Favorite omiyagi to and from Hawaii?

[Clinton]

I've always asked this same question and get various answers. What do people take to friends and relatives in Hawaii and also vice versa? What food or snack items are the favorites? Beef jerky, chi-chi dangos, Portuguese sausage, pistacchio nuts, mac nuts, saimin, kakimochi, crack seed, etc.? What do transplanted locals bring back? Things hard to get on the mainland like limu, roasted kukui nut, poi, poke, etc.? Favorite brands? I so niele (nosey)...

[dahulagirl]

I am actually going home in a few days and some of the food stuffs I am bringing for Omiyage (and I always bring this stuff) Instant Coffee (for real), Nuts, Dried fruits, etc from Trader Joes. Also from TJ's dried chicken strips for my Auntie's dog. Lots of Molinari salami from the Bay Area. I also bring non-food stuff that usually involves Disney. :-)

Coming back I bring Kona Coffee, Laulau (from Keoki the Laulau man), Poi, Big Island Candies, Choc Macadamia Nuts, Honey, Li Hing Mui, Mamaki Leaves, Ginger Syrup, etc.

[Clinton]

Sounds good to me. Looking forward to stuffing my suitcases with more Portuguese sausage, limu, and Sun package saimin this week. Trader Joes' is always a must to take over yuh? Travel safe and have a good time. Ahui hou...

[rcallner]

I love really fresh arare from Hawaii, or a truly ripe pineapple. I live in the PNW, so when I can get my hands on it, I send hard-smoked chum from the Nisqually tribe (not commercially available) - it's sweet and kind of jerky, nicknamed "squaw candy" (I know that's not PC). When that's not available, my relatives' favorite mainland treat is the DIVINE soft-smoked salmon from Briney Seas, particularly the award-winning BBQ style. The nice people at Briney Seas will cold-pack and overnight it for you (for a fee).http://brineysea.net/

[Clinton]

My wife loves to take stuff from Bed, Bath, and Beyond to the female relatives in Hawaii since they don't have it there. Same with Trader Joe's. Prior to that, Eddie Bauer used to be a favorite plus Krispy Kreme. Now that they have their own stores in Hawaii, they told us not to bring them anymore. Same with Costco and things from Marukai. I remember bringing beef jerky one time and saw it cheaper at Marukai there. Same with the chocolate covered mac nuts from Costco. Bummers! Anyway, I think Hawaii people bring back mostly food when they go back to the mainland because that's what makes them happy the most. Notice when you speak to Hawaii people, the subject always gravitates to food?

[Sam Fujisaka]

We always brought back poi, lau lau, and macadamia nuts. We always took shelled almonds, walnuts, and pecans--nuts from the trees in the back yard.

[choco1]

My friends in Hawaii love stuff from Trader Joes on the mainland, and strawberry mochi from Hilo.
My friends on the mainland love the dark chocolate mac nuts from Honolulu Chocolate company.
They all like the chocolate dipped macadamia nut shortbread cookies from Big Island Candies.

[Quince]

I bring back Baldwin's Crack Seed snacks, chi chi dango, mochi, hurricane popcorn, kulolo, and for the conservative taste buds at work, chocolate covered mac nuts. Next time though I plan to get frozen lau lau, poi and squid luau from Young's Fish Market to take back to the mainland, plus even more kulolo...how I love that stuff, and it's getting hard to find.

[Clinton]

I was told that Haile's in the Ala Moana Farmers Market has it available on Thursdays? Maybe I'll bring some back on the next trip? Check out Costco for bulk lau laus. Found out it was cheaper than Don Quijote. I usually pick up Gouveia Portuguese sausages if they're on sale at DQ because they were actually cheaper than getting them at the Gouveia factory in Kakaako.

[Debbie M]

A friend who grew up in Hilo and frequently visits family there brings back a local fish cake made with char shu (that is to say, it has chunks of char shu in it). It's really good.

My Dad always asks for andagi. Last trip I brought back some white honey from kiawe trees. It was kind of expensive, but very nice, so I'll probaby get more next trip. I'd love to be able to bring back poke and poi (and fish cake!), but I don't think I could manage getting it back safely.