I’ve come across some of the best shopping in Maui because I always make it a point to visit the local shops for souvenirs and unique gifts. And I almost always need a mall trip to pick up a piece I forgot to bring in my suitcase.
Everyone wants to bring a piece of their travels back with them, and Maui is teeming with plenty of artisan shops perfect for doing precisely that. Whether you’re on the hunt for handmade pieces, upscale clothing, or local markets, this post outlines all of the best Maui shopping areas and stores.
Best Shopping in Maui
Save this to Pinterest for later because I’m always adding to this list as I uncover more of Maui’s best shops and markets!
Best shopping neighborhoods & boutiques
Maui is filled to the brim with locally-owned stores and boutiques selling handmade goods. Personally, I find Makawao and Paia to be the best Maui shopping neighborhoods because you can visit a bunch of these small businesses at once. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.
Makawao
If you want to see how the locals really live and score some unique pieces, plan a day in Makawao. It’s the largest town in Upcountry Maui and is known for having the best Maui gift shops, local artists, and farm stands.
I can never resist a piece of statement jewelry, so I always stop by the Monarch Collective Maui. It’s a small but robust store that curates handmade jewelry, local art, and women’s clothing. If you’re looking for gifts, Maui Hands sells items exclusively crafted by Hawaii’s best artists.
When it comes to clothing, I’ve purchased some of my most treasured pieces from Kulua. Their small-batch clothing shop cuts and sews everything in town, from everyday lounge shirts to high-fashion dresses.
Paia
Paia is a small surfer town located on Maui’s north shore. Most people know it for hosting surfing competitions and for being the starting point for the Road to Hana. It can get congested because of this, but it’s worth wading through the crowds to score some lovely handmade pieces.
If you don’t make it to Upcountry, there’s a Maui Hands in Paia. There’s also Maui Crafts Guild, the first craft store on the island dedicated to selling Maui-made art, jewelry, and home goods.
If you’re more into Maui boutiques, Biasa Rose Boutique specializes in locally-made gifts and women’s clothing, some of which are available secondhand through their in-house consignment shop. If you love linens and home goods, Pearl Butik is a must visit. The owner used to work in the fashion industry and has an eye for sourcing the most beautiful Fair Trade textiles.
Farmers markets & craft markets
If you’re visiting on the weekends, you’ll notice a bunch of markets in the large shopping plazas. You might have to sift through curiosities, but if you’re patient, you can walk away with some exciting items.
Upcountry Farmers Market
website | area: Makawao (get directions) | hours: 7 AM – 11 AM Sat | best for: local produce and pop-ups
The Upcountry Farmer’s Market is my favorite market in Maui, which is really saying something since there are two dozen Maui farmers markets on this list alone and the Upcountry one is rather small. Still, I always try to visit.
The market runs every Saturday, rain or shine, and has everything from locally grown fruit to coffee, macadamia nuts, and fresh seafood. The last time we went, we tried the egg fruit from one of the local farms and were impressed by the smooth, custardy texture and mango-like flavor.
I suggest arriving hungry and checking out the pop-up restaurants. Don’t miss Maui Cones for their fresh poke hand rolls and, if available, the Tahitian ceviche.
Another plus about visiting the farmers market is that it’s near a bunch of farms you can visit. So make a full day of exploring the bountiful Upcountry.
Maui Swap Meet
website | area: Kahului (get directions) | hours: 7 AM – 1 PM Sat | best for: local handmade goodies
The Maui Swap Meet is a flea market and craft fair near the Kahului airport. There are some tchotchkes you have to wade through, but it’s worth it to seek out the locally made crafts. It starts bright and early at 7 AM, and I’d recommend getting there as early as possible to beat the crowds.
Maui Gifts and Craft Fair
website | area: Lahaina (get directions) | hours: 9 AM – 2 PM Sun | best for: local gifts & jewelry
The Maui Gift & Craft Fair happens every Sunday in the parking lot of a Lahaina strip mall. It’s not as vast as the Maui Swap Meet, and there’s less food, but it’s a good spot to shop for locally-made gifts, souvenirs, and unique jewelry.
