Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser: Hawaii’s Gift Basket Boutique

By Aja Hannah

Upon entering the store, customers are greeted with an array of products from about 100 different vendors, all local to the Hawaiian islands. While Hawaii’s Gift Basket Boutique does carry products from other Hawaiian islands, it specializes in Hawai‘i Island products with island style.

Glass figurines, cups, stuffed animals, and spa products are displayed on the tables. Paintings and photographs hang on the walls. Postcards and knick-knacks of all kinds sit propped up on shelves. Jewelry spins on hooks.

Everything and anything that might go into a gift bag is in the store, and owner Tammy Sullivan oversees them all from behind the counter. Her day starts at 9:30, checking online orders, opening the store, and taking calls. She greets customers in the front of the store, creates baskets for delivery and mailing in the back, and helps with the local deliveries. Today, the store is thriving in Waikoloa, although it hasn’t always been that way.

Tammy started the venture with a partner seven years ago in Hōlualoa. It was called Big Island To-Go, but people kept confusing it with a take-out restaurant. They changed the name and moved the store to Kailua-Kona. Then the recession hit and Tammy’s partner went on to other adventures. Still, Tammy persevered.

Now, nestled in the King’s Shops, across from the Walking Company, Tammy has met her five-year goal: to be in a thriving commercial area.

Tammy came by the concept for the business after working the food service industry for more than 35 years.

“I was working at Kona Village Resort, asking guests what they might like when they got home. They wanted a product that would bring back a memory of their time in Hawai‘i,” she says.

She also wanted to do something that represented the local artists well.

Tammy came to the Hawaiian Islands when she was 19 on vacation. She decided then that the Hawaiian Islands were the place for her because of the culture.

“From dance to food, if you fall in love with it, it’s really hard to go back,” she says.

And she had fallen in love.

So the idea for gift baskets grew. She describes the whole venture as a growing process. “I never thought of myself as being creative, but I found that it’s something I really enjoy, so I must be doing it okay,” she says.

In fact, the store has a saying: BYOB or Build Your Own Basket. Anything in the store can be put in the basket, and Tammy tries to fill every special request within reason. Customers can also bring things of their own to be included in the baskets.

The idea of the baskets is to take home a real piece of the island.

“Each basket can be customized just for that individual. It’s always a joy to see what brings happiness to someone,” Tammy says.

The baskets either feature Hawaiian-print insulated bags or hand-decorated lauhala boxes to display the products. The bags and baskets are all reusable.

In-store products can also be purchased individually.

As the holidays approach, Tammy prepares for her busiest season. An influx of requests always come from the website, and foot traffic from holiday shoppers picks up in the Waikoloa shops. She says the earlier people order, the better selection they get.

From food to spa to jewelry to art, even for keiki and dogs, there is a little something for everyone.

Hawaii’s Gift Basket Boutique
Located in Waikoloa Kings’ Shops
250 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Suite C-6, Waikoloa
808.866.8000
HawaiisGiftBaskets.com