I don't get it---the swap meet attraction

[GeneralTso]

Please help me understand---unless you are a swap meet fan, what is the attraction of going to this?

Isn't it a bunch of cheap crap? I imagine t-shirts 5 for $10 and such. I would not want to give that to friends and family, but that just may be me.

I get it, cheap souvenirs and some people love it.

I don't go to swap meets here so would not choose to spend any time at one in Hawaii.
This is just one thing about the Aulani threads that is a theme. Gonna chalk this up to different strokes for different folks.

Unless I'm missing something major about this! In that case, please fill me in!

 

[buffettgirl]

nope, you're not missing anything. Some people want just cheapo souveniers - maybe a cheap aloha shirt, or dress that they'll only wear once. Stuff like that, but I don't see the draw.

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

I go for the cheap souvenirs to take back home, but more than that I go for the local artisans. Sometimes there are more than others. A few years ago we picked up a beautiful painting of a manta ray that was done on a piece of bark that was pounded out. Last year we found some amazing portraits of the cove our time share sits on. In February I'll go to see if I can find an acrylic of the ocean. And, I always pick up a couple of pieces of jade jewelry. I have pieces that are probably 10 years old now that still look perfect...no tarnish or wear. And, you can't go without picking up a loaf or two of fresh sweet bread!

 

[OKW Lover]

We go for the fun of it. Love to find cheap souvenirs. Bought a couple of hawaiian shirts last year for much less that what you would pay in the typical shop.

 

[happymommy]

We go every trip, and I used to go to it when I lived on Oahu often as well.
My daughter sleeps in her tee shirts we buy there, and last year my son got a couple of cute Aloha shirts that he wore a lot in college.
I got some nice handmade soaps last trip, and they smelled so lovely! The same soaps were for sale at the Marriott for a LOT more than what I paid at the swap meet.
We always get things like dried fruits, nuts, arare, and dried cuttlefish.
There is a lot more than just tee shirts. You can get sarongs, beach towels, luggage, handmade soaps, candles, art, etc... It's a lot of fun!

 

[lizard1]

Isn't it a bunch of cheap crap? I imagine t-shirts 5 for $10 and such. I would not want to give that to friends and family, but that just may be me.

The cheap shirts I bought there this summer have held up much better than the expensive one I bought at the Hard Rock Cafe during the same trip- the HRC one started coming apart at the seams after wearing it twice. The ones from the swap meet have been worn many times since I got back and I've had no issues with them. The shirt material isn't as good as the shirts at Aulani, but they're good enough to wear out

 

[nkereina]

We went because a swap meet to us is more along the lines of a flea market, where you might find some unique and interesting items. Not so much the case here, for us. Everything we saw was stuff we had already seen at various ABC Stores and souvenir stores. It was a bit cheaper at the Swap Meet but the savings wasn’t worth the time and hassle. And it seemed as though every other booth had a lot of the same items.

 

[hopemax]

My favorite booth was the one that had large rolls of Hawaiian patterned fabric. I don't even sew, but I did buy some remnants to attempt to make my own placemats and tablecloth. And despite not being a bag/purse person, I really like all the aloha patterned bags. They were definitely cheaper at the swap meet than most of the touristy places.

You can find both of those things other places, while we were staying in Kailua there is a shop called Island Wear that had the bags, and a fabric store to get the fabric. But the swap meet was fine too. Some of the local artisan booths are interesting too, although not things we would usually buy.

 

[cgattis]

My favorite booth was the one that had large rolls of Hawaiian patterned fabric. I don't even sew, but I did buy some remnants to attempt to make my own placemats and tablecloth. And despite not being a bag/purse person, I really like all the aloha patterned bags. They were definitely cheaper at the swap meet than most of the touristy places.

You can find both of those things other places, while we were staying in Kailua there is a shop called Island Wear that had the bags, and a fabric store to get the fabric. But the swap meet was fine too. Some of the local artisan booths are interesting too, although not things we would usually buy.

