Hello Kitty Island Adventure – Gift and Friendship Guide

Here's how to use your gift giving time in Hello Kitty Island Adventure wisely.
hello kitty island adventure game gift guide

Hello Kitty Island Adventure on Apple Arcade invites you to join a world of friendship and love, as you make a home with your favourite Sanrio pals, and set about restoring a gorgeous theme park together. As you journey in Island Adventure, you’ll unlock a range of quests, each determined by your friendship level. To progress through the game, you’ll need to keep your friendships strong, with daily gifts allowing you to tackle more dangerous tasks.

Every day, you can give your Sanrio friends three gifts each – but you shouldn’t just give them just anything in your inventory. Characters have a range of preferences, and each gift you give will have a unique heart rating (1-3) to determine how much friendship gain you’ll get.

With only three gifts per day allowed, and many quests hiding behind high friendship levels, you’ll want to ensure you’re giving the best gifts wherever possible. These will allow you to progress through the game’s main story mode more effectively, and will also quickly unlock special items along the way.

Read: Hello Kitty Island Adventure – Cooking Recipes Guide

Every character’s favourite can be determined using a simple formula. Each has three preferred gift categories, and the best gifts for each character will combine items in all of those categories. When crafting or baking, consider each item category, and combine ingredients for the best gift possible.

That said, you’ll have to persist with giving one-heart gifts for certain characters for a while, before you can gain access to the right crafting and cooking stations needed to really impress them. Giving a one-heart gift is better than not giving a gift at all! Some three-star gifts are also hiding in the late game, so stay patient.

Here is a guide to building your friendships with each character, and what items types they prefer.

Note: This list will be updated and expanded as we come across more gift options.



Hello Kitty

hello kitty island adventures kitty likes gift guide
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Fruit, baked goods, and fancy things

Hello Kitty has a range of tastes that make her fairly easy to ply with gifts. Baked goods are the easiest and most effective gifts to give her, as you can gain Flour from gifting items to My Melody (and there’s additional Flour on the shelf in Hello Kitty’s cafe).

Mama’s Apple Pie (♥♥) and Strawberry Shortcake (♥♥) are your best bet for building easy friendship points, with both Flour and Apples easy to grab around Friendship Island. You can get Strawberries frequently from My Melody as a gift reward, too.

Heart StrengthGift
Pineapple
Apple
Strawberry
Pineapple Stack
Macaron
Sugarkelp Cake
Pumpkin Pie
Cake
Veggie Bread
Tofu Bread
Cinnamon Bread
Volcano Cake
Strawberry Almond Galette
Almond Pound Cake
Milk Bread
Chocolate Balls
Pastry
Cinnamon Roll
Spooky Cake
Fruit Pizza
Spinip Alfredo Pizza
Strawberry Ice Cream
Apple Ice Cream
Tropical Gift
Swampy Gift
Aquatic Gift
Volcanic Gift
Dreamy Gift
Apple Soda
Strawberry Soda
Designer Island Doll
Cheesecake
Chocolate Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Purple Cheesecake
Sakura Cheesecake
Turtle Cheesecake
Spiced Cheesecake
Fruity Cheesecake
Banana Shake
Strawberry Shake
The Future of Everything
Fruity Cloud
Designer Island Doll
♥♥Strawberry Cheesecake
♥♥Fruity Cheesecake
♥♥Mama’s Apple Pie
♥♥Beignets with Pineapple Dip
♥♥Strawberry Shortcake
♥♥Candied Banana Coffee
♥♥♥Red Bow Apple Pie
(Hello Kitty’s Oven)
(Flour + Apple + Magma Bloom)

Chococat

Image: Sunblink

Likes: Mechanical items, books, and chocolate

Chococat is also easy to make friends with, as he likes a range of easily-crafted items like Blank Books and Mechanisms, which can be created from Paper (given by Badtz-Maru). Ancient Inventions (♥♥) is one of the most effective gifts for Chococat, as this can be easily crafted from a Blank Book and a Mechanism. You won’t be able to craft his ultimate gift, Interactive History of Chocolate, until after you’ve completing the main questline.

