I stumbled on Out to See and walked in to check it out. The staff ended up spending an inordinate…read moreamount of time with me. I mean a crazy amount of time and still remained amazingly patient, kind, and helpful throughout (the last place I got progressives from was a frustrating experience). For my night tinted RX night driving glasses, my needs didn't fit neatly into a box. Cory went the extra mile to find a work-around special order for me and they turned out perfect. I can finally drive at night safely again!! My new progressives are for a desk environment with a laptop closer to me and larger monitors further behind that and they work great! I am so happy to finally have something that works. The customer service is amazing. I have been so frustrated for so many years, that I really don't have words to adequately express my gratitude and relief for their patience, understanding, and willingness to actually help me.

This place is great! Our go to for all our reading glasses and sunglasses. So knowledgeable and…read morethey go the extra mile to make sure we get exactly what we want and need! Cory has the best customer service and does not rush you when he is with you. Dr Lauren is great too! In house eye exams and cares about your vision.

Splash! Hawaii Kailua is my go to slippa store. They have a great selection of not only slippers…read morebut other footwear and accessories.

First time at Splash and I can't wait to go back! Jamie was so helpful and knowledgeable about the…read moreshop! Thank you Jamie!

Keeping it local…read more.. Always passed it but never really stopped by as this Kailua location is right across from Target is easy to spot as it's quite massive having several sections there is quite a bit to see here. Love that they have their own parking lots as well though not a lot of stalls its convenience not to search is always appreciated. What I came for was stickers...love what these local shops have as it's so colorful and creative and finding something different is a challenge but for me was finding them lol as usually you find it in the display case which wasn't the case and as I searched and searched it wasn't on any of the walls or shelves got me confused and wondering if they have any at all. The staff was quite busy as the store was crowded and hand folks lined up to pay I finally found them right against the wall beside the front door lol! Finding unique ones was nice even Kailua ones is cool including the local zip code was nice but I liked the floral prints which they didn't have much of but did have deals on multiple purchase was nice since I was doing that and was thrilled to have some stickers at a great deal as well. Keeping things local is always great and here you're sure to find that and more. Thank you!

I've been coming to HIC in Kailua for years. Every trip back to Hawaii, it's been one of those…read morestores I genuinely looked forward to visiting. Great selection, great surf culture and usually one of the easier stops on our itinerary. This visit completely changed my opinion. My wife wanted to browse, so I stayed toward the back with our two young kids to keep them occupied. We weren't creating a disturbance. We weren't opening merchandise. We were simply waiting while trying to keep two little ones entertained. Instead of feeling welcomed, we felt like we were being watched. Every few minutes it was another "Can I help you?" Not in a genuine, conversational way, but in a way that made it clear we were expected to either buy something immediately or leave. There was no warmth, no personality, no attempt to make the experience enjoyable. Just a room full of employees who seemed completely uninterested in customers beyond getting them out the door. The irony is that surf shops don't just sell T-shirts and hats anymore. Those can be bought online in seconds. What keeps people coming back is the feeling. The culture. The aloha. The sense that you're walking into a place that actually loves where it lives. That feeling was completely absent here. I've spent years happily supporting this store because I believed it represented something uniquely Hawaiian. This visit felt transactional, indifferent and surprisingly cold. The products are still good. The customer experience isn't. Unfortunately, after years of making HIC part of every Hawaii trip, this was the visit that convinced me not to come back.

Oliver is located in the little cluster of shops next to Chad Lou's. It is at the beginning of…read moreKihapai Street, across from Hardware Hawaii. There is metered parking and a small lot in the back. If using the lot, the driveway is one lane for entering and exiting, so be careful. The driveway lane is located to the right of Oliver if facing the shop. Oliver is a men's store. It has a sister store, Olive, on the other side of Chad Lou's. The coffee shop is separating Olive and Oliver. How cute! I come in about every few weeks to check out if there is anything new and exciting. I'm not a man, but they have some really cool items in the store. Besides clothing, there is toothpaste, ceramic coffee cups, wallets, towels, shoes, belts, vinyl records, and more! They often have sales, so I always check out the rack for gifts. My kids love the socks from here. Very stylish. The sales people are always so nice. I can't gush enough about them. Always with a smile, and always ready to answer any questions. This last visit, my teen got into a discussion with the associate about vinyl records and what bands to check out. Also, Oliver will be coming out with a compilation record next month. It will have covers of great hits, but lounge style, but still local. We were lucky enough to hear part of it. I can honestly say I am anxiously waiting for it's release! The customer service, the ease of parking, the unique items sold here make Oliver a favorite local shop for me!

