Discount Fabric Warehouse

Locals shop at this warehouse for the widest selection of Hawaiian print fabric

Hilo’s Discount Fabric Warehouse is an enormous, well, warehouse, and you can’t miss it. The huge building, painted in bold red and yellow, sits right alongside Kanoelehua Avenue (the road leading from Hilo to Volcano). If you have any interest in sewing or fabric – or want to buy a gift for someone who does – know that this is Hilo residents’ fabric destination. 

The 11,000-square-foot showroom has been around for more than 20 years; it was originally Hilo Hattie’s garment factory. They stock everything from sewing notions to upholstery fabric, but most interesting is that they have an extensive collection of bright, Hawaiian-style cotton and poly/cotton blend fabrics in many prints, styles and colors. They also carry tropical home décor fabrics. 

It’s where some of the local halau hula (hula schools) go to order fabric for their costumes. The rest of us are happy to shop from what’s on display because the selection is huge. The owner sometimes buys overstock fabrics at good prices, so occasionally there are great bargains.

Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.