Kama’aina Spirit Sales

Warm trade winds, the soft scent of plumeria after the morning rain, and lulling waves crashing against pristine white sand beaches—these are the typical images that come to mind when one thinks of Honolulu. But the diverse Hawaiian capital has more to offer than lush, natural surroundings and lazy days at the seaside; it is also a burgeoning metropolitan city that can provide all the best that the mainland has to offer, with a little local flavor mixed in.

Honolulu is a resort town and one of the most popular vacation spots on the planet and with that comes its fair share of mass-produced tourist souvenir shops. But this urban piece of paradise is not all pineapple quilts and cheap ukuleles. Here, savvy, independent gift shop owners provide a mix of chic upscale luxury items with a dose of kama’aina (native) spirit.

Katlyn Murray

Katlyn Murray is an outgoing, adventurous Los Angeles native and freelance photojournalist who recently moved to Hawaii to study language and visual anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She enjoys capturing the interesting tales of the people that she meets on film.