I walked into Hobbietat today to check out the inventory on RC parts. I was very happy to know…read morethey stock pretty much anything you could've possibly needed to repair or modify your RC car or truck.

I havenʻt gone to Hobbietat since I dropped the RC hobby in the late 80ʻs…read more That being said, having recently picked up the hobby again this year, a lot has changed, but the store still feels like itʻs stuck in time. Their website looks like it was designed back in the AOL days. Itʻs a bit intimidating and chaotic inside. But I tell you what...it feels very welcoming in here. They take the time to explain things to you. They help you find things you need. They walk you through details without making you feel stupid. Itʻs everything you would hope for in a local hobby store and Iʻm thankful.

Awesome Pokémon card shop! Great selection, fair prices, and super friendly staff. Everything was…read morewell organized and the cards were in excellent condition. Definitely a must-stop for any Pokémon fan

I visited Evolving Realms on the last day of my trip to Honolulu while visiting from the Bay Area…read more I'm a longtime Pokémon card collector and had spent several days checking out other local card shops (Aloha, Nocturnal, etc.), all of which were welcoming experiences. Based on the strong reviews here, I decided to stop by despite the extremely windy and rainy weather, especially since the store is only open a few days a week. Unfortunately, my experience didn't align with what's described in some of the positive reviews. When my wife and I entered, there was no greeting, despite the store not being busy. The lady staff member remained on their phone. That alone is something I could easily overlook, since everyone has off moments, but it set the tone for what followed. I spent time browsing and identified a few cards I was interested in, noting that prices were generally above TCGPlayer market values. I fully understand that brick-and-mortar stores can price however they choose, and I'm never expecting exact market matches, but I did ask if a $27 card could be adjusted to $24 to align with TCGPlayer. The response was a firm no, followed by comments such as "you can buy online instead" and "it's only $3 difference." Being told to shop online rubbed me the wrong way, especially considering I had made the effort to visit in person on the very last day of my trip, through rough weather, specifically to support a local store. Wanting to understand the pricing flexibility, I then asked about another card priced at $5 that was around $1.75 on TCGPlayer. While the dollar difference was still small, the percentage markup was significant, which is why I asked. At that point, the explanations began to feel inconsistent. I was told they weren't going to "waste time repricing cards," which didn't really address the question, and that "nobody prices at market... unless they're a vendor," which directly contradicted my experiences at other local card shops earlier that same week. I was also told pricing could be flexible "if you're buying a lot," but by then the interaction felt more tense than welcoming. I decided it was best to thank him for his time and leave. Separately, my wife mentioned afterward that there was a noticeable odor in the store that made her feel dizzy, which prevented her from browsing at all. To be clear, this review isn't about expecting market pricing. Stores are absolutely entitled to set their own prices, and customers are free to buy or walk away. As a matter of fact, I had already paid above market at other Honolulu card shops earlier in the week without issue. What stood out here was the tone of the interaction and the lack of hospitality, which didn't match the welcoming, passionate "mom and pop" experience described in many other reviews. In hindsight, I'm glad I visited this store last. Had this been my first card shop experience in Honolulu, I might have been hesitant to visit others, something that would've been unfortunate, given how positive the rest of the local card scene turned out to be. If the store responds by saying this was simply about price, I'd encourage readers to consider the overall customer experience being described. That said, as we were walking out, I did receive a "thank you." and I guess that alone deserves at least a star.

Oh, I wish I had taken pics of this place! It wasn't majestic or anything, but they had such a…read moregood supply of cards. Hopefully, you'll go and see it yourself. It was located in an unnoticeable building and the store wasn't noticeable either, but they had a good crowd inside playing. More importantly, they had a nice selection of both sealed product and individual packs and cards. Prices were reasonable, especially in this market. Best of all the people who ran the shop were friendly and helpful. SELECTION: Pokemon and Magic the Gathering are plentiful here. They had more than most shops and a good selection of Japanese Pokemon. Sadly no Japanese MTG in stock, but a really good selection otherwise. SERVICE: Excellent! Very helpful staff and friendly. Definitely would shop here if we lived in the area. COST: Reasonable. The service makes it even more worthwhile.

Great place for Pokémon cards. Generally most things are regular retail pricing, but if it…read moresomething highly sought after like the Charizard Ultra Premium Collection, it is more expensive than retail. The two times that I have gone there, the employees were really nice. I am a little sad that they have moved locations and that the parking there is not as readily available though.

Very cool store with a lot of unique items that you can't find easily. The staff was friendly and…read morethe prices were reasonable.

