Flight Attendant Shopping: Hilo Hattie’s

During the 1950-60’s, Hilo Hattie was the stage name for a popular Hawaiian entertainer whose real name was Clarissa Haili.  She was originally a teacher, but achieved fame as a singer and dancer, popularizing a comic hula-style dancing.

In 1963, a Hawaiian store opened for business, naming the store after this popular entertainer.  Hilo Hattie’s aims to provide one-stop shopping for Hawaiian goods and products, and is the largest Hawaiian retailer and manufacturer of the same.  In memory of the original Hilo Hattie, who passed away in 1979, the store gives scholarships to University of Hawaii students who are pursuing degrees in Hawaiian studies and music.

From Aloha shirts to beachwear and other resort apparel, from traditional muumuus to CD’s and DVD’s, from food products to tableware and candles, from jewelry to body lotions and fragrances, Hilo Hattie’s has it all.

Hilo Hattie’s operates a free trolley service from various Waikiki hotel locations to its flagship store (700 Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, map it).  The trolley runs approximately every 20 minutes, so you’re never too early or late to get there.  On the return trip there is also a courtesy drop off at the Ala Moana Shopping Center.

I went to Hilo Hattie’s searching for an Aloha shirt.  It’s been years since I had purchased one, and my existing shirt was getting a little threadbare.  This was really the only reason that I had to go shopping while in Hawaii. 

First of all, there are cheaper places to buy an Aloha shirt.  You can find any number of little shops that offer all sorts of souvenir items, including clothing.  They are in cheaper in both price and quality.  Since I don’t buy an Aloha shirt all that often, I was willing to pay a little more to get one that would last.

Secondly, Hilo Hattie’s has become a bit of a tourist attraction, with all the fun and annoyances that involves.  Sales personnel are constantly selling, urging you to make a selection.  There are specials that one has to question if they are really “special” or not.

Despite the advisories that I’m offering, Hilo Hattie’s was a good choice.  You can find a cotton Aloha shirt for around $30, silk running a little.  There were lots of fun Hawaiian food products to taste (jams and jellies, seasonings, cooking sauces), body lotions and fragrances in the floral scents of the islands (jasmine, pikaki, plumeria, tuberose) t-shirts and caps, and just all sorts of stuff to poke around and look at.  It was a fun way to spend an hour of time.

This store also proudly displays the world’s largest Aloha shirt (in photo above), a size 400XL.  It measures 168 inches (14 feet) around the chest, 161 inches at the waist, and over 60 inches around the neck.  The buttons are made of Koa wood beverage coasters.  The shirt took 26 yards of fabric to create.

There are Hilo Hattie locations on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.  Stateside, you can find them in Orange (California), San Diego, Las Vegas, and Orlando (Florida).  They also offer a variety of products in their online store.

Photo credit:  Personal collection

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