Heart StrengthGift
Blank Book
Swampy Music Box
Volcanic Music Box
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Chocolate Coin
Chocolate Balls
Chocolate Cheesecake
Mocha
Volcano Cake
Boulder Bits Ice Cream
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Chocolate Shake
Glitchy Book
Aquatic Hologram
Rocky Hologram
Swampy Hologram
Tropical Hologram
Volcanic Hologram
♥♥Ancient Inventions
♥♥♥Interactive History of Chocolate
(Crafting Table, recipe needed)
(Blank Book + Mechanism + Spark + Chocolate Coin)

Pekkle

pekkle hello kitty island adventures
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Music, mountain-related things, and crystal gifts

Pekkle is particularly choosy, and you may struggle to find the right gifts to build your friendship. Some can be crafted with the right blueprints, but if you’re looking for the simplest route to friendship, you should spend your time gathering Calming Crystal in the mountains, or catching Mountain Bugs in the same region. Any Music Box will also do the trick.

Heart StrengthGift
Volcanic Music Box
Swampy Music Box
Scarlet Scuttler
Frondhawk
Stony Slugger
Mountain Gulper
Banded Spelunker
Calming Crystal
Rosy Duster
Acactnid
Rockadoodler
Twinklebug
Hot Cocoa
Mama’s Pudding
Rocky Hologram
Rocky Material
Rocky Star
♥♥♥Mountain Soundtrack
(Crafting Table, recipe needed)
(Mechanism + Feather + Shiny)

Hangyodon

hangyodon friendship gift guide
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Underwater items, fish, and fabric

Hangyodon also has peculiar tastes, and it may take some time before you discover the best ways to build your friendship (he’s also one of the characters you’ll unlock at a later stage). With his preference being for fish and other underwater items, you’ll want to spend your time swimming around, fishing, and gathering anything you can see in the ocean.

Starfish are quick and effective gifts, as are any fish you collect while fishing. The easiest and most effective fish to give him is the Masked Wrassler (♥♥) which can be found around the Cozy Islands, or the Midnight Pike (♥♥) which can be found in the Spooky Swamp.

Heart StrengthGift
Any Fish
Starfish
Peppermint Tetra
Flying Springtail
Mountain Gulper
Banded Spelunker
Seaweed Skipper
Quagfish
Sapphire Seapony
Crustocean
Rainbow Ribbiter
Aquatic Souvenir Doll
Fabric
Aquatic Gift
Tropical Material
Swampy Material
Rocky Material
Aquatic Hologram
Aquatic Star
Designer Island Doll
♥♥Aquatic Material
♥♥Masked Wrassler
♥♥Midnight Pike
♥♥♥Mermaid Figure
(Crafting Table, recipe needed)
(Fabric + Coconut + Seashell

Pompompurin

pompompurin gift guide island adventure
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Frozen desserts, crystal gifts, and milk

Pompompurin is another character you’ll discover later in the game, as he’s hiding within the Oasis. You can easily ply him with Calming Crystal and any kind of Milk, but he’ll love you if you cook Pudding (♥♥) by combining Coral Milk with Cactus Cream in the Dessert Boat’s ice cream maker.

As with everyone else, his favourite recipes combine elements of at least two of his favourite likes – so anything with a combination of Cactus Cream and Milk or crystal gifts will delight him.

