The Her Campus National Editors write about products we love and think you’ll love too. Her Campus has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase. All products are in stock and all prices are accurate as of publication.
Whatever season is coming up, it’s never too late or too early to support small businesses. I, for one, love to shop locally, frugally, and sustainably. So, whether it’s for an upcoming special occasion, the holidays, or for yourself, buying Hawaii-made products is always a people pleaser.
One of the best places to find cute and aloha-filled items, all from the comfort of your laptop, is and of course, Etsy! If you haven’t used Etsy before, it’s a global online marketplace, where people come together to make, sell, buy, and collect unique items.
And though I’m not sponsored by any of these beautiful businesses (but am totally open to the idea), I handpicked a few of my favorite Etsy stores that are all based in Hawaii. The best part: each store has items under $20, making not only an aesthetically pleasing shopping spree, but also an inexpensive one!
Kohana Bath and Body
Home to beautifully crafted artisan soaps and unique Hawaiian bath and body products made on the Hawaii Island. The products are made using all natural and organic ingredients with high quality, raw, unrefined, and local ingredients. They use a simple recipe, stripped bare of all unnecessary chemicals and harmful ingredients. Products care for and love the earth and all its creatures, making sure that these cruel free items are not only sweetly fragnanced, but also environmentally friendly.
Pono Home Gifts
Having been recently expanded from Oahu, Hawaii to Virginia beach, Pono Home Gifts are cleaning up beaches from micro-plastics to all things concerning plastic pollution. They repurpose plastics found on the beaches and give 10% of all their sales towards non-profits benefiting land and ocean conservation. Products range from resin jewelry, hair clips, and more. Each order also comes with a map marking the location of the plastics found used in your one of a kind item, which is super cool and makes it even more personable!
Keoni Crafts
Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, this shop has a wide variety of gold and silver jewelry, highlighting plumerias, turtles, and other shapes. Each product is handcrafted and made with lightweight materials. It’s a super inexpensive way to get good quality jewelry, especially for a special someone or yourself!
Aina Co Items
And last but not least, Aina Co Items, a company that both cleans up the beaches and uses the resulting micro plastics to create memorable items. The best part is that the co-founders of this small business are two students from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. They use eco-friendly resins and offer cute accessory items. Haven’t shopped here yet, but definitely is up my alley on stylish and sustainable accessories!
Now, there are a dozen more small businesses on Etsy and even more just waiting to be found. But knowing where to start and how to shop sustainably is always a plus. It’s a warm feeling to find and share small businesses from Hawaii, and know that it’s helping local creators and spreading aloha.
Ladies, grab your wallets and happy shopping!