one of my favorite places to shop on Maui: COSTCO! Even though I’m from Seattle (where Costco is headquartered) I always make a point to stop at Costco on Maui.

If you are renting a condo or Airbnb on Maui, you can save a lot of money by grabbing food at Costco and cooking your own food.

Not only do they have lots of bulk items like meat, produce, drinks, etc, but you can also find a lot of products that are made in Hawaii.

If you go to Costco during the holidays, you’ll find TONS of gift baskets full of Hawaiian treats, sauces, and other fun items that are a fraction of the cost you’ll find anywhere else.

Whether you’re looking for trinkets to remember your trip or an extra pair of sunglasses, you can find it all on Maui.

If you’re buying authentic Hawaiian merchandise, you should expect to see some prices that are out of your comfort zone.

Even if you have a small shopping budget, though, you can find something to bring home!

What to Buy in Maui

Now that you know where to go, you’re probably wondering what things to buy in Maui. Different Maui shops specialize in a variety of items and Maui souvenirs.

Personally, I think the best things to buy in Maui are clothing items that you can wear during your trip as well as once you get home.

A similar option is to buy a sarong that you can use as a beach coverup or blanket for the sand. Or a nice sun hat. The best boutiques in Maui offer these things, and you’ll be supporting the small businesses in Maui!

I’m also a huge fan of buying food souvenirs. Maui CookWees are some of my favorite Hawaiian cookies and they have an outlet store in Kahului. Ululani’s Shave Ice sells its own shave ice maker and shave ice syrups too.

Maui Shopping FAQs

What should I buy in Maui?

You should buy locally made products like Maui coffee, jewelry, clothing, food items, swimsuits, art, and craft items. Plus, so many awesome Hawaiian souvenirs!

Are there malls in Maui?

Yes, there’s the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, Maui Mall, Whaler’s Village, Rainbow Mall, and the Outlets of Maui for the best shopping in Maui. Here you’ll find some of the best shops in Maui.

Is there a Costco on Maui?

Yes, and it’s right by the airport. We recommend making this your first stop after you land for some Kahului shopping.

Are there Maui farmer’s markets?

Yes! There are tons of Maui farmer’s markets where you can buy locally grown Hawaii fruits and vegetables and baked goods. These are the best places to shop in Maui that support local families.

Where is the best shopping in Maui?

This all depends on what you want to get. For fruits and some fun Maui gifts to take home, head to any of the farmer’s markets in Maui. Otherwise, look for shops on Maui that have locally made items for some unique things to buy in Maui.

Where to buy souvenirs in Maui?

Some of the best places to buy souvenirs in Maui are at farmer’s markets, local shops, and even some Maui boutique shopping too! The best Maui souvenirs are not ones that you grab at any store and they are made in China, you want something that is unique and made in Maui or Hawaii!

Are there ABC Stores in Maui?

Yes you will find ABC Stores all over Maui to enjoy. It is one of the best stores in Maui Hawaii that the locals and tourists both love!

Best Maui Shopping Wrap-Up

If you love shopping, Maui is a great island to visit. I hope you enjoyed this list of the best shopping Maui has to offer.

If you want more information on traveling in Maui, check out our other blog posts about visiting here! With all these great stores in Maui HI, it’s no wonder why people are coming from all over the world to visit Maui!

Looking for more Maui Travel Resources? Find out the best Maui luaus, tips for the Road to Hana, and where to snorkel in Maui!