Ala Moana Center is the city's commercial anchor — the world's largest open-air mall with over 350 stores and the hub of Honolulu's bus network. It is better stocked with international luxury brands than almost anywhere else in the Pacific, and the food court is a reasonable lunch option. The Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki is smaller but adds a Hawaiian cultural component, with hula lessons and historical displays alongside the shops.
For local goods, the Chinatown markets and lei shops on Maunakea Street are where residents shop. The ABC Stores (a local chain) omnipresent in Waikiki sell useful basics — sunscreen, snacks, simple groceries — at relatively reasonable prices. For Hawaiian crafts, look for items made from koa wood (a native hardwood unique to Hawaii) or Hawaiian quilts; both are expensive but genuinely local. Avoid mass-produced souvenirs labelled "Made in Hawaii" without checking — much tourist merchandise is manufactured elsewhere.