Wow! They have a price point for everyone. Many places have poor quality at lower price points. Not here. I found something for me (68) down to my 8-yo grandson and 4 adult daughters. I found more contemporary pieces and could have spent more time seeing the large collections which incorporate Hawaiian art. We had just been to the Lihue Native Museum the day before. Go here just to see the Niihau crafted necklaces. Amazing. They have one of the best museum quality necklace collections for sale by some of the few remaining living artists. The rare and highly valued shells (kahelelani, laiki, momi, and kamoa), are found on the beaches of Ni'ihau and crafted by the island's residents into various styles of lei, earrings, and bracelets, equaling one of Polynesia's most precious art forms. There truly is something for everyone and they are finally back open after the 22/24 flood. What a great restoration! I did not take pictures because it seemed disrespectful. However, there is a flock of the prettiest chickens you find on the island and this business has recovered from one of the worst floods last year with 57" of rain in 24" hours. The remodeled shop and grounds are amazing to see. Gabrielle can fill you in on the over 45 year history of this amazing establishment. Have fun! Go here before you buy elsewhere. read more

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Loved the selection of authentic Ni'ihau shell jewelry. Gabby was so knowledgeable about the craft. Highly recommend. read more

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Came here yesterday to shop for new pearl earrings. Been there a few years ago and everything was fine. Not this time. After I saw a pair of earrings I was interested in, I finally was able to have the sales associate come over. She took them out of the case and told me about the earrings. I asked how much and she let me know the price. I responded with "that's not in my budget today". To that she became very huffy, popped them back in the case and walked away. I stayed at the counter looking at more earrings, she refused to come back over and help me. Well, as they say in the movies BIG MISTAKE, HUGE! Did you just assume that my budget was not to your liking or something else? The store was not that busy and they were not actively waiting on other people. Not only did you lose a good sale but we will never come into your store again. We come to Kauai every year and there are plenty of other places to shop. read more

Wasn't sure what to expect but did think it was more of a gift shop than jewelry. Large parking lot with fun sculptures, photo ops and TONS of adorable chickens. Probably the largest selection of unique chickens we saw on Kaua'i. There was a big truck covered in fake grass, a surfing wave to take photos with and other sculptures. Inside was primarily jewelry and art pieces. The jewelry was reasonably priced compared to what we found elsewhere on the island. We found a koa wood piece we had hoped to purchase while on island and it was also reasonably priced. Workers were very warm and helpful. read more

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Service and customer service has always been beyond my expectations. The selections from very high end pieces of investment or grabbing some quality souvenirs to bring back to friends and family without having to go over budget. A definite go to every time I'm in Kauai. read more

If you can, please visit and support this business. Christine and Gabby are some of the nicest people you will meet. And they have the best jewelry (the other stuff will hopefully be up and running soon too...they were victims of the April mudslide, so any support they can get will help them get them back on their feet!) They have true Ni'ihau shell jewelry and will authenticate. It truly art seeing these creations. Parking is plentiful, and the atmosphere serene. I hope to one day become a neighbor and be a regular at their store! read more

Star Rating should be a ZERO. No greeting or acknowledgement you were in the store. No " hello." Totally ignored your presence. Leaving you alone, so as to show no pressure but the freedom to look around the beautiful jewelry they had, did not mean to totally ignore your presence. A simple hello would have shown respect to potential customers. I had the money to spend. Felt very UNWELCOMED. I've been around the world traveling and shopping, never ever to be totally ignored or acknowledging your presence. They're not the only store on the island. NO GREETING. NO SALE. TURN AROUND. read more

