I can honestly say that Hilo Hatties was like no other store I've ever shopped in - truly, a one-of-a-kind experience. Their website (at www.hilohatties.com) touts it as "the largest retail source for Hawaiian and Island Lifestyle products." They aren't kidding.

There are a number of locations on the various islands - two are located in Honolulu. There is a smaller "boutique" store in the Ala Moana Shopping Centre, and then the flagship store and manufacturing facility, which we spent a goodly portion of time exploring.

If you're looking for Hawaiian...well, anything...this is the place to be. Souvenir shopping? Hilo Hatties can be your one-stop shop. There are aisles and aisles (or maybe that's acres and acres) of Hawaiian printed/themed fashions for men, women, and children: shirts, shorts, pareos, dresses...you can buy matching outfits for the whole family (if that's your thing)! Hawaiian beauty products, check...in lots of luscious fragrances. Hawaiian home decor, check...with beautiful handcrafted items made from local materials. Hawaiian treats, check...tons of scrumptious goodies to choose from (make sure to pick up some of my personal favourites - chocolate toffee macadamia nuts, mmmm!). Guaranteed you'll leave with your head spinning from the sheer "Hawaiian-ness" of it all.

Getting there is easy, with free "Hilo Hatties" trolley shuttles available throughout the tourist areas Honolulu and Waikiki. We spotted ours at Waikiki Beach and figured it would be a good way to kill a bit of time and do some souvenir shopping. Now, I can only speak from our experience with our particular driver - he was amazing! As we drove around Waikiki and Honolulu on our way to Hilo Hatties, he gave us a bit of a guided tour of all the sites. When we left the store, we were told that we could be dropped off at any of their stops (we chose to do some more shopping at the Ala Moana Shopping Centre!). It was a great (free!) tour, and we ended up talking the same driver into taking us back into Waikiki when he did his last pick up at the Ala Moana Centre.

While it may not be the most authentic Hawaiian experience out there, it is certainly one that I'll never forget (nor will our friends and relatives who received that little bit of Hilo Hatties).