Hiking, Camping, Backpacking Gear Stores in Hawaii

Shopping Options Are Limited in the Islands

If you need gear for camping, hiking or backpacking in Hawaii, the short answer is it's best to buy what you need where you're at, if you live elsewhere, or via the array of online venues like Sierra Trading Post, Campmor, or REI. The reason for that is that backpacking and hiking gear shops here in Hawaii are limited.

If you do need to find a backpack, hiking boots, hiking poles, a water filter, a camp stove, freeze-dried food or other backpacking and hiking gear, your best bet is Sports Authority. There are two Sports Authority stores on Oahu. One is at 333 Ward Avenue in Honolulu, near Ala Moana Shopping Center and between downtown and Waikiki. The other is in central Oahu at the Waikele Shopping Center, out past Pearl Harbor and Pearl City and accessible via H-1 west. For hikers and backpackers in search of gear on the island of Maui, there is a Sports Authority at the Maui Market Place--270 Dairy Road Kahului, HI 96732.

A second place to shop, with even fewer gear options, is Walmart. Yes, I realize that some of you are likely laughing uncontrollably or are shaking your head while muttering, "No Way!" when confronted with the idea of shopping for backpacking/hiking gear at a place like Walmart, but if you're in a pinch and if Sports Authority doesn't have what you want, then you'd better stop laughing or muttering. On Oahu, there are four Walmart locations: Keeaumoku Street (near Waikiki), Pearl City, Mililani, and Kunia.

Walmarts can also be found in Lihue on the island of Kauai, in Kahului on the island of Maui, and in Hilo and Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. As I mentioned, gear and footwear availability are not plentiful, but you can count on less expensive prices there, if anything. And from what I have heard, Walmart carries hiking poles, which are impossible to come by anywhere else in Hawaii. And the Walmart ones are inexpensive.

There are also several K-Mart stores on Oahu. Limited supplies of hiking and backpacking gear are available there.