Buy cool stuff before hitting the surf

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Travel Editor

Precious stones, artwork, handmade gifts, surf wear, beach equipment, cool clothes: They're all found in shops along the North Shore and out Hale'iwa way, with surprising quality and sometimes surprisingly low prices.

Here are some standouts:

Kahaunani Woods & Krafts is a modest roadside stand owned by Tats and Leo Enos, who create a variety of gift items in native woods. 53-850 Kamehameha Highway, Punalu'u, 293-7126.

Hale Ku'ai Cooperative is a source of arts and crafts by Hawaiian artisans. Volunteers staff it from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. 54-040 Kamehameha Highway, Hau'ula, 293-4477.

Jungle Gems deals in semiprecious stones, minerals, crystals and pohaku (stone) in varied forms — rough, cut and polished, and in jewelry from belly bands to anklets. North Shore Marketplace, 66-250 Kamehameha Highway, 637-6609.

North Shore Swimwear is a custom swimwear shop offering sophisticated bathing suit designs in sizes from petite to XX. North Shore Marketplace, 66-250 Kamehameha Highway, 637-6859.

Silver Moon Emporium is the kind of boutique where you expect to run into Meg Ryan any minute: wonderfully whimsical creations in clothing and shoes, designer labels rarely seen in the Islands. North Shore Marketplace, 66-250 Kamehameha Highway, 637-7710.

Artwork, artwork, artwork. Art galleries and craft sales abound all the way from Kahalu'u to Mokule'ia, including everything from the mystical realism of Punalu'u painter Lance Fairly to the stylized Hawaiian images of Big Islander Avi Kiriaty. Quality varies, so shop critically.

Surf shops, surf shops, surf shops. There are at least a half-dozen surf shops in and around Hale'iwa, and each offers something different. And it's not just surf stuff: We found cute women's purses, well-made men's sandals and bike wear, too.