I recently discovered Me Ke Aloha Gifts while visiting an office in Hawaiʻi Kai. I saw several…read moreinteresting items on display and decided to take a closer look. Me Ke Aloha Gifts founder Gina Ho greeted me and provided a brief explanation of the business. In essence, she curates all sorts of items from local vendors that might constitute gifts for friends, colleagues, or loved ones. Sounds kinda posh, doesn't it. However, the reality is quite the contrary: the items Ms. Ho has gathered all make sense (alone or in combination with others) and all are reasonably priced. Seriously. With several birthdays approaching in mid-June, I was eager to purchase several items for the birthday celebrants. To say that my visit was wonderful is an understatement: Ms. Ho was generously kind and provided me with some background on the business and the vendors with whom she works; all the items I saw were locally sourced; and, the business model makes sense for folks seeking unique individual items or bundled gift collections. I look forward to more purchases from Me Ke Aloha in the future.

From the owner: At Me Ke Aloha, we specialize in creating upscale locally inspired gift sets. We work with small…read morebusinesses across Hawai‘i to curate elevated gifts that tell a story. Our goal is to spotlight Hawai‘i’s talent and help local makers expand their reach. Whether you're saying thank you, welcoming someone, or celebrating a milestone, our gifts help you show up with intention and aloha.

I needed a couple gift baskets for clients and Red Pineapple picked some things out based on my…read moreprice range and put it together very nicely! She was very professional and courteous. Great taste for the selection as well!

The perfect local gift store for all your holiday shopping needs...and all other gifting occasions…read morefor that matter. I stopped in on Small Business Saturday and found a couple of great small gifts for close friends. They have a great selection of local items that are sure to please. Service is always delightful and the decor is festive... no matter which holiday is just around the corner. A variety of price points makes this the ideal stop for something unique for that special someone.

A nice store to shop for souvenirs and anything you don't need but want!!…read more I got a pen and a Hawaiian themed small cloth wallet !! Yes we got complimentary coffee to get that energy for the day! Thanks!

Beautiful Hawaiian print clothes, great gifts, very friendly staff...I bought lovely Hawaiian…read moredresses and men's shirts! Mahalo...best in Waimanalo!

Small Kine Slay has become even more slay with the addition of a Photo Booth in their store. Limit…read moreis one photo per person. The Photo Booth looks like a mini tv with a touch option on the screen to take your picture. The photo comes out as a cute colored Polaroid. I definitely need a pic with my bestie Diesel next time I see him. Service was friendly and fun as always LOL. I like looking at all the snack options and cute Knick-knacks I can add to my collection.

Whenever I'm wandering around Kaimuki, I like to check out the cute little shops in the area. Small…read moreKine Gift is very unique and different featuring a lot of fun small items. I don't think you go into this shop looking for something. I feel like the items pick you. Some are a bit expensive for their size. but I think the uniqueness and experience help this place out. Make sure to check out their very deluxe drawer system that features many different small items.

I really like this shopping center and that the management opens it up to the community for craft…read morefairs, health fairs, sports fairs and other events to give start up businesses an opportunity to showcase their wares. I've had my blood pressure checked. I've had a minute massage. I've bought cuts air plants to gift others. I've bought big and small labyrinths. They utilize the parking lots throughout the entire center to spread out the kiosks and it keeps the flow moving around instead of blocking any business. I used to shudder at the thought of driving from Hālawa to Koko Marina now I just make it an adventure based on the street fair of the weekend. So many fun places to eat too.

This Center has a lot to offer !…read more It has at least 70 plus merchants offering adventure activities , dining , shopping, fitness and health services for your enjoyment and pleasure !!! For DANCE ,EXERCISE &FITNESS there are; 24 Hour Fitness Cho's Tae Kwon Do Leimomi Maldonado Mango Tree Fitness and Muay Thai Yoga & Art For your PERSONAL SERVICE they have: Hawaii Kai Marina ASSOCIATE Hawaii Kai Texaco Hawaii Kai Veterinary Clinic Koko Marina 76 Gas Station Le Vent Cours Mali Bella Construction LLC MathVantage State Farm Insurance The UPS Store Travel Care / Home Nursing Wedding Scene For other SPECIALTY STORES, CLOTHING and GIFTS they have: Cookie's Clothing Co. Cosmopolitan Sun Shop Eastside Underground Hawaii Jewels & Diamonds Local Motion Petco Walgreens Of course for your restaurant dining and snacking pleasure there are : Assaggio's Ristorante Italiano Fatboy's Burger Greek Marina Hanapa'a Market Harbor Village Cuisine Heavenly Island Lifestyle Jamba Juice Kim's Korean BBQ Koko i-naba Kokonuts Shave Ice & Snacks Kona Brewing Co. La Liégeoise Leonard's Malasadamobile Loco Moco Drive Inn Moena Cafe Moena Sweets Starbucks Subway Taco Bell Teddy's Bigger Burger Zippy's Restaurants NOW ... Water Sports Activities are a Must in Hawaii so they have for your pleasure the following: Aloha Boat Charters BOB's Hawaii Adventure ( we booked our lifetime experience doing scooter snorkeling ) Hawaii Water Sports Center Hawaiian Surf Adventures Koko Beach Rentals

Worst holiday return policy on earth. Cute stuff but overpriced. Worst customer service ever…read more Do you really want me to go into detail after your ridiculous response? You call a 10-day return policy, a policy to accommodate for the holidays? Dec 21-31? I got the gift on Dec 31st. Also, as your employee handed back the item I was trying to return, she dropped it and it broke. No apology or anything. You can look in your trash can if you really need any further explanation.