Ooooh.....bags AND fabric?? We're gonna need a bigger boat--I mean, suitcase

 

[NancyDVC]

We went last Saturday to get T shirts and ended up with the shirts and more. We did only a small amount of the swap meet but got good bargains. I bought aloha dresses and shirts for my young nieces and nephew that were made in Hawaii. Good prices. And I insist on locally made items whenever possible.
It's a good thing that we didn't do more of it because we had already shipped somethings home and our suitcases were bulging!

 

[cgattis]

We went last Saturday to get T shirts and ended up with the shirts and more. We did only a small amount of the swap meet but got good bargains. I bought aloha dresses and shirts for my young nieces and nephew that were made in Hawaii. Good prices. And I insist on locally made items whenever possible.
It's a good thing that we didn't do more of it because we had already shipped somethings home and our suitcases were bulging!

Did you do your shipping from Aulani or elsewhere? Wondering whether FedEx or UPS is more convenient.

I feel like I have picked your brain until it hurts!! LOL Really do appreciate all the info!

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

We went because a swap meet to us is more along the lines of a flea market, where you might find some unique and interesting items. Not so much the case here, for us. Everything we saw was stuff we had already seen at various ABC Stores and souvenir stores. It was a bit cheaper at the Swap Meet but the savings wasn’t worth the time and hassle. And it seemed as though every other booth had a lot of the same items.

That's true, it is a lot of the same thing

Did you do your shipping from Aulani or elsewhere? Wondering whether FedEx or UPS is more convenient.

I feel like I have picked your brain until it hurts!! LOL Really do appreciate all the info!

We have shipped things back before and have used the post office, which is only about a mile or so from the Costco in Kapolei, and the UPS store, also in Kapolei. We found the USPS prices to be less, but it did take a few more days to get our items. I can't remember how heavy our boxes were, but we paid under $20 to send.

 

[buffettgirl]

There's also the main post office right next to the airport on Aolele St which is convenient to stop at on your way out if you're returning a car.

 

[cgattis]

Does anybody know if FedEx or UPS pick up from Aulani or maybe the Marriott next door? I have reasons for preferring them in this case over USPS Thanks for all the good info, though, in case I end up needing USPS instead!!

 

[Vernie822]

It was worth it to say we did it, but you're not missing anything. Cheap souvenirs, kids may like walking through to pick out their souvenirs, but aside from that, not really worth it. There were some food shops so we got a pepperoni/cheese bread, some macadamia nuts, and that's about it. I *personally* hate chintzy souvenirs (clutter!!) so there was nothing there we really wanted.

 

[NancyDVC]

We bought 'Aloha' shirts and dresses for my great nieces and nephew that were made in Hawaii for great prices. We also bought some foam hair flowers fro the girls and tee shirts.
We shipped some things from the post office in Kapolei. That is the closest one. The address is on Kamokila Blvd/Farmington Hwy but the entrance is on the street behind it across from the Public Library. I picked up some Priority Mail boxes there earlier in the week, packed what we wanted to ship and took them back there to be shipped. I believe if you prepay the shipping online you can leave the boxes at the front desk for pick up. Check the USPS website and UPS for more information. You do have to have a way to weigh the boxes.

 

[Mokat76]

It's a different strokes thing. I enjoyed it to a point. Bought macadamia nuts and fresh pineapple cheaper there and some pretty sea glass jewelry. I was in it for local artisans and found some. If you don't like that kind of thing in the 48, don't bother with it in HI.

 

[rsjj]

I go for the variety of puka shell necklaces and bracelets! It is a must stop for our family. Our boys like to pick out things for their friends...fairly inexpensive souvenirs...

 

[cgattis]

I go for the variety of puka shell necklaces and bracelets! It is a must stop for our family. Our boys like to pick out things for their friends...fairly inexpensive souvenirs...

Is it hard to tell the real puka shells from plastic ones? Want to make sure I know what I'm looking at! Thanks

 

[rsjj]

Haha...I don't know. I'm assuming they're mass produced...