My Favorite Fabric Stores on the Big Island of Hawaii + Things to Do Along the Way
[Scroll towards the bottom of this page to watch my Big Island Hawaii fabric shopping & island road trip video!]
🌺 Aloha! I’m Heather, the Sewing Pattern Designer behind Aloha Sewing Company.
I’m also a wife, mama of four, former nurse for the Department of Defense (Army), and sewing pattern designer with a slight problem when it comes to fabric…
If there’s a fabric store nearby, I have to see what they have.
So naturally, when we traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii, I couldn’t come home without doing a little fabric shopping!
But this turned into so much more than a fabric shopping trip.
I visited four of my favorite fabric stores on the Big Island, found some beautiful Hawaiian fabrics to bring home, ate some delicious local food, visited waterfalls, explored Volcano, watched an incredible Hawaii sunset, and—one of my absolute favorites—stopped at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach to see the Hawaiian green sea turtles.
The best part?
You can turn these stops into your own Big Island Hawaii fabric store road trip and see some pretty incredible places along the way.
In the video below, I’m taking you along with me and showing you what I found inside each fabric store, some of my favorite things to do near each stop, and, of course, all the Hawaiian fabric I brought home!
So grab a cup of coffee and come explore the Big Island with me. 🌺
Fabric Shopping on the Big Island of Hawaii
One thing I quickly learned while fabric shopping in Hawaii is that every store has its own personality.
Some have walls filled with colorful Hawaiian prints. Others are little local shops where you can find fabrics and treasures you may not see anywhere else.
If you sew, quilt, or simply love Hawaiian textiles, visiting a local fabric store is such a fun souvenir-shopping experience.
Instead of bringing home something mass-produced, you can bring home fabric and eventually turn it into something that reminds you of your trip every time you use it.
And yes…
I brought home quite a bit. 😂
Make sure you watch until the end of the video because I’ll show you my entire Hawaii fabric haul and some of my favorite fabrics I found during the trip.
Stop #1: Quilt Passions – Kailua-Kona
📍 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Our fabric shopping adventure starts on the Kona side of the Big Island at Quilt Passions.
If you love quilting cotton and Hawaiian-inspired prints, this is such a fun place to browse.
There are beautiful tropical colors, florals, island-inspired designs, and plenty of fabric that immediately makes you start imagining your next sewing project.
I especially love visiting local quilt shops while traveling because you often find fabrics that reflect the area you’re visiting.
And there is something extra special about bringing home Hawaiian fabric from Hawaii.
Things to Do Near Kona
Kona is also a wonderful place to spend part of the day before continuing your drive around the island.
Depending on how much time you have, you can explore the Kona area, enjoy the coastline, grab something to eat, or simply enjoy the beautiful ocean views.
And if you’re flying through Kona International Airport, keep an eye out for the airport’s unique open-air design. It definitely feels like you’ve arrived in Hawaii!
Stops #2 & #3: Fabric Shopping in Hilo
Next, we’re heading across the island to Hilo, where there are two fabric stores worth adding to your list.
Discount Fabric Warehouse – Hilo
📍 Hilo, Hawaii
If you want to see a LOT of fabric, this is a fun stop.
Discount Fabric Warehouse has a completely different feel from a traditional quilt shop, and that’s part of what makes visiting different fabric stores so much fun.
You never quite know what you’re going to find.
Take your time looking through the different fabrics because sometimes the best finds are tucked away where you least expect them.
Kilauea Kreations II – Hilo
📍 Hilo, Hawaii
While you’re in Hilo, you can also stop at Kilauea Kreations II.
This gives you another opportunity to hunt for Hawaiian fabrics, quilting cottons, and island-inspired prints before continuing toward Volcano.
And since you’re already in Hilo, don’t rush out of town!
Things to Do in Hilo, Hawaii
Hilo is surrounded by some absolutely beautiful scenery.
If you’re making this into a full Big Island day trip, consider adding one or two waterfall stops while you’re in the area.
Two beautiful places to check out are:
🌿 Rainbow Falls
🌿 ʻAkaka Falls
There’s something about seeing a tropical Hawaiian waterfall surrounded by lush greenery that never gets old.
Just remember that drive times and conditions can change, so check your route, park hours, and current conditions when planning your own trip.
Stop #4: Kilauea Kreations – Volcano, Hawaii
📍 Volcano, Hawaii
Our next fabric stop takes us to Kilauea Kreations in Volcano.
This is one of those little local shops that makes a road trip like this so much fun.
Kilauea Kreations has been part of the area for decades, and if Aunty Laura is there, make sure you say aloha!
After fabric shopping, you’re in the perfect location to explore one of the most incredible places on the entire island.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
If you’ve never visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it is absolutely worth adding to your Big Island itinerary.
The landscape here feels completely different from other parts of the island.
One minute you’re surrounded by lush tropical greenery and the next you’re looking across enormous volcanic landscapes created by some of the most powerful forces in nature.
Volcanic activity can change, so always check current park conditions before visiting.
Even when there isn’t visible lava, the park itself is an incredible place to experience.
Hungry? Grab Some Local Food in Volcano
All that fabric shopping and exploring calls for FOOD.