They love following me around like I'm going to steal something. Not a good feeling. I asked about…read morean artist who did one of the necklaces and the clerk knew nothing about the creator of the piece.

My daughter and I had lunch nearby. She smelled more food and followed her nose. Next thing you…read moreknow, we were in front of this store. The food wasn't coming from here, but my daughter just had to see what was inside. So we came in to just look. Sugarcane is this cute shop where you can find all these locally made items for a gift, for the home, fir kids, for a friend, or for visitors. They have books, puzzles, toys jewelry, totes, bags, coasters and more. I love the wooden toys for the kids. I bought a wooden cell phone, a camera, stickers and a cute cooking set. They are my kiddos favorite toys. I've gotten key chains and jewelry for gifts. We have coasters for our home too. The workers are pretty friendly and they also wrapped my gift item too. The items seem pricey, but they are locally made and are unique. I don't think you'll find any ship with the same kind of item that Sugarcane carries. Overall, this is a great place to get gifts and maybe something for yourself. Beware of bringing your children. They will make you buy everything.

This is the cutest little shop in Waialae with all the local goodies- perfect for holiday shopping!…read moreThe pieces here are very unique and has products/ art from a ton of different local artists and artisans. Everything here is really local-fyed and trendy. I love taking mainland visitors here so they can have a unique Hawaii keepsake or so they can go shopping for friends and family back home. The past few times I came here, I got a gift for my mom and for someone who I was going to their house for the first time. Both of those times I bought Aloha Aina aromatherapy candles and soaps. When I've come here browsing for myself, I've gotten\ zodiac themed jewelry, a cute cellphone charm, and a hair clip. The space might be small but the selection is vast and curated- you never know what goodies you'll find!

Shopping in Kaimuki, Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I saw the sidewalk sign that read: "SHOP CUTE" ...and I had to look... especially because the name of the store is intriguing... Every Day Better by Green Meadows is a shop that carries eco-conscious merchandise. There were bags, clothing, jewelry, books, little ceramic animal figures, air plants, packing cube sets, umbrellas with duckie faces on the handles, fabric koi fish hanging flags from France, insulated lunch bags, pillows, clothing, wrapping paper, gift bags, and more! I need to return because I only got a reusable Hello Kitty bag and a couple of greeting cards... haha! Metered street parking is nearby. The municipal parking lot is over on the next block. I would come back on a Sunday when metered street parking is free!

The name says it all one day one thing one moment one thought one kindness makes every day better…read more I've known this cute cozy shop but with their limited hours it's a bit challenging for me but not enough to stop me for sure. Location is slightly tucked away off of Waialae Ave just glance behind Goodwill and you will see a turquoise-ish colored building that's it. There you will find something for everyone...awesome selection of green, reusable, eco friendly, and humorous fun items. Today for me I found a cute bamboo chopsticks I needed to complete my set and a bamboo pot scraper because I had to resist the bags because that's my kryptonite but I'm so thrilled I found what I really needed and thank you!!

If you're a book lover in Hawai'i, Da Shop is hands down one of the best local bookstores you can…read morevisit. Da Shop isn't just a bookstore, it's a community space that supports readers, writers, and local culture. With great selections, special orders available, engaging book events. There's just one small detail I wanted to share. The girl at the front desk has never welcomed me when I walked in. The first time, it honestly bothered me. After noticing it again on another visit, I decided to approach her myself, and she was actually warm, friendly, and excited to talk about books.

Stopped by Da Shop in Kaimuki while spending a Saturday morning wandering through the…read moreneighborhood's small businesses. This charming boutique bookstore was such a great find to leisurely browse through. The space feels rooted in the community, with a curated selection of popular national, international, and especially local titles focused on Hawaiʻi. I loved wandering the shelves that held everything from early childhood picture books to scholarly works for deeper research. The staff was friendly and welcoming, making the experience even better.

As an alumnus of the Rhode Island School of Design, owner Andrew Mau clearly has a keen eye for…read morestylish design, and it manifests itself into an impressive variety of goods. Jamie W and I were waiting for our reservation at The Pig and The Lady (review: https://yelp.to/LhZdZcHz26), so we had time to explore the Kaimuki neighborhood. Beyond the necessary malasada at Pipeline Bakery (review: https://yelp.to/coxyVLI5P8), we were curious about a couple of LGBTQ-owned businesses on Waialae Avenue. One was a fun pet supply emporium, The Public Pet (review: https://yelp.to/XXvGoRe97Q), and this was the other store. There were plenty of things to browse. Clothing and accessories appeared to dominate the main hallway, while housewares, handbag, and fabrics were presented in the back area. There were unique items like colorful hair clips, duck-head umbrellas, and tins of mackerel filets. Andrew makes sure there's nothing predictable about the inventory here, which makes a return visit mandatory. RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/8XV0OV0x9v

Located Mauka side of Waialae Avenue the plus is they have a dedicated free parking lot behind…read moretheir store. See sign on the sidewalk. Another plus is you can enter the store from the parking lot instead of having to walk around to Waialae Ave. Once inside it's a large open space with plenty to see. One entire wall dedicated to beautiful hang bags. Another wall for aromatherapy and vases. Keep walking toward Waialae and there are lovely clothes, beautiful shell lei, local kine themed Christmas ornaments on sale, jewelry at register and other such boho-ish items. Big star for these lovely unique items! There are changing rooms available. We loved all the displays of old school things like a printing press! Lost a star because sadly no welcome when we entered, asking if we needed help or show us where things were located in case we didn't see them. Lost a second star because despite our purchasing some items there was no mahalo for stopping in. We purchased some beautiful ornaments for next year and some lei that was quite reasonably priced.