Island Spirit: 4 Authentic Hawaiian Souvenirs You'll Enjoy Giving Away
Of course your friends and family will appreciate generic souvenirs like key rings, magnets, and picture postcards. But if you really want to give them authentic presents from Hawaii, choose unique gifts that have a connection to traditional island culture.
These 4 choices will bring the true Hawaiian spirit to your souvenir recipients:
1. Plumeria-themed gifts.
Plumeria trees covered in blossoms grow all over Hawaii. These colorful, fragrant flowers are the very blooms that are used to make traditional leis. Because they come in such a great array of hues, they are also used as party decor when entertaining guests in Hawaii.
Any woman would be thrilled to receive a gift set of plumeria-themed bath products, including bubble bath, shower gel, and body moisturizer scented with plumeria. You'll find plumeria-scented gifts like body sprays, perfumes, soaps, and candles available for purchase, too.
2. Souvenirs made with kukui nuts.
Kukui trees also grow all over the islands, and were first brought to Hawaii by seafaring Polynesians. These trees and their nuts served many practical purposes for the people of the Hawaiian Islands.
The nuts were eaten, strung on coconut fronds to be lit like candles, and strewn on the ocean by fishermen to improve surface visibility. Every part of the tree was used.
Traditional leis were also made from the nuts of the Kukui tree. Today, you can buy attractive bracelets, necklaces and old-fashioned leis made from dark or white kukui nuts.
3. Gifts featuring the Honu.
The Hawaiian Honu is actually the green turtle, a symbol of wisdom and safe passage. The Honu is thought to bring its owner peace, good luck, and a long life.
Honu carvings are found on chokers, necktie holders, and home décor items. You can choose from wood or bone replicas of the symbolic Honu, and pass on a bit of the green turtle's good sense and peacefulness.
4. Hawaiian food gifts.
Pineapples are a Hawaiian product, so a pineapple-themed serving dish, pitcher, or clothing item definitely screams Hawaii. Macadamia nuts are also an island commodity, and these scrumptious nuts can be found coated in creamy chocolate or added to a snack mix.
Don't forget the ubiquitous coconut meat, which is used to make candies, drinks, and pudding mixes. A truly authentic Hawaiian gift is a jar of salty-sweet preserved nuts and fruits called crack seed. Lemons, mangoes, and plums are available as crack seed in bulk or in smaller packages.
Creative, authentic gifts made from traditional Hawaiian materials are easy to find and a joy to give to those you love.
To learn more about Hawaiian souvenirs, contact a company like Marue & Gertz Ltd.