Heart StrengthGift
Calming Crystal
Mountain Soundtrack
Coral Milk
Cappuccino
Hot Cocoa
Candied Banana Coffee
Magma Pudding
Tofu Pudding
Purple Pudding
Pumpkin Pudding
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Sweet Pudding
Ice Cream
Strawberry Ice Cream
Apple Ice Cream
Milk Bread
Alfredo Pizza
Dessert Pizza
Spinip Alfredo Pizza
Cream Soda
Pink Clouds Ice Cream
Boulder Bits Ice Cream
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Starry Skies Shake
Sweet Cloud
Vanilla Shake
Banana Shake
Chocolate Shake
Strawberry Shake
Confusing Coffee
Toasted Marshmallow Cloud
♥♥Pudding
♥♥Cheese Ice Cream
♥♥♥Mama’s Pudding
(Ice Cream Maker)
(Cactus Cream + Coral Milk + Banana)

Keroppi

keroppi hello kitty island adventure
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Bugs, swampy gifts, wood

Keroppi is the least fussy citizen of Friendship Island, with an array of easy-to-find gifts perfect for this loveable frog. Your best option for building friendship is to wander around the Spooky Swamp, catch a few roaming Bugs and Frogs (♥♥) and send them Keroppi’s way.

Heart StrengthGift
Lotus Blossom
Tigersnoot
Fumefly
Sunset Scooter
Scarlet Scuttler
Blue Berryfly
Woodblock
Swampy Music Box
Volcanic Souvenir Doll
Aquatic Souvenir Doll
Tropical Souvenir Doll
Swampy Gift
Sunslime
Castle Crab
Frondhawk
Stony Slugler
Geyser Grub
Rosy Duster
Honey Bandit
Rockadoodler
Grubble
Acactnid
Lady Bean
Dunebug
Rainbow Ribbiter
Twinklebug
Sapphire Seapony
Crustocean
Quagfish
Magmiter
Eruptoad
Swampy Soda
Swampy Hologram
Swampy Star
♥♥Grassy Glowbuddy
♥♥Pumpkin Spiceler
♥♥Orchid Glowbuddy
♥♥Lily Frog
♥♥Bush Friend
♥♥Phantom Flutterby
♥♥Swampy Souvenir Doll
♥♥♥Critter Totem
(Crafting Table, recipe needed)
(Woodblock + Coconut + Mushroom)

Retsuko

retsuko hello kitty island adventure
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Hot things, music, and ingots

Retsuko also has easy wants, with many her favourites easily found in Mount Hothead. You can gift her Ingots smelted from ore, or you can gather up Magma Blooms, which are littered throughout the mountains. In a pinch, a Toasted Almond or Toasty Pizza will also get the job done.

You won’t be able to get the recipe for her favourite gift, Volcanic Guitar, until after you’ve completed the main questline. You can fish one out of lava, though. Try it!

Heart StrengthGift
Ingot
Cinna Bloom
Magma Bloom
Toasted Almond
Toasty Pizza
Toasted Almond Coffee
Volcanic Music Box
Swampy Music Box
Mountain Soundtrack
Fiery Soda
Surprising Soda
Pineapple Lava Soda
Toasted Marshmallow Cloud
Turtle Cheesecake
♥♥♥Volcanic Guitar
(Crafting Table, recipe needed from TOPHAT)
(Ingot + Spark + Mechanism)

Cinnamoroll

cinnamoroll hello kitty island adventure gift guide
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Coffee, chocolate, and spice

Cinnamoroll is the most frustrating member of Friendship Island because he flits from place to place, constantly moving around. He also has very niche likes, many of which are unlocked in later parts of the game. In Hangyodon’s comedy club under the sea, you will find an espresso machine, and it’s here that you can make chocolate or coffee drinks (♥♥) for Cinnamoroll. Until you unlock the machine, you’ll have to settle for smaller friendship gains with chocolate baked goods, like Chocolate Pineapple Pudding. You can also easily gift Chocolate Coin, which can be found in the coral reef.