This is one of the best finds in Kailua if not the entire island. Parker has amazing taste and has…read morecreatively curated this amazing little shop. Everywhere you look there are amazing and unique pieces of clothing, hats, small pieces of sculpture, jewelry. He has amassed an impressive collection lot legit vintage jackets (some from France, old military pieces and cool Levi's) and sweatshirts in cool colors with the perfect amount of fade and they are soft and comfy. And one of the coolest things (and I've never seen this before) they will professionally sew one of their vintage patches to their cool jackets or even embroider them, making each piece so personal and one of a kind. This is a special gem and a must see. Next time I will add my review for the ridiculously cool sister shop Olive's. Beautiful women's clothing, jewelry and housewares......

Took my 82 year old dad here for an eye appointment and also had an appointment myself and I was…read morereally impressed with the staff and Dr Cherilyn Lai. They have this cool retina scanner that you can pay extra for to get a better map of it, seemed pretty nifty! Dr Lai was very helpful and patient with any questions I had and everyone was really professional and nice with us. Their COVID practices seemed good too. Would highly recommend this place and intend to go here regularly for our yearly checkup! Oh one other thing, I have a weird issue with the drops that dilate your pupils. In the past when i got them I would be dilated and spacey looking for 48 hours. I told Dr Lai this and she used much weaker drops and it helped a lot! My appointment was at 10am and by 10pm my eyes were almost back to normal which is a huge improvement from other times. Thanks!!

My hubby and I come here once a year for our yearly eye exam and new set of glasses. They are…read morealways professional and helpful at the front desk, reminding us of our yearly checkups and they have a decent variety of frames from all the name brands and economy brands. I still wear the one Gucci brand frames most of time, from this office. If you need a stable consistent eye care office, check out this one!

Love this place! Post COVID I REALLY needed an eye exam,…read morecontacts, and glasses and found my way to Island Girl Eyecare. I'd been suffering from eye allergies and having some minor issues as well. The whole experience was a fantastic- everything from making your appointment to doing your new patient paperwork and submitting insurance cards can be done online right from your phone. When I arrived I was treated just like family. Thanks so much Island Girl- this girl can SEE now.

Good experience! Owner is a little chatty but sweet - only noting for those who might be trying to…read moresqueeze this in on a lunch break like me, it was not a quick appointment - though that's not a bad thing. Limited but modern selection of glasses. Nice waiting area and kids play area. Get there early for parking. I went on a random middle of the week day and was still challenging to park. Glasses came in a few days.