One of the fun parts about taking a road trip around the Big Island is stopping at local restaurants along the way.
While you’re in Volcano, Lava Rock Cafe is a convenient stop near Kilauea Kreations.
And if you’ve never tried loco moco, Hawaii is the place to do it!
Loco moco is a classic local comfort food typically made with rice, a hamburger patty, gravy, and a fried egg.
It’s hearty, delicious, and exactly the kind of meal you want after a day of exploring.
Don’t Miss Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
🐢 This was one of my favorite stops.
If your route takes you south from Volcano, consider continuing toward Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach.
The black volcanic sand alone makes this beach worth seeing—but there’s another reason I love stopping here.
Sea turtles!
Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, can often be seen resting along the shore.
Seeing them in person is incredible.
Please remember that these are protected wild animals. Admire them from a respectful distance and never touch, chase, feed, or disturb them.
Take your pictures, enjoy the moment, and let them enjoy their beach too. 🐢
Love Sea Turtles? Sew Your Own Honu!
Of course, seeing the honu immediately makes my sewing brain start thinking about sea turtle projects.
If you love sea turtles as much as I do, I have an Easy Sea Turtle Memory Plush PDF Sewing Pattern at Aloha Sewing Company.
It’s a fun project for creating your own fabric sea turtle, and it would be especially beautiful made with Hawaiian fabric from your trip!
You could even use several coordinating Hawaiian fabrics and turn your Hawaii fabric haul into a keepsake that reminds you of the Big Island.
👉 Get the Easy Sea Turtle / Honu Plush PDF Sewing Pattern Here:
https://alohasewingcompany.com/products/easy-sea-turtle-memory-plush-pdf-sewing-pattern
Make It a Big Island Hawaii Day Trip
If you’re planning your own trip, one of the fun things about these fabric stores is that you can combine them with sightseeing instead of spending an entire vacation shopping.
Although…
I wouldn’t necessarily complain about an entire vacation spent fabric shopping. 😂
You could build your route around stops in:
Kona → Hilo → Volcano → Punaluʻu
Along the way, you can mix fabric shopping with waterfalls, local food, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, black sand beaches, sea turtles, scenic drives, and gorgeous Hawaiian sunsets.
Just keep in mind that the Big Island really is BIG.
Drive times can be longer than they look on a map, so check current road conditions, store hours, park information, and driving times before attempting the entire route in one day.
If you have more time, splitting these stops between multiple days will give you more time to explore each area.
What Hawaiian Fabric Did I Bring Home?
Now for the part my fellow fabric lovers have probably been waiting for…
THE FABRIC HAUL! 🌺
I found so many beautiful fabrics during this trip.
Tropical florals, gorgeous blues, pinks, traditional Hawaiian-inspired prints, and fabrics that immediately made me start thinking about what I could sew with them.
That’s one of my favorite things about buying fabric while traveling.
Eventually, that fabric becomes something.
A quilt.
A bag.
A stuffed animal.
A gift.
Or maybe something you haven’t even thought of yet.
And every time you see it, you remember where you found it.
I’ll show you everything I brought home toward the end of the video.
Watch My Big Island Hawaii Fabric Store Road Trip
Come along with me as we travel around the Big Island of Hawaii, visit my favorite fabric stores, explore some beautiful places along the way, eat some local food, look for sea turtles, and see what fabric comes home in my suitcase.
🎥 Watch the full Big Island Hawaii Fabric Stores + Things to Do video below:
And make sure you watch until the end to see my Hawaii fabric haul!
Planning a Big Island Hawaii Fabric Shopping Trip?
Here are the four fabric stores featured in my video:
1. Quilt Passions
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
2. Discount Fabric Warehouse
Hilo, Hawaii
3. Kilauea Kreations II
Hilo, Hawaii
4. Kilauea Kreations
Volcano, Hawaii
Before visiting, I recommend checking each store’s current hours because local business hours can change.
What Would YOU Sew With Hawaiian Fabric?
Now I want to hear from you! Watch the YouTube video above & comment and tell me...
If you could bring home a suitcase full of Hawaiian fabric, what would you make first?
A Hawaiian quilt?
A tote bag?
A sea turtle?
A zipper pouch?
Something for your home?
Or would you be like me and save some of it because it’s too pretty to cut? 😂
Leave me a comment on the video and tell me. I love hearing what everyone is sewing.
Mahalo for Coming Along With Me 🌺
This video was a little different from my normal sewing tutorials, but I loved getting to bring you along for part of our time on the Big Island.
Hawaii has always inspired so much of what I create at Aloha Sewing Company—the colors, flowers, ocean, wildlife, and, of course, the beautiful fabrics.
Being able to combine sewing, fabric shopping, travel, and some of my favorite places on the island into one video made this one especially fun to create.
Whether you’ve followed Aloha Sewing Company for years or you just discovered me while planning your own Big Island trip, I’m so glad you’re here.
And before I go, mahalo for supporting my small family business, watching my videos, purchasing my patterns, and allowing me to continue creating and sharing what I love.
Until next time…
Happy sewing, and aloha! 🌺
Heather
