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On one of my trips to Oahu, I ended up buying some beautiful Hawaiian prints. I got them at Fabric Mart and had fun shopping there.
I love what I picked out, which reminds me of all the fun I had on the islands. Do you have any material in your stash that just makes you smile?
I’m going to tell you all about my shopping trip, what to expect, and what I got in my haul. You might end up going there one day too!
Traveling to Fabric Mart
Now, I’ve been to Oahu many times, and this store has a couple of locations. The one we go to is in Kaneohe because we’re always exploring in this area.
If staying in Waikiki, you’ll need transportation to get to the other side of the island. We basically took the HI-63 to HI-830, and it’s a 30-minute drive.
Note that there’s also a store in Aiea and Honolulu, and I heard they’re bigger.
Shopping at Fabric Mart
The Fabric Mart is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sundays, they close at 5 p.m., and closed on holidays.
We tend to go in the afternoon during the week, and it’s not crowded. They also have a parking lot, and we were able to easily find a spot.
The Kaneohe Store
I remember the very first time I walked into this branch, as I had passed it a couple of times. It reminded me of a mom-and-pop back home.
One of their employees greeted me and asked if I needed any help. Being that this store isn’t really in a touristy area, there was a fair share of locals shopping.
Although it’s a smaller store, there was a big selection. I spent my time browsing and taking note of all the things I’d want to buy.
This is a haven for quilters and fashion sewists. They have sewing notions like thread, buttons, and zippers.
They also have sewing patterns, but I have plenty of those, so I wasn’t really looking to see what they had.
Beautiful Hawaiian Prints
It wasn’t until a return trip that I bought fabric here. I guess I got too caught up in all the island activities and made a note to return.
When Joann was open, I would spend a long time in that store. And when I visit Mood Fabrics, it’s even longer.
When I was in Fabric Mart, it was the same, and I really couldn’t decide what to get. I must have spent over an hour walking back and forth between aisles.
Then some of their staff asked me if I needed assistance because I probably looked like I was lost.
But the fact is, I knew what I wanted. I just couldn’t narrow it down.
There were so many pretty Hawaiian prints throughout the store. But I’ll break it down for you in case you’re stuck too.
Types of Fabric
Okay, if you’re going to fashion sew like I do, you’ll have a lot of different designs and colors to choose from.
They had Hawaiian knits, wovens, rayon and silkies, 100% cotton, polyester blends, shirting, canvas, linen, fleece, and quilting cotton. Plus, these were in various weights.
As I read the tags and bolts, many were designed and manufactured on the mainland, and some in other countries as well.
With all the options, I couldn’t decide what to get, but had many ideas on what I’d like to make. I envisioned a nice button-up shirt, gathered skirt, and shorts.
One of the most popular things you might see people wearing on the island is the Hawaiian shirt. But I wanted fabric to use for bottoms too.
The employees directed me to the selection where they felt the fabrics were the most versatile for what I was looking for.
Yes, by this time, more than one person was helping me.
They showed me some rayon, but I mostly wanted cotton, which was the majority of the fabric they had.
After that, I couldn’t decide on the prints and colors. So, I just went with whatever popped out at me, which was blue, yellow, and red.
Making the Cut
After much debate, I brought my fabric to the cutting counter. The lady asked how much I wanted.
Now, I couldn’t decide again. But we discussed what I’d potentially make.
I prefer making separates, so I already had those in mind. But I also wanted enough to make a longer garment.
Well, I ended up taking 3 yards of each fabric. But they were pretty wide cuts, so it was a lot.
That gave me the option to make a top with a skirt or shorts if I wanted to. Or I could make a cute dress.
Felt happy with both the store and my purchase. And I gave myself permission to come back on another trip to buy more!
Sewing Plans
When I got back to the hotel, I kept admiring my fabric. And now that I’ve returned home, I washed it and thought about finally cutting into it.
Sometimes I just let it sit for a while because it’s too pretty. Do you ever do that?
You buy this lovely fabric, and you just hold onto it? Like forever.
It’s a good medium-weight cotton and has a pretty soft hand. Holding it up to the light, it’s not see-through.
I pulled out some sewing patterns that I’d like to use with this fabric. And I also tried it on my dress form to see how it drapes.
I played around with it, and thought maybe I’ll start with a shirt and shorts set. That’d be cute!
I’m not going to cut all of it at once, but maybe start with one of them. You know, break into them slowly.
Well, the holidays are approaching. Looking at this fabric brought up memories of when I went to a Hawaiian-themed Christmas party in July.
So maybe if I sew some Hawaiian prints around Christmas, I can come full circle. Or at least it’ll put a smile on my face!
Additional Notes
Besides Fabric Mart, there are other craft and fabric stores in the area. When I visit them, I’ll update the blog.
We did happen to go to Walmart, though. It’s located near Waikiki, and they have a good craft section.
They have sewing machines and lots of notions and tools. So if you get the itchin’ and need supplies, you can go there.
I’m all about sewing my own, as you know. But at the time, they had Hawaiian shirts that were locally made.
They were about $40 and looked very nice. I really thought about buying one, but maybe next time!
Final Thoughts
Shopping for Hawaiian prints in Oahu was a fun experience. I can’t wait to visit the other locations and fabric stores in the area.
If you happen to go before me, you’ll have to tell me how it was. Or maybe you have some fun ideas on what I should make!
More About Sewing
I have many other interesting posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- Speaking of using this fabric, let’s take a look at some of my UFOs right now.
- I’m going to make some fabric swatches before I cut into these, and I’ll share how I do it.
- I choose natural fabrics like these, due to my allergies.
I’d love to hear about what you’re creating in your sewing room!
Originally published: December 7, 2025