If you are at all interested in Hawaiian culture, particularly in Ni'ihau shell jewelry, this place is a must. Just about every time we come to Kaua'i we stop into the Hawaiian Trading Post for an outstanding, museum-quality collection of Pupu O Ni'ihau (Ni'ihau shell jewelry) and the for people who work there. The selection of Ni'ihau shell jewelry is outstanding. We started collecting 20+ years ago with small, simple necklaces, and added more elaborate pieces over the years. My husband and I even exchanged poepoe necklaces (from Hawaiian Trading Post) as our wedding jewelry instead of rings when we had a ceremony on Kaua'i. We keep them in koa shadow boxes to display when we are not wearing them. This jewelry is that special - each piece is handmade by an incredibly skilled person on Ni'ihau. It can take years to collect the tiny shells, and some colors are extremely rare and vibrant. While some shell jewelry is made on Kaua'i, etc., the luster of Ni'ihau shells is unmatched. When we look at, touch, or wear these shells, we feel a deep connection with one of our favorite places on earth and we also feel a profound appreciation for the culture, skill, dedication, and artistry of the people who created them. When you purchase a piece of Ni'ihau shell jewelry here you get a certificate of authenticity with the name of the artist. As we understand it, fewer people on Ni'ihau are making the jewelry and the shells are getting harder to find, making this jewelry increasingly rare and expensive. You would have to go to a museum to see as large of a collection. The staff at this well established, family run shop have consistently been friendly and welcoming in the 20+ years I've been visiting. They are experts on Ni'ihau shell jewelry and are generous with their time and expertise. They are really friendly and will patiently answer any questions about any aspects of this jewelry. They can tell you about the various shell shapes and colors, about the techniques used to create the jewelry, and even the families and particular artists who created each piece. On subsequent visits, they've actually asked to see the necklace I was wearing and carefully straightened any shells that may have gotten a little bit out of alignment from wearing. They saw pieces we had purchased from them 20+ years ago and offered to appraise them for their current value for insurance. We were astonished at how the pieces had appreciated and this reinforced our feeling of being caretakers of these precious pieces that will last and be appreciated long after we are gone. This place is well worth the visit just to look and learn more about Ni'ihau shell jewelry. On our last visit I noticed some other people milling around the glass display cases on the opposite side of the store from where the staff was helping us. As you can see from what I mentioned above, there is lot to discuss with Ni'ihau shell jewelry. These are not refrigerator magnets. The staff was enthusiastic to share their knowledge with us and were particularly welcoming to us as long time customers. When the staff finished with us and went to help them, the other people seemed rather huffy and put-out, and I suspect it was they who left the one-star reviews from 9/17/2024. Rather than viewing the situation as that of long time, satisfied, and loyal customers being patiently helped by a knowledgeable (but limited) staff at a reputable, long time family business (really good signs to anyone wanting to invest in some expensive Ni'ihau shell jewelry!) they twisted this into the staff being deliberately rude to them. Did they expect the staff to rush us or stop helping us for whatever reason (plane to catch?)? Had they come down to the side of the store where we were being helped, they could have learned so much just by listening to the staff, and who knows, made new friends? Perhaps they weren't greeted in a way they expect, but one star? "should be ZERO"?! LOL, Really? Because they had to wait for the staff to finish with someone else who was there before they even walked in? That's harsh, unfair, and not an accurate assessment of what this place is about. It says more about that yelper's level of entitlement than anything else. Traveling can be exhausting and test one's patience when adjusting to a different pace. But in the 45+ years I've been visiting Kaua'i, I have found that you will generally be rewarded with generosity of spirit and meaningful interactions if you show some patience, respect, good will, and even curiosity. But if you lead off with an attitude of entitlement because you have "the money to spend", you may get the opposite of what you are after. Hopefully, for everyone's sake, those moping yelpers will be bit by the aloha spirit, have a much better holiday, and maybe even bring some of that generosity of spirit home to the mainland and their likely-exasperated family and acquaintances. read more

Beautiful necklaces. I had bought 5 different necklaces from them over the years while visiting. I stopped in to look around and was amazed on how the prices had gone up in the past few years. I talked to one of the ladies working there and asked if I could bring in all my necklaces to be appraised at today's price. She gladly accommodated me and I couldn't believe how much they have gone up. They didn't charge me anything and I'd recommend them highly. Ty. read more

A fine Jewelry store to purchase pearls and other stunning jewelry. Unfortunately I couldn't take pictures of the interior, but definitely stop by for a visit. read more

Hawaiian Trading Post - Hawaiian Testing Post logo - Flowers & Gifts Near Me - Lawai, Hawaii

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Love love love the selection and the very personable owners! Thank you! I love my new pieces, we will be back!