Heart StrengthGift
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Spicy Pizza
Cinnamon Bread
Cinnamon Roll
Cinna Ice Cream
Magma Pudding
Chocolate Coin
Chocolate Ice Cream
Chocolate Balls
Cappuccino
Candlenut Coffee
Toasted Almond Coffee
Pink Latte
Purple Latte
Sweet Latte
Candied Banana Coffee
Confusing Coffee
Pineapple Lava Soda
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Interactive History of Chocolate
Spiced Cloud
Spiced Cheesecake
Frappe
Sakura Frappe
♥♥Molten Frappe
♥♥Hot Cocoa
♥♥Mocha
♥♥Chai
♥♥Spicy Pumpkin Latte
♥♥Volcano Cake
♥♥♥Chocolate Chai
(Espresso Machine)
(Candlenut + Chocolate Coin + Magma Bloom)

My Melody

my melody hello kitty island adventure
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Sweet things, Pink things, dreamy things

My Melody has a range of sweets she likes, but some are far easier to obtain than others. If you’re looking for the easiest path to her friendship, you can gather Swampmallow from the Spooky Swamp, or gift her Candy Cloud or Strawberry, which can be obtained from befriending other characters on Friendship Island.

Heart StrengthGift
Strawberry
Swampmallow
Strawberry Shortcake
Sugarkelp Cake
Cinnamon Roll
Beignets with Pineapple Dip
Macaron
Candy Cloud
Sweet Pudding
Sweet Latte
Sweet Soda
Sakura Soda
Boulder Bits Ice Cream
Sweet Dreams Stories
Pink Cloud
Sakura Cheesecake
Strawberry Cheesecake
Strawberry Shake
Toasted Marshmallow Cloud
Sakura Frappe
♥♥Pink Latte
♥♥Almond Pound Cake
♥♥Strawberry Almond Galette
♥♥♥Pink Clouds Ice Cream
(Dessert Maker)
(Cactus Cream + Sakura + Candy Cloud)

Pochacco

pochacco hello kitty
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Sports items, healthy items, and plant-based items

Pochacco is easy to befriend, and has a range of likes largely focussed on health-related items. The easiest gift to give him is Tofu, as you can easily get supplies from befriending Hello Kitty. Gifting Spinip from the Spooky Swamp is also a great option, but it’s probably worth hoarding it until you can use it to make the Everything Pizza once you upgrade the Pizza Oven.

Heart StrengthGift
Tofu
Veggie Bread
Tofu Bread
Spinip
Tofu Pudding
Purple Pudding
Purple Latte
Purple Cheesecake
Veggie Pizza
Tofu Pizza
Spinip Alfredo Pizza
♥♥Everything Pizza
♥♥♥Pochacco Energy Pop
(Soda Maker)
(Fizz Crystal + Spinpip + Tofu)

Kuromi

kuromi hello kitty island adventure
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Soda, autumn/fall things, and spooky things

Kuromi, while prickly at first, is very easy to befriend thanks to her love of all things spooky. Within Spooky Swamp, you’ll find a range of items she likes, but your best bet to increase your friendship score is crafting Jack-O-Lantern (♥) from collected Pumpkins found in the Spooky Swamp graveyard. You can also gift her Pumpkin Pie and Soda if you’re lacking Pumpkins.

Heart StrengthGift
Pumpkin
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Pudding
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Swampy Soda
Apple Soda
Strawberry Soda
Banana Soda
Cream Soda
Fiery Soda
Pineapple Lava Soda
Tropical Soda
Surprising Soda
Joke Soda
Sakura Soda
Sweet Soda
Fall Cloud
♥♥Jack-O-Lantern
♥♥Spicy Pumpkin Latte
♥♥Spooky Cake
♥♥♥Pumpkin Spice Soda
(Soda Maker)
(Fizzy Crystal + Pumpkin + Cinna Bloom)

Tuxedosam

tuxedosam hello kitty island adventure
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Fabric, tropical things, fancy things

Tuxedosam is another easy-going island pal. You can get away with gifting him a range of items, including Tropical Bugs and Coconut, which is found in the Seaside Resort. For the best results, you should consider crafting Tropical Gift (♥♥) which is made using a Sand Dollar (found on beaches) and Gift Box (made from Starfish and Box Clam).

