HONOLULU Magazine Team’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide
Crowd-pleasers under $100 from some of our favorite local businesses.
Need gift ideas for someone you don’t know well? Someone who has everything? Someone notoriously picky? We’ve been there, so we rounded up some winnahz for our gift guide. Support local so your giftees can rock local this holiday season.
SEE ALSO: Great Holiday Gift Ideas From Locals You Know
Photos: Courtesy of Alyssa Kauanoe
O‘ahu Holoholo Hawai‘i Adventures Scratch Print
$29
Even if you grew up on O‘ahu, there’s a good chance you haven’t done all 48 activities on this sheet designed by Alyssa Kauanoe (@alykanoe), which makes it great for a wide range of recipients. —Katrina Valcourt, executive editor
jetsettermaps.com, @jetsettermaps
SEE ALSO: Best of HONOLULU 2024: Shopping on O‘ahu
Photo: Courtesy of Emily States
Kaulumaika Lei Print
$35 for a single-lei print, $40 for a trio print
At the newly opened Kūkolu pop-up boutique at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, Native Hawaiian painter-illustrator Emily States has set up a charming art-filled lei shop for her label Kaulumaika, offering her gorgeous watercolor lei prints. From hinahina and ‘ilima styles to lehua, ‘a‘ali‘i and maile, there are so many fab options that it’s hard to choose—you’ll likely end up taking home one or two for yourself as well. —Brie Thalmann, managing style editor
Kūkolu, Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 691 Auahi St., Level 1, kaulumaika.com, @kaulumaika, kukolu.org, @kukoluorg
SEE ALSO: Can’t-Miss Local Holiday Markets and Craft Fairs on O‘ahu
Photos: Courtesy of Fishschool
Fishcake Gift Voucher
From $25
Let the crafters, DIYers and doers in your life choose their own adventure with a gift voucher for a Fishschool workshop at Fishcake. Past classes have covered beginner-friendly projects like hand-building ceramic mugs, watercolor, lei-making and basket-weaving, and they typically run under $100 with all materials included. —Andrea Lee, digital editor
Online, Fishcake, 307 Kamani St., fishcake.us, @fishschoolhawaii, @fishcakehawaii
Photo: Courtesy of Surf Shack Puzzles
Hawaiian Quilt Puzzle
$30
Puzzles are great gifts, plus they relieve stress and improve memory. Surf Shack Puzzles are works of art too! After completing this colorful Hawaiian Quilt puzzle, frame it as wall art. The puzzles are made from premium 100% recycled Eska board and printed with non-toxic inks. Surf Shack Puzzles also donates a portion of their proceeds to marine conservation initiatives. —Christine Labrador, senior art director
surfshackpuzzles.com, @surfshackpuzzles
Photo: Courtesy of Calabash Cookbook
Calabash Cookbook
$45
26 chefs, creatives and bartenders from across the islands band together to produce a cookbook of iconic local recipes in support of Maui. Proceeds after the print costs will be donated to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. —Thomas Obungen, associate editor
Online pre-sale, calabashcookbook.co, @calabashcookbook
SEE ALSO: Frolic Foodie Advent Calendar: Local Kine Gifts for 25 Days of Giving
Photos: Courtesy of Salvage Public
Jacquard Knit Market Bag in Palaka
$98
Crafted from a lightweight-yet-durable jacquard knit, Salvage Public’s new market totes offer the freshest spin on palaka that I’ve seen in a minute. They feature a handy inner pocket and come in three hues—the tan and black are perfect for those who prefer a classic look, while the poppy chartreuse is a must for your fashion-forward friends. —BT
Online and in-store, Salvage Public, South Shore Market, 1170 Auahi St., salvagepublic.com, @salvagepublic
Photo: Diane Seo
Hunneh Bebehs Stickers
$4
A local riff on Sonny Angels, these fun “blind box” stickers by Kolohe Boyz have Sonny Angel-like characters adorned with island greenery and flowers, like this one wearing a puakenikeni hat. —Diane Seo, editorial director
Online and at pop-ups, koloheboyz.co, @koloheboyz
Photo: Mari Taketa
Fighting Eel Backpack
$88–$98
What’s to love about these locally designed backpacks? Function, fashion and price. Fighting Eel’s new neoprene line has multiple interior compartments, including a Velcro-sealed one for laptops, plus dual side pockets for water bottles, a front pocket, and a back strap that slides over luggage handles. Its smaller size makes it easy for teenagers and everyday use. Bigger backpacks are made of recycled water bottles, have even more pockets and are perfect for travel. Bonus: padded strips on the back to cushion shoulder blades. Neoprene backpacks are $98 and the water-bottle ones are $88, great prices from a local fashion house. —Mari Taketa, dining editor
Online and in stores, fightingeel.com, @fightingeel
Photo: Courtesy of Here
Pebble Incense Holder
$25
Sleek with an organic feel, these Maison Balzac incense holders are made from borosilicate glass molded into lustrous pebblelike forms. They look great on a countertop, even when not in use, and are perfect for design-lovers or that one friend who’s obsessed with getting the energy just right. —BT
Online and in-store, Here, Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 691 Auahi St., (808) 369-2991, here-shop-here.com, @here.thestore
Photo: Courtesy of Slowtide
Palaka Kitchen Towels
$20
Who can resist a pop of palaka in the kitchen with guava pink, electro yellow or sequoia green towels? Slowtide kitchen towels make great gifts for anyone, come in fun colors and patterns and are super absorbent, eco-friendly and made from 100% post-consumer waste. Slowtide also actively supports local organizations like Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i. —CL
Photo: Credit Mahina Chong
Pua Paint Kit
$24, on sale for $17 right now
Paint by numbers but make it local and adultish. These pua paint kits combine bits of creativity, catharsis and enjoyment into a gift you might even want to pick up for yourself. They have everything you need, including paint brushes, paints and mounting hardware, so your gift can go from under the tree to on the wall in less than a day. —TO
Online and in select stores, hale-pua.com, @halepuahawaii
Photos: Courtesy of Lauren Trangmar
Halalu and Shark Suncatcher Sticker
$12
Bring a little whimsy to a home, office or car window with this suncatcher sticker designed by artist Lauren Trangmar, known for her scientific illustration-styled depiction of local subjects. This sticker was inspired by a halalu bait ball attracting sharks at Kaimana Beach, and when the sun shines through it, it’ll cast rainbows. There’s also a Gold Dust Day Gecko version. —AL
Online and in select stores, laurentrangmar.com, @laurentrangmar
SEE ALSO: Editors’ Picks: Holiday Gift Guide 2023
Photo: Courtesy of At Dawn
Aloha Clay Tall Mug
$39
Mugs are popular gifts for a reason—they’ve got major cozy vibes, and cute ones, like these from Ward boutique At Dawn, can bring a bit of joy to morning rituals. What makes these extra special is that they’re handcrafted by a local potter and feature lovely details, including speckles, checkered patterns and painterly finishes. —BT
Online and in-store, At Dawn, 1108 Auahi St. Suite 154, (808) 946-7837, theatdawn.com, @atdawn_oahu
Photo: Courtesy of Hapa Market
Firewater Hot Sauce
$12
Crafted from local B-grade fruits and vegetables, these zingy Firewater hot sauces are such great stocking stuffers for those who enjoy a bit of heat with their meals. I love the fruity-spicy punch these deliver, especially on grilled meat, pizzas, bread and even on plain white rice. —TO
Online and in-store, Hapa Market, 1720 Pālolo Ave., firewaterhawaii.com, @firewater.hi