Rude and arrogant sales ladies!!!! Absolutely ZERO customer service. I would never spend my hard earned money there. Over priced jewelry. Go somewhere else!! read more

This place is located off highway 50 kind of between Poipu, Lawai, and Koloa. Although it has a wide selection of shirts, t-shirts, jewelry, and other souvenirs, it was not a boutique and therefore most of what they had could be found elsewhere for cheaper. There is no refund policy, but did not say anything about exchanges. read more

Hawaiian Trading Post - Flowers & Gifts Near Me - Lawai, Hawaii

We went to see their Ni Ihau collection. The sales staff was so rude!! It was shocking. Before I even tried on a necklace I was grilled about if I could even afford one!! I informed them that I already had one. Then they grilled me some more about my necklace and when I got it and how they have doubled in price. My husband was pissed and walked away. We left and purchased several Ni Ihau pieces from a local broker. When we told this story to the manager at our hotel, he told us they have heard about Hawaiian Trading Post rude staff many times and don't recommend them. Neither do we! read more

Extremely large collection of fantastic jewelry on one side of the store and mostly clothes on the other side of the store with some souvenirs available around on the walls. Unfortunately, we were looking for a store with more variety. However, if your looking for jewelry and clothing, it's the place to go. If you're looking for a gift shop with a lot of Knick knacks, footwear, hats, etc., this would not meet your expectations. read more

I love this place for there quality ealskin walets and fine Hawaiian jewerly.WOW!!!They got a lot of nice things you would like for a keep sake!!!MAHALO read more

i was shown a meditation /spinner ring with peridot and "pearl". it was marked down from $189 to $140. It was quite lovely and the employee even included a paper saying it was Hawaiian peridot. When i got back to our hotel, i googled meditation rings as i was intrigued by it. Low and behold this ring showed up on Etsy made by a woman in India who stamps each piece. Sure enough, that is what i bought. On Etsy it was priced at $30 w/free shipping (again, from India). I have been deceived by these shop owners who told me "bring it back Monday. Not for a refund-exchange only. I am now putting this into dispute with my bank and am alerting other tourists not to spend money at this shop. Do not give them your business. PS. the shop was empty. so maybe word is getting out. read more

We are so happy to have stopped in here! I purchased some beautiful Ni'ihau earrings and a few other jewelry pieces. Then came back a few days later for more. Christine and Gabi were so sweet and welcoming. They are incredibly knowledgeable about all their pieces, and it really makes you appreciate the pieces that much more! Looking forward to visiting on the next trip to see what new pieces they have! read more

The unique local made jewelry is beautiful, unique and make great gifts. If you want something from Hawaii this is the place to get it.

This place was a big waste of time. We specifically planned our day to be here on a Saturday at 3:00pm, as they were supposed to be open until5:00pm. They decided to close early, with just a simple closed sign hung on the fence. They are not around anything else, don't waste your time!! read more

This is a big store with a lot, I mean A LOT of pearls ranging from $-$$$$ for yourself and to gift to others. The workers were very nice and informed. My family members bought few gifts for upcoming holidays. I recommend! read more

So it may be too touristy or a tourist trap, but most of the shopping on the island is kitschy. I was on the hunt for a nice (read: not cheap) plumeria necklace and the jewelry from the Forbidden Island (Nii'hau). As we were driving to The Fresh Shave, I spotted this store advertising the Nii'hau jewelry. There are some cute photo ops outside (surfboard and pineapples). Inside are a lot of treasures for your friends/family back home. I spotted plumeria hair ties, wooden bowls, shirts and cover ups. All for reasonable prices. I went to the jewelry section and decided on a plumeria necklace by Denny Wong (Hawaiian artist) and nii'hau earrings. I also ensured that both came with certificate of authenticity so I knew that they were legitimate. I had great service so not sure what the others experienced. Yes, they don't accept returns but honestly, are you going to come back to return something? I didn't find the items to be overpriced (i checked with other retailers and it was pretty close). I liked the store, selection and service and highly recommend it. read more