Heart StrengthGift
Coconut
Blue Berryfly
Sunset Scooter
Sunslime
Dragondarter
Castle Crab
Honey Bandit
Dunebug
Peppermint Tetra
Seaweed Skipper
Fabric
Pineapple Pizza
Spinip Alfredo Pizza
Ultimate Joke Pizza
Pineapple Stack Cake
Banana Ice Cream
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Candied Banana Coffee
Swampy Gift
Volcanic Gift
Aquatic Gift
Dreamy Gift
Aquatic Material
Swampy Material
Rocky Material
Red Bow Apple Pie
Mermaid Figure
Pineapple Lava Soda
Banana Soda
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Tropical Soda
Designer Island Doll
Tropical Hologram
The Future of Everything
Tropical Cloud
♥♥Tropical Gift
♥♥Tropical Material
♥♥Beignets with Pineapple Dip
♥♥♥Designer Island Doll
(Crafting Table, recipe needed)
(Fabric + Gift Box + Sand Dollar)

Badtz-Maru

badtz-maru gift guide hello kitty
Image: Sunblink

Likes: Prank items, tropical things, pizza

Badtz-Maru is fairly picky, but there are a number of easy-to-craft items you can use to build friendship with him. The easiest to obtain is a Water Balloon, which can be crafted from Rubber found around the Seaside Resort. Any Pizza is also a great gift (especially Pineapple Pizza [♥♥]), as is any Tropical Bug.

Hearth StrengthGift
Water Balloon
Coconut
Blue Berryfly
Sunset Scooter
Sunslime
Dragon Darter
Castle Crab
Honey Bandit
Dunebug
Peppermint Tetra
Seaweed Skipper
Tofu Pizza
Dessert Pizza
Spicy Pizza
Veggie Pizza
Alfredo Pizza
Toasty Pizza
Fruit Pizza
Spicy Pizza
Spinip Alfredo Pizza
Everything Pizza
Three Cheese Pizza
Pineapple Stack Cake
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Beignets with Pineapple Dip
Banana Ice Cream
Tropical Material
Tropical Souvenir Doll
Pineapple Lava Soda
Banana Soda
Surprising Soda
Joke Soda
Tropical Soda
Chocolate Pineapple Pudding
Tropical Hologram
Tropical Cloud
♥♥Pineapple Pizza
♥♥♥Ultimate Joke Pizza
(Pizza Oven)
(Dough + Pineapple + Tofu)

TOPHAT

Likes: Computer-related items, Star things, Fancy things

You’ll be able to start a friendship TOPHAT, the game’s AI host once you’ve completed the game’s primary Island Mystery quests. He’ll be down by the beach with his best friend Big Challenges. An easy and effective gift for him is the Computer (♥♥), which you can craft at Chococat’s table, though you’ll need to collect glitches from TOPHAT to actually craft them.

As of Update 1.1, TOPHAT now likes Star things – he previously only had two interests. He also has a three-heart gift, a book called The Future of Everything (♥♥♥)

Heart StrengthGift
Candied Banana Coffee
Spinip Alfredo Pizza
Red Bow Apple Pie
Beignets with Pineapple Dip
Swampy Gift
Volcanic Gift
Tropical Gift
Aquatic Gift
Dreamy Gift
Blue Power Crystal Decoration
Green Power Crystal Decoration
Purple Power Crystal Decoration
Red Power Crystal Decoration
Yellow Power Crystal Decoration
Designer Island Doll
Glitchy Book
Aquatic Star
Designer Island Doll
♥♥Computer
(Crafting Table)
(Mechanism + Spark + Glitch)
♥♥♥The Future of Everything
(Crafting Table, recipe needed)
(Little Challenge + Star + Glitch)

Big Challenges

Big Challenges Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Likes: Volcanic items, Reflective things, books

TOPHAT’s best friend Big Challenges will be able to be friended once you’ve completed the game’s primary Island Mystery quests. He’s easily placated with any bug or fish you catch on Mount Hothead. But once you start getting “Little Challenge” rewards from him, your best bet is to craft Meditations on Resilience (♥♥) with them.

