Hawaii on sale
Shopping in Hawaii is nothing short of sensational.
Hawaii provides American retail therapy with a Pacific island twist. Visitors can shop U.S. and international brands ’til they drop at a plethora of indoor and outdoor malls, multi-level department stores, flagship retailers, big-box chains, factory outlets, one-of-a-kind boutiques and mom-and-pop shops.
While bargains abound in the Hawaiian Islands year-round, it’s worth taking advantage of key sales periods to really get the best bang for your buck!
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
1 January: New Years Day
Skip the hangover, New Years Day presents an excellent opportunity to shop for discounts as retailers seek to shift their remaining holiday stock. Items associated with New Year’s resolutions tend to be reduced. Home-goods stores also run “white sales” all January long with massive reductions on bedding and bath linens.
Third Monday in January: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. is celebrated with an American federal holiday known as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Stores go on sale in the hope of convincing locals with an extra day off to spend it making retail purchases.
14 February: Valentine’s Day
Sales are in full force pre- and post- Valentine’s Day on all things romantic, especially jewellery in the wake of this celebration of love.
Third Monday in February: Presidents’ Day
Originally established to honour the birth of the first U.S. president, George Washington, Presidents’ Day has become a celebration of all presidential leaders. This American federal holiday creates a three-day weekend shopping bonanza. Most deals aren’t luggage-friendly, think furniture, appliances and home goods, but great clothing specials can be found.
MARCH-APRIL
March or April depending on the lunar calendar: Easter Weekend
While Easter is first-and-foremost a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the lead-up to this event and its long weekend are yet another excuse for shops to go on sale. Look out for chocolate treats and gift baskets.
MAY-JUNE
Second Sunday in May: Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day pays homage to motherhood and the extraordinary women in our lives. Products with feminine flair fly out the door from fragrances, handbags, and make-up, to sleepwear, books and cookware. Note, Mother’s Day in Australia is also in May.
Last Monday in May: Memorial Day
Members of the military who died fighting for their country are remembered on Memorial Day. As the season turns from spring to summer, this is an excellent time for “out with the old and in with the new”, and the big brands take full advantage.
Third Sunday in June: Father’s Day
Father’s Day is all about fatherhood and the exceptional men in our lives. Products with a masculine touch sell like hotcakes from home-improvement goods and electronics, to BBQ equipment, car accessories, and sporting gear. Note, Father’s Day in Australia is in September.
JULY-AUGUST
4 July: Independence Day
On the Fourth of July every year Americans commemorate the birth of their nation, known as Independence Day. Retailers decorate their stores in red, white and blue and tout stars-and-stripes discounts before, during and after this American federal holiday. July and August are also the best months to score half-yearly clearance sales.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
First Monday in September: Labor Day
Formerly, Labor Day constitutes an annual national tribute to the contribution workers have made to the prosperity and well-being of the United States. Informally, Labor Day is an entire weekend of great deals, particularly on apparel, summer stock and back-to-school items.
Second Monday in October: Columbus Day
Columbus Day, celebrated as Discoverers’ Day in Hawaii, is an American federal (not state) holiday. This day is not met with much fanfare, and while it does garner a sprinkle of sales, they are modest in comparison to other dates on the calendar.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER
Fourth Thursday in November: Thanksgiving
The Day after Thanksgiving: Black Friday
America’s first Thanksgiving was celebrated by Pilgrims after their first harvest in 1621, today it’s a beloved national holiday spent with loved ones to give thanks for life’s blessings. The day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday, it’s Hawaii’s biggest sale of the year and marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. Retailers have started to hold Black Friday sales all month long, launch specials on Thanksgiving day itself, and even open for Midnight Madness reduced-to-clear events on the eve of Black Friday.
The Monday following Thanksgiving: Cyber Monday
The Monday after Thanksgiving is deemed Cyber Monday, think of it as the online version of Black Friday. Deep discounts “break the internet” as online retailers significantly drop their prices. Travel deals are prolific on Cyber Monday from airline, hotel and cruise specials to holiday packages boasting added bonuses.
26 December to 8 January: After Christmas Sales
The lead up to Christmas Day right through to the first week of January is a shopping frenzy in Hawaii! Retailers vie for the attention of gift-givers at this time of year, and once Santa Claus has delivered his presents, the massive clearouts begin. Savvy shoppers will scoop up next years holiday decor and children’s toys at a discount right after Christmas Day.
Latest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.