Maui Sunday Market
website | area: Kahului (get directions) | hours: 4 – 8 PM Sun | best for: food trucks
The Maui Sunday Market offers some of the best shopping in Maui. There is a handful of farmers and artisans selling produce and souvenirs, but it’s more of a food truck and food pop-up market. There’s also live music, which adds to the laidback atmosphere.
This market is much smaller than the Saturday markets, but there’s free parking and ample seating, so it’s an easy stop to spend a relaxing Sunday evening. Food vendors rotate often, but you’ll always be able to find a variety of sweet and savory treats made with locally sourced ingredients.
Shopping centers & malls
I know shopping centers aren’t the most exciting part of everyone’s travels, but Maui does a good job of building malls that don’t really feel like malls. Plus, many of them offer live events and have a few local shops tucked between familiar national name-brand stores.
The Shops at Wailea
website | area: Wailea (get directions) | hours: 10 AM – 9 PM daily | best for: higher-end shopping
I don’t usually visit shopping malls when I travel because I prefer to support small independent businesses, but I have to admit that the Shops at Wailea are pretty nice.
It’s a large two-story outdoor mall close to several Wailea resorts. You’ll find a variety of name-brand and higher-end shops like Gucci and Prada, along with a few locally-owned art galleries, cafes, and restaurants. The open layout has plenty of tree cover for warmer days, and they even have live music on the regular.
Whalers Village
website | area: Lahaina (get directions) | hours: 9 AM – 9 PM daily | best for: beachside mall
Whalers Village is a fun spot to get lost for a few hours. It’s technically an open-air mall featuring name-brand stores and boutiques, but it’s located directly on Kaanapali Beach so you’ll probably find yourself there at some point for a boat tour departure.
Like The Shops at Wailea, Whalers Village has a lot of High Street name-brand stores with smaller independent stores tucked it. You’ll also find events like live music and ukulele classes. There’s also a big outdoor kid’s play area for families and a wide variety of restaurants ranging from the casual Monkeypod Kitchen to swanky sit-down spots like Leilani’s on the Beach.
Pro tip: On your way to Whalers Village you’ll pass Maui Ku’ia Chocolate Estate. This is a great stop for tastings, tours, and, of course, shopping.
Tamura’s Market Wailuku
website | area: Wailuku (get directions) | hours: 8 AM – 8 PM Mon-Sat, 8 AM – 7 PM Sun | best for: poke & local Hawaiian dishes
This unassuming market low-key has some of the best poke in Maui, which is quite the honor since there are so many options on the island. But besides having great poke, this is the best shopping in Maui if you love snacks. They have a huge selection of Hawaiian treats ranging from candy to nuts to dried fruit. You can spend at least an hour perusing all the labels and stocking up for your vacation.
Queen Ka’ahumanu Center
website | area: Kahului, (get directions) | hours: 10 AM – 8 PM Mon-Thurs, 10 AM – 9 PM Fri-Sat, 10 AM – 5 PM Sun | best for: abundant food court & movie theater
The Queen Ka’ahumanu Center is a massive, partially covered indoor-outdoor shopping mall with over 100 shops and eateries. It has everyday businesses like dentists and tax firms alongside spas, a movie theater, a tattoo parlor, and even a Goodwill.
The food court is massive and clearly draws most of the crowds. With the exception of a few chains, most of the eateries are locally run, including Foodland, dubbed “Hawaii’s best grocery store.”
Maui Mall Village
website | area: Kahului (get directions) | hours: 7 AM – 9 PM daily | best for: mainland shops & live events
Most cruises drop visitors into the Maui Mall Village, so it has a good mix of much-needed stores you might need while traveling, like a pharmacist, UPS, and a grocery store. It also has a decent selection of clothing and jewelry stores (mostly national chains), a movie theater, an arcade, and a wide selection of restaurants. There’s usually an event or two every week, like live music or food festivals.
More to do on Maui
After you explore the best shopping in Maui, check out my other guides to exploring the island.
