Native Books/Na Mea Hawaii

if it's truly hawaiian, it's probably here in this store. i love the free hula classes and i can't wait for my little girl to be old enough so i can introduce her to it. i also love that they've partnered with "just add water", a community sponsored agricultural co-op (see my review) that uses na mea as a drop-off for fresh organic produce. they've got all kind of local gourmet goodies and this is where i went when i wanted to buy a "first hawaiian words" picture book for my little girl. unique gifts, friendly & knowledgeable help--it's all great! more

This is a truly impressive store, located at the Ward Warehouse. It boasts a huge collection of books about Hawaii and the Pacific (possibly rivaling the Bishop Museum's gift shop) with a vast array of topics ranging from the history of the islands, including arts and crafts, language and literature, culture, natural history, cooking, plants, mythology and folklore and more. I recently became interested in the volcanoes and ecology of Hawaii so I am sure to find material here relating to those subjects. Other unique features of the store include hula items, weapons, and medicinal plants, weekly Na Mele Nei concerts, and a schedule of demonstrations, workshops and classes for those interested in learning about the Hawaiian culture. Merchandise you typically find at other gift shops can be found here, too, alongside the works of contemporary Hawaiian artists. Take a seat in one of the designated reading areas and immerse yourself in this fascinating culture! more