I really like the selection of jewelry and souvenirs offered here. They have decent prices and a vast variety of ideas for local gifts. They don't always have items in different sizes. Many items sell out quickly and they wait weeks for new shipments. read more

When I was on the plane approaching Kauai, I asked the passenger next to me who was from the area where to go for Pearls. Without hesitation she referred me to Hawaiian Trading Post. "They have the best quality at the best prices." Not only did they beat the prices in Tahiti, their pieces were beautiful. Liz the owner goes way above and beyond to make sure you are happy. They are good folks and I share the sentiment from my friend on the plane. In Kauai there is no other place to shop. read more

I rarely bring people here because It's a tourist trap. Absolutely no returns is posted Discreetly under the counter. This is the kind of place where Impulse buying goes on. Stuff is Overpriced, They just want your money and never hear from you again. They are not nice. You can forget about Any Aloha. There are many other nice People that want your business and will be more accommodating. Skip it! You be glad you did read more

I initially purchased my Ni'ihau shell necklaces, earrings, and bracelet 15 years ago. Over time, the clasp broke on one. We were on Kauai for just one day, and I brought them all with me, including the broken one. The owner drilled new holes and repaired the clasp on the spot. They also did a nice evaluation, letting me know that I'll need restringing within the next couple of years, which I'll be able to take care of when we visit again. Absolutely wonderful service, and great to see that my purchases of these beautiful artworks appreciate! read more

I was in dire need of finding authentic Pooka shells for my brothers. Called around to several places. Hawaiian Trading post had them and was able to set them aside for me until I could make it there. The young lady working there was so helpful! Beautiful jewelry and great prices too! read more

They have really beautiful collection on Niihau jewelry. I took my mom just to look, since the collection is one of the largest that I know of on Kauai. The quality of these Niihau pieces is stunning, and the display allows you to really enjoy them. Even though they close at 5:00, they were lovely enough to keep the jewelry counter open for a little while longer while we oohed and ahhed. And in the end, they showed me a piece that was within my budget (much to my surprise!) that I fell in love with. I now have a really amazing piece that reminds me of a amazing Hawaiian trip. The sales people were super low-key, allowed me and mom to try on the stuff that was well out of our price range just to enjoy it, and in the end steered us to something that we loved and could actually take home with us. (I feel like had we just done the oohing and ahhing, that would have been OK too.) read more

Our family went to the Trading Post several times while on Kauai. First impression was that this was a tourist-trap souvenir/crap shop. But most of us ended up making purchases we were quite happy with. They do have a really good selection of men's Hawaiian shirts - better than most of the other tourist shops. They also have a lot of interesting local art and jewelry. It's quite a mix. I did not have a nice experience with one of the staff. She was very rude and dismissive. Also, in hoping to buy myself a pearl necklace, I was disappointed that they only carried really cheap or really expensive strands, nothing in the middle. Oh well, it's a nice way to spend an hour or two. They have a little koi pond and some photographic set-ups (Giant Pineapple, Tiki Gods, Surf Wave). There is also a very friendly shop cat. read more

If you are looking for souvenirs on Kauai I would 100% recommend this store!! They have jewelry and nice clothing. All jewelry there is authentic. Also, they have great service! All employees are really nice too. When you visit Kauai check out the Hawaiian trading post!! read more

This is always on our stop list even though we rarely buy. You can find kitschy stuff to Bamboo Cay button ups. Want an ornament to remember the trip by at Christmas? Got those too. Mostly clothing anywhere from shirts to island casual. They do have a jewelry section and I'll say this for the other people who keep saying "go to Na Hoku." Na Hoku charges twice the price for the same weight in gold and diamonds on the mainland. They are expecting you will be overwhelmed by their selection of designs and if you are, more power to you. But if you want BASIC jewelry including black pearls, save yourself a couple hundred bucks. If someone is all up in your business enough to call you out on the quality of your jewelry, you don't need someone like that in your life anyway. Most people expect they're cheap anyway so why not get a high end look for literally a fraction of the cost? Just so you know going in...NO REFUNDS, all sales final so take that into consideration. read more

