Stop 2 Downtown Kona
Souvenir Shopping
With our trip coming to an end, a sweep through the tourist shopping district on Ali`i Drive was a must. Also known as downtown Kona, the area was filled with surf shops, fancy boutiques, trendy clothing stores, extravagant hotels, miscellaneous souvenir stores, tasty food selections, and a farmer's market. The people here were just as colorful as the area. Shop owners were sweet, genuine, and respectful of tourists. Tourism While walking and shopping around, we couldn't help but notice the number of tourists venturing through the same shops we did. |
Hawai`i brings more than 6 million visitors every year (Sakai 258). Its scenic landscape, beautiful beachs, equalable climate, and paradise-feel are just a few contributors to such success in this sector. With tourism being Hawai`i's economic lifeline, bringing in a total of $10.6 billion statewide, visitors are more than welcome and encouraged to spend money on souvenirs, clothing, food, and admission to various attractions the state has to offer.
Sources
Sakai, Marcia. "Tourism." Atlas of Hawai`i. Ed. Sonia P. Juvik and James O. Juvik. Third ed. Honolulu: University of Hawai`i, 1998. 258-63. Print.
Banner photo by Sandy Thao