Shopping in Maui’s Historic Makawao Town

By Kyle Ellison

Photograph of a polynesian woman wearing a delicate necklace made of three strands of beaded gemstones. — Find fine polynesian jewelry, beaded gemstones, and more at Maui Master Jewelers. Photo courtesy of Maui Master Jewelers. Photo © Doris Maran. Model: Raina.

If you want to make someone from Makawao cringe, refer to Historic Makawao Town as a smaller version of Lahaina. The galleries and boutiques here are on par, if not better, than the shops and galleries on Front Street, and you don’t have the cruise ships unloading at the shore. Instead, Makawao exudes its own unique vibe, where you might find yourself standing on the creaky wooden deck of a fashionable women’s clothing boutique, allowing a misty rain shower to pass while sipping a coffee or tea, or chatting with a friendly Portuguese ranch hand, chuckling at the colorful rooster that’s managed to bring traffic to a halt.

It’s a town of laughter, smiles, and curious moments, where a truck might pass with a goat in the back with a tailgate made out of rope, and where locals can’t stroll two blocks without waving at three people they know. It’s a hive of artistic, creative individuals, with strong paniolo ranching heritage and hitching posts lining the wood shingled storefronts that don’t see much use anymore. Find a roadside parking spot and stroll around town.

Shopping in Historic Makawao Town

Art Galleries and Jewelry

Those interested in fine Polynesian jewelry will enjoy stepping inside Maui Master Jewelers, where works by over 30 local artists are on display. They are the island’s leading source for New Zealand bone and jade carvings and also offer Tahitian pearl jewelry.

Double Kohola Vessel by Chris Richards and Jupiter Nielsen. Photo © Hot Island Glass.

Back behind the gallery next to Market Fresh Bistro is Hot Island Glass, the island’s best-known glass studio, where you can watch artists blow glass. Call ahead to check the demonstration schedule.

Sherri Reeve Gallery showcases this ebullient Makawao artist whose distinctive floral designs have graced shirts, cards, paintings, and prints since it opened in 1997. This is a worthwhile stop among the large number of galleries in town.

At Jordanne Gallery and Studio, meet a plein-air painter who decided at the airport during a family trip to Lana‘i that she wasn’t getting back on the plane. With little money and no plan, her painting talents paved an unforeseen path.

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In the Courtyard shopping area, Viewpoints Gallery is a large, clean space that features a rotating array of artists, predominantly painters.

For original oil paintings from over a dozen artists, check out the intimate Makawao Fine Art Gallery, open since 1986. The gallery is a collector’s haven for limited-edition pieces.

On a corner in the center of town, Julie Galeeva Fine Art showcases the highly textured paintings of this talented Russian-born artist and Maui resident.

For Maui-made arts and crafts such as paintings, woodwork, and jewelry, Maui Hands is on Makawao Avenue right next to the Makawao library.

Find Ni’hau lei and other Ni’ihau jewelry at Maui Hands. Photo © Maui Hands Art Galleries.

Clothing and Gifts

You know those people who casually exude the trendy essence of cool? There’s a good chance they’re shopping for clothes at Makawao’s fashionable boutiques. Working your way down Baldwin Avenue from the center of town, Collections has been providing men’s and women’s clothing and boutique home furnishings since 1975.

The Mercantile specializes in boutique women’s clothing, and Pink by Nature has a chic selection of the newest and trendiest styles. Its brother store, Homme by Nature is a rustic yet modern wood-paneled enclave of vintage menswear and home decor.

The collection of clanging wind chimes announces your arrival at Goodies, an eccentric but genuinely artsy clothing boutique for women. Designing Wahine Emporium offers something for everyone, including a selection of men’s aloha shirts.

To pick up a rub for a sunset barbecue, the Volcano Spice Company is a small shop full of spices made on the property. Try the coffee barbecue rub and the original volcano spice blend.

On a corner in town is Little Tibet, where an array of colorful gemstones and crystals warrant a look. Across the street is the Dragon’s Den, an herb shop that’s been here since 1982, with organic superfoods and medicine, and now serving herbal tea.

If you find yourself enjoying Makawao’s vibe to the point you want to take it home with you, Jewels of the White Tara has exotic New Age furnishings. This import store features home decor and international clothing items, with pieces from India, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam, among others.

Fleur de Lei is an eco-boutique with clothing items made from organic cotton, as well as “sail bags” made from recycled windsurfing and kitesurfing sails. The store promotes fair trade and sustainable practices, and if you aren’t familiar with vegan leather, stop in and ask.

Kyle Ellison

About the Author

Kyle Ellison began researching the island of Maui when he first moved there at the tender age of five. Back then, the island still had three sugar mills, Wailea didn’t exist, and early mornings were punctuated by the sound of bombs falling on Kaho’olawe. The island has changed considerably since then, but Kyle’s love of Maui has remained.

A Maui resident, surfer, and diver, Kyle has led groups of divers as a divemaster at Molokini, led scuba tours on the island of Lana’i, hosted hundreds of hikers on Maui, and proposed to his wife off the island of Moloka’i while diving with hammerhead sharks. Kyle’s son can usually be found splashing in the water at Baldwin Beach.

As a freelance writer, Kyle’s work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, Travel + Leisure, Maui No Ka ‘Oi, Ka’anapali Magazine, AOL Travel, Escape, Journey Viator, Gadling, Afar, and the Huffington Post, and on the Travel Channel. His travels have taken him to 65 countries and 49 U.S. states. He also helped found a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for students in Cambodia.

For more info on Kyle and his travels, visit him at kylethevagabond.com, or on Twitter and Instagram @kylethevagabond.

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