I'm glad I took the time to stop by here today. As I entered the store, I was greeted with a friendly smile and a warm Aloha. I was impressed with not just the quality of the jewelry items, but of the quantity that they carried. (They also carry clothing and souvenirs.) After looking at the Niihau jewelry for a few moments one of the associates came over and asked me if I wanted to look at anything in particular. She gave a brief history and workmanship of the jewelry as well as the value they hold. I purchased a beautiful, well priced, 2 strand Kahelelani necklace with beautiful white and pink flowers, as well as hot pink, black, red, and yellow shells and I just LOVE it. If you are looking for a variety of quality items, be it clothes or jewelry at a fair price, this is the place to go! I'm a resident of Kauai 30+ years and this is now my favorite place for jewelry!! read more

The older lady at the jewelry section was very rude to us. She did not want to give us boxes for the jewelry we bought and forgot to put one of them in the bag. When Confronted she said, oh so sorry. She (seemed to be the owber) also took our stuff behind the counter out if reach before we were finished looking and comparing them, There was no retail manners, just "buy it and get out now" attitude. We have been here before, but now never going back alas. read more

This is a really cool place to buy your knick knacks and souvenirs. They may be a little more pricey than they should be but I found some cool lithographs, shirts, and of course, pearl and coral jewelry. Check it out! It's on Koloa Rd. right off of 50 in South Shore. read more

Owner is very rude and customer service was horrible. Would not waste my time or money. Owner actually cursed at my 6 and 7 year old daughters a number of times while we were trying to take pictures outside. Would give zero stars if possible. read more

Had great selection of jewelry, recommend coming here for things for friends. People there were so nice. There was a cute dog in the store too. Cheaply priced stuff. read more

Hawaiian Trading Post - Flowers & Gifts Near Me - Lawai, Hawaii

Very fine shop for jewelry, especially pearls, and one of the few places to get authentic Ni'ihau shell leis. Certainly better prices on conventional jewelry than the high class shops in Poipu or Princeville, and better pedigree for the shell leis than other places around the island. They also have a fairly routine collection of Aloha gear, knick knacks and souvenirs. read more

This place was just ok. It was expansive and felt like a lot of options but the sales people and some of the buyers acted like total snobs. We wanted to remind them that this is a tourist dive and not Na Hoku. We browsed for a bit, spent about 15 minutes and enjoyed the knick knacks. I did purchased a set of earrings and matching necklace. Took forever, no one wanted to help us purchase it. We didn't need any help picking it out...just buying it. It was cute..... but then I saw the same set in a flea market. Hope it lasts, but if not, the world is not over. May or may not be worth a visit. If you are in the area and want something... give it a try. read more

This place is interesting. We ended up going twice. First, we spent a few minutes and decided it was way too touristy to be worth our time, and so left. The next day (or so), though, one of the people with us wanted a tiki that he had seen there for a friend, so we went back and spent a little more time paroozing and asking questions. As it turns out, they actually do have a good selection of locally made crafts and jewelry, as well as some nice clothing and other items...you just have to know where to look. The store has a cat in it that's very friendly and you can pet. Actually a good find, after getting past the initial reactions. read more

My favorite place to shop on the island of Kauai! They have an amazing selection of rare Ni'hau shell leis. They have beautiful Tahitian black pearl strands and Black Pearl Pendants. I purchased a Black Pearl Pendant and I wear it daily! I also got matching Black Pearl stud earrings :) I get a lot of compliments on them. On the other side of the shop is the souvenir side. It has everything you could think of and a great selection of goodies to take back home. I will be back here for sure! I definitely recommend shopping here! I love to support local and family owned business. read more