Heart StrengthGift
Volcanic Music Box
Ancient Inventions
Volcanic Gift
Golden Loach
Eruptoad
Magmiter
Blank Book
Glitchy Book
Volcanic Souvenir Doll
Fumefly
Tigersnoot
Geyser Grub
Flying Springtail
Grubble
Lady Bean
Stampeedle
Volcanic Hologram
Interactive History of Chocolate
Sweet Dreams Stories
The Future of Everything
Volcanic Star
♥♥Meditations on Resilience
(Crafting Table, recipe needed)
(Blank Book + Little Challenge)
♥♥♥The Greatest Challenge
(Crafting Table, recipe needed from Lala)
(Ingot + Spark + Little Challenge)

Kiki

Likes: Star things, Dreamy things, Icy things

As of Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s 1.1 update, you can now befriend the Little Twin Stars. Kiki likes icy things, so the new Snowcicle (♥) can be easily found on Icy Peak for a quick start to the friendship, but once you find the Starry Skies Shake (♥♥♥) recipe not long after you’re better off saving them as ingredients.

Heart StrengthGift
Strawberry Almond Galette
Pink Clouds Ice Cream
Almond Pound Cake
Starfruit
Sweet Dreams Stories
Snowcicle
Three Cheese Pizza
The Future of Everything
Dreamy Gift
Fall Cloud
Pink Cloud
Sweet Cloud
Tropical Cloud
Fruity Cloud
Spiced Cloud
Cheese Cloud
Toasted Marshmallow Cloud
Vanilla Shake
Banana Shake
Chocolate Shake
Strawberry Shake
Aquatic Star
Rocky Star
Swampy Star
Volcanic Star
Frappe
Molten Frappe
Sakura Frappe
♥♥Dreamy Star
♥♥Art Supplies
♥♥♥Starry Skies Shake
(Dessert Maker)
(Cactus Cream + Snowcicle + Starfruit)

Lala

Likes: Creative things, Dreamy things, Cheese

As of Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s 1.1 update, you can now befriend the Little Twin Stars. Lala likes Moon Cheese (♥), which is one of the new items found on Cloud Island, but turn that into a Three Cheese Pizza (♥) and you’ll get an easy two hearts. Better yet, throw some Coral Milk in there for a Quattro Fromaggi Pizza (♥♥)!

Heart StrengthGift
Strawberry Almond Galette
Pink Clouds Ice Cream
Almond Pound Cake
Moon Cheese
Sweet Dreams Stories
Cheesecake
Chocolate Cheesecake
Pumpkin Cheesecake
Purple Cheesecake
Sakura Cheesecake
Strawberry Cheesecake
Turtle Cheesecake
Spiced Cheesecake
Fruity Cheesecake
Starry Skies Shake
Dreamy Gift
Fall Cloud
Pink Cloud
Sweet Cloud
Tropical Cloud
Fruity Cloud
Spiced Cloud
Toasted Marshmallow Cloud
Cheese Ice Cream
♥♥Cheese Cloud
♥♥Art Supplies
♥♥Three Cheese Pizza
♥♥♥Quattro Fromaggio Pizza
(Pizza Oven)
(Dough + Moon Cheese + Coral Milk)

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is out now for iOS devices via Apple Arcade, an AUD $7.99/month subscription service offering a range of great mobile games for download and play.

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Leah J. Williams is a gaming and entertainment journalist who's spent years writing about the games industry, her love for The Sims 2 on Nintendo DS and every piece of weird history she knows. You can find her tweeting @legenette most days.