Maximum Hawaii

Hawaiʻi’s best places to celebrate National Candy Day

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HONOLULU (KHON2) — Get ready for a sugar rush, Hawaiʻi, because today, Nov. 4 is National Candy Day!

Candy comes in all kinds — hard, chewy, fruity, or the “melts in your mouth, not in your hand” kind. For many of us, candy isn’t just a sweet treat — it brings back happy childhood memories and a sense of nostalgia as we grow older.

So, we found a few candy shops and candy makers across Hawaiʻi’s islands to give you a place to start as you celebrate candy today!

Oʻahu

  • Nisshodo Candy Store: Specializes in Japanese-style confections, mochi, and manju.
  • Lin’s Hawaiian Snacks: Local snack and candy shop featuring Hawaiian-made sweets.
  • Hawaii Candy, Inc.: Family-owned company known for coconut balls, wafers, and local favorites.
  • Big Island Candies: They specialize in premium Hawaiian confections, especially its signature chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies and macadamia nut treats. And they have their special holiday collections coming in!
  • Diamond Head Chocolate: Hand-dipped chocolates and premium sweet treats.
  • See’s Candies: Classic American candy and chocolate shop known for free samples. They also allow you to make your own gift boxes with personally selected candies.
  • IT’SUGAR: Large novelty candy store with fun, over-the-top sweets. They have a trending wall so you can find all the super popular treats, and they have a retro wall that gives you sweets from candies past (these are a great gift for tūtū.)
  • Carousel Candyland: Family-owned shop (since 1989) offering classic candies and treats.
  • Hawaiian King Candies: Specializes in chocolates, macadamia nut candies, and Hawaiian specialty sweets.
  • Mānoa Chocolate: A bean‑to‑bar craft chocolate maker based in Hawaiʻi (Oʻahu) that sources premium cacao beans from Hawaiian farmers and around the world.
  • Madre Chocolate: An artisanal bean‑to‑bar chocolate company in Hawaiʻi that emphasizes organic/fair‑trade beans and creative flavor inclusions

Hawaiʻi Island in Hilo

  • Sugar Coast Candy: Specializes in locally made sweets and island-style candies.
  • Two Ladies Kitchen: Famous for handmade mochi, including fresh strawberry mochi and other Japanese-style confections.

Hawaiʻi Island in Kailua-Kona

Maui County

  • Maui Candy Company: Specializes in handmade island-style candies, brittles, and chocolate treats.
  • Obachan: Known for Japanese-inspired treats, mochi, and nostalgic candies.

Kauaʻi

  • Sweet Shop by the Sea: A gourmet confectionery boutique offering handmade chocolates, caramels and island-inspired sweets.

History of National Candy Day

While there is speculation on when the first National Candy Day was, many agree that’s it’s been around since 1916.

Candy actually started in India. Between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, people noticed something called sugarcane, a plant that could make sugar. Ancient Indians boiled sugarcane juice and turned it into pieces of sugar called “khanda.”

Before sugarcane spread around the world, people in China, the Middle East, Egypt, Greece and Rome used honey to coat fruits and flowers. This preserved them and made them into an early form of candy.

Before machines made candy easier to produce, it was sometimes used as medicine. People ate candy to help with stomach problems or soothe a sore throat.

In the Middle Ages, candy was mostly for rich people. It was made with sugar and spices to help digestion because food wasn’t always fresh or balanced.

Candy came to America in the 1700s from France and Britain. At first, only wealthy families could enjoy it, because making candy required special skills.

By the 1830s, the Industrial Revolution made candy easier to produce, so more people, including children, could enjoy it.

Candy stores became popular; and penny candy was often the first thing kids spent their money on. Today, candy continues to be a fun treat for children and adults alike!

For more information, you can go to https://nationaltoday.com/national-candy-day