I stopped by the Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana Center and it remains one of the most comfortable…read moreplaces in the mall if you want to slow down and spend some time browsing books. The store is spacious and well organized, with clearly arranged sections that make it easy to explore different genres. Walking through the aisles feels relaxed, and there is a wide selection of books ranging from best sellers and new releases to classics and specialty topics. One thing that stood out to me is how the store still maintains the traditional bookstore experience even though it is located inside a busy shopping center. The layout encourages browsing, and it is easy to spend a good amount of time looking through titles and discovering books you were not originally planning to buy. Another highlight is the range of non-book items available throughout the store. You will find journals, gifts, educational toys, and other reading-related merchandise, which adds variety to the experience. The atmosphere is calm compared to many other areas of the mall, and the store tends to attract a mix of students, families, and casual readers looking for a quiet place to browse. Overall, Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana Center is a great stop if you enjoy bookstores and want a comfortable place to explore books while spending time at the mall.

This specific store is noted for being a unique "cultural hub" in Honolulu with several standout…read morefeatures that distinguish it from a standard mainland location. 1. It serves as a major community gathering point, often hosting local author signings and cultural events that reflect the islands' literary scene. So now you can get your copy of Eat Lava Pray signed. 2. The in-store café serves official Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes, so you can skip the restaurant lines. 3. Reflecting Hawaii's deep cultural ties to Japan, this location features an exceptionally large manga and anime section that rivals international bookstores. 4. The store maintains a robust physical media section with a curated selection of vinyl records. I found Pois Don't Cry and Lei Lady Lei.

If you are a long-time Hawai`i resident who enjoys reading and a sweet deal, you've probably…read moreperused the donation shelves at your local library branch, and possibly attended the famous annual summer Friends of the Library of Hawai`i (FLH) book sale at McKinley Cafeteria, where the volunteer organization sold donated and library-withdrawn books at bargain basement prices. Profits support the State of Hawai'i's 51 Public Libraries. In more recent years, FLH opened a year-round used bookstore: Village Books and Music, first at the old Pier One, then a terrific space in Ward Centre next to Sedona. Due to the imminent demolition of Ward Center, the establishment shuttered the Ward location on 5/31/26, and will be reopening in mid-July at 610 Ward Ave., a.k.a. "Obama Building." While not as extensive as more famous used bookstores, e.g. NYC's "The Strand" and Portland's "Powell's Books," I thought there was a lot to love about Village Books and Music, where you could find books, but also CDs, vinyl records, games, puzzles, nostalgic Hawai`i memorabilia, and even art. While admittedly not all genres are well-stocked, when I've visited, I was impressed with the poetry section, which is small, but nicely curated, featuring a number of renowned BIPOC poets and local poets: look carefully, and you can find some signed editions in great shape. If you're looking for local Hawai`i writers or Hawaiian/Pacific materials, this store is worth browsing. And what a win-win: you get literary goods on the cheap AND you support the amazing Hawai`i State Library System: a worthy community hub committed to egalitarian public education!

We love coming to this spot after a meal at the Ward. The kid loves perusing the comic book…read moresection. This is where he's bought comic books every year on vacation. I love book stores in general so I don't mind hanging out checking out all the new books and art they have. We love coming here every year we're in town :)

Shoots, This Place is the So Da Bomb! Came in yesterday with two shopping carts stuffed with books…read moreand honestly didn't know what to expect -- but wow, this place totally exceeded my expectations! The owner greeted me right away with that warm, aloha spirit energy. No attitude, no long drawn-out process. She got straight to scanning my old dusty books while I waited, and when she was done, she texted me -- yes, texted me -- to let me know. Walked up, got my receipt, got my quote. Super professional, super smooth. Here's the best part: while I was waiting, I browsed around and found three gifts for my grandchildren that I knew they'd love. So in one trip I freed up a ton of space at home from books that had been taking up way too much room and knocked out some gift shopping. Win-win-win! The whole setup is easy too -- rolled the carts right from my car into the store, no stress. My friend was chillin' in the massage chair outside the whole time, so nobody's time was wasted. I was originally just gonna dump everything at Goodwill. So glad I didn't. I'm already planning to come back with my old DVDs and CDs just sitting my shed in the backyard. If you've got stuff collecting dust at home, bring it here first. You might walk out with cash in your pocket and a smile on your face. Highly recommend. 5/5, no question!

I wish this place was bigger. We still come by here when we are in the area, but a bigger location…read morewould be nice with quiet nooks for reading.

The 2 ladies working went over and beyond in helping me from start to finish. They were so nice,…read morehelpful and sweet. (Great customer service) hard to find in youngster now days. Definitely will be coming back again. So glad I was able to found this shop

One of our favorite shops at Ala Moana for all the kpop finds! My girls love spending their time…read moreand hard-earned money in here on posters, stickers and all the good finds.

It's a great place to find things and Halal food you can't find anywhere else. You can ask the…read morestore to bring items that's you and your family needs to see available and they bring it in. Going in person to CA for groceries becomes costly so using the local merchants make it happens

I like a hole in the wall, but this market is a hot mess. I don't understand the high rating. The…read moreshelves are way too close together and there is no logical order. Glass jars are stacked high. There is food on the floor. The clerks, while friendly, don't know where stuff is. My daughter asked for canned garbanzo beans and they said they didn't have them, but they did (I found them). They couldn't find a mix that we asked for, but we later did. I was looking for fresh naan, but they only had frozen. So, I'm guessing they have the corner on Indian ingredients in Honolulu. The positive is that they carry a lot of the necessities for Indian cooking. They staff is friendly and they have a private parking lot.