Kawaii and cuteness overload…read more.. JQ Store Hawaii found it's new home here in the International Marketplace from the former Ala Moana Plaza and aren't we all thrilled that they did. Filled with all things Japanese it's not limited to the plushies and stationaries we all grown to love and miss as many Japanese stops have slowly disappeared JQ has a great variety to please all levels of anime lovers. Located on the second level right above the Kuhio Avenue Food Hall the first thing I saw as soon as I walked in was some discounted holiday items which is a great time to stock up and find unique decor that area so cute and fun. They do have a huge stock of plushies so fluffy and cute all covered in plastic so that you have no worries of cleanliness along with mystery boxes, huge choices of pens and model kits which are items that can be pricey but are hard to find items even in Japan. A great place with staff that are always willing to help you find items that they may help you to find or just a question, here at JQ Store its a fun trip without the long travel plans. Thank you!

Not much has changed since covid slowed it down. Same location at the Ala Moana Hotel. Admission…read moreis $3. The focus is, and has always been Comic Books, toys and all things related. Similar sizes to what was there in the past, if you are looking for something related this is a nice place to come. It's comparable in size to the antique show they have at the Blaisdell but with more focus on Comics and toys. They usually have this expo at the Ala Moana Hotel twice a year, the other one was held in May this year. Pretty standard set up and fun things to buy. Parking in the area was at a premium as the " Made in Hawaii" show is also today ( 11/13) Come by to support this locally organized expo. Support local- buy local.

In the last few years Honolulu has seen a large increase in collectible and toy shows. This is one…read moreof the first and is still going strong! As of this writing, the show is in its third year and has gotten bigger and better each time. Keep an eye on their website or Yelp events page for the dates and times. The show is held in Ala Moana Hotel's ballrooms on the second floor. Each year it has taken larger floor space and added dealers. Around 40 dealers/table participate bringing all manner of toys and collectables for kids of all ages. Admission is $3 per person, kids are free. Cosplayers also receive free entry! Tickets are sold at the door, cash only. It's laid out like an trade show with dealer booths and tables along the walls and center of the main room. Who participates changes from year to year, but it's typically the same local people; both from stores and hobbyists. The hotel provides water stations around the show, which is appreciated. The selection is not limited to: LEGO, action figures, video games, anime, DVDs, plush toys, Japanese imports, Funko Pop! figures, high-end statues, and comics. Basically, if it was or is popular, you'll find it! Most dealers handle exclusively in cash, but more are taking credit these days. To be safe, bring small bills for good deals. I'm a big fan of the "junk" bins on the floor; there are tons of deals to be had as sometimes people are just looking to get rid of merchandise. Thank you to the organizers for making this a fun must-attend event!

We ran out things to do on the island so decided to go to Paula's card shop. Thk u so much Paula…read moreand her sister, they very honest and kind. They have a good stole to choose from. A lot of rare wanted packs n etbs. Boosters packs as well

I called this store to ask about a specific card set because I didn't want to drive there only to…read morefind out it wasn't in stock. The first time, I was told to call back later because the person wasn't at the store yet. I called again, and she said she was running late and still not at the store, asking me to call back once more. On my third attempt, she said she was busy packing an order and hadn't checked the inventory. At that point, I gave up. A few concerns: 1. Listing a personal cell phone as the store contact is not ideal. 2. Asking customers to repeatedly call back without checking inventory is frustrating. 3. Taking a moment to verify stock should not interfere with other tasks. Ultimately, I found the card set at another store without any issues. Based on my experience, I would not recommend this store if you expect responsive and reliable customer service. I honestly would give zero stars if I could but since the system requires at least one, that's all it gets.

Luxury electronics…read more.. IQ Gadgets is located in the International Marketplace on the second level overlooking the center grassy courtyard which one of favorite location of this mall. First thing you see are the giant bougie massage chairs and there already was a couple shopping in there that seem to have an interest in a product which of course has the salesperson very focused in a positive note I got to browse at my leisure as he basically didn't blink as I was walking around. With that I never got a greet or much attention and that didn't really bother me as I seriously was looking at some of their products which what seems to be majority targeting to the smart phone accessories...with chargers, headphones, car mount and battery cases. As I browsed further I came to realize a couple items I've seen at a craft/product show and have purchased a charger only for it to stop charging like it originally did and it wasn't cheap. As my older phone can't handle a day without a good charge I was talked into a product only for it to shop working and am sad but learned the hard way but hope that other products are good but I'm not willing to risk it.

I was called into the store by a sales rep ( stated the name Shiraz on the receipt) by the old scam…read moreof "I have a free gift for you". Inside she was overbearing and condescending, making as I was easy prey, keeping on pushing products that were way overpriced. Be careful here! Best to avoid

Staffs are very friendly specially Peter very helpful made me try all the guns I'm interested in…read morebuying I bought my SR16 and it's awesome

Store has been closed for several days. I've tried calling several times, no answer. Decided to…read morebite the bullet and drive over there. Doors are chained up. Not sure how long they'll be closed for. No information about any reason or why on website.