Island Snow Kailua: Great Shave Ice and Some Wonderful Memories!…read more BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Island Snow has been a Kailua favorite of mine for years, and it was wonderful to visit again! They offer a terrific selection of shave ice flavors, including several all-natural options, and there's plenty of shaded seating outside to enjoy your treat. My biggest recommendation? Get your shave ice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream underneath. It's worth it! The Details: I have some really fond memories of Island Snow going back to when I lived in Kailua's Enchanted Lakes neighborhood. On weekends, my son Zack and I would hop on our bicycles and ride over from our house on Alahaki Street for shave ice. It was a fun little adventure for the two of us, and having a delicious treat waiting at the end of the ride certainly didn't hurt! Zack is now 31 years old, which is pretty hard for me to believe! Where did all those years go?! Coming back after so much time was a wonderful trip down memory lane. The Shop: Island Snow has grown quite a bit since I used to visit. In addition to the shave ice counter, there's now a beach apparel shop offering shirts, hats, shorts, flip-flops, and other beachwear. The shave ice shop itself is bright and clean, with a large menu and a colorful assortment of flavored syrups behind the counter. And there are a LOT of flavors to choose from! You'll find everything from traditional favorites to some interesting Hawaiian-inspired combinations. The Shave Ice: One thing we particularly appreciated was the selection of all-natural flavors. Rather than choosing from the traditional syrups, we decided to make ours entirely from the natural selections. Natural options included Laie Lilikoi, Pupukea Lychee, Pineapple Orange, Pua POG, and Haiku Haupia. Our shave ice was a refreshing treat, especially after spending time outside in the warm Hawaiian sunshine. Now, here's a little advice from someone who's enjoyed his share of Hawaiian shave ice over the years. Pay the extra money and get a scoop of vanilla ice cream underneath! As you work your way through the shave ice, the flavored ice melts into the vanilla ice cream, creating a delicious combination that's almost as enjoyable as the shave ice itself. Seriously, don't skip the ice cream! A Nice Place to Relax: Another thing I like about this location is the outdoor seating. There are several benches beneath the shade trees, making it easy to find a comfortable spot to sit and enjoy your shave ice. After picking up our treats, we headed outside to relax in the shade. Nothing fancy, just a nice little place to enjoy something cold on a warm afternoon. Final Thoughts: It was great returning to Island Snow after all these years. The shop may have expanded, and my little boy is now a grown man, but the simple pleasure of enjoying a good Hawaiian shave ice hasn't changed a bit. If you're in Kailua, stop by, pick a few flavors, add that scoop of vanilla ice cream, and find yourself a shady bench. And if you've got your kids along, enjoy the moment. You never know which little outings they'll remember, or which ones you'll still be smiling about 30 years later. Aloha!

@fortunefoodfinds: "You already SNOW where I'm going after a beach day in Lanikai! Chose flavors…read moreLanikai Lychee, Groovy Guava, n' Pina Colada while it already comes with a scoop of Dave's vanilla ice cream on da bottom n' I add Nisshodo Mochi + a Snowcap. A cold n' cool treat from Island Snow, come on let's go!" SERVICE: friendly n' fully staffed INTERIOR: half merch store, half shave ice shop EXTERIOR: located in the same plaza as Bob's Pizzeria WAIT TIME: 15-20 mins between getting in line to receiving order PARKING: free lot that gets filled up quickly OVERALL COMMENTS: L.O.V.E. stopping by Island Snow after going to Kailua or Lanikai Beach. They offer many syrup flavors n' I like having ice cream n' mochi with my shave ice. The snowcap is the finishing touch. This is perfect on a hot day n' is always satisfying!

Sometimes traveling farther isn't a bad thing…read more Living in town and going over the mountain to Kailua Town isn't something that I do often, but I wanted it done right Aloha Friday Wheelworks is definitely my choice. Everything from frame up rebuilding to any repair you might think of. Mike is really thorough in everything he does and it definitely shows in his work. He makes sure the customer is happy and takes pride in his work, which is not a given nowadays. I brought my bike in to have some work done with a front fork once and a broken spoke recently. I'm always impressed and very pleased how it was professionally repaired, very meticulous and knowledgeable. Aloha Friday Wheelworks also carries a good variety of topshelf supplements and suppies for runners and cyclist. Also AFW has a weekly Thursday run for runners. You can check it out by following him on IG @alohafridaywheelworksrunningco and you'll see the post come up on stories. If you want it done right by someone who knows his stuff and will go the extra mile, Mike at Aloha Friday Wheelworks is place to go to. SUPPORT LOCAL as shops like these are a Diamond in the ruff. 5 Stars easily!

Owner Mike at Aloha Friday helped to fit me on my new Cervelo road bike after severe backpain after…read moreparticipate in a long bike race. He had me sit on my bike and used precision tools to fit me at certain angles as I am riding on the bike under his watch. As it turned out, my angles were off, and my legs were not exactly aligned. No wonder I had more pain in the right side. Now I am so happy not to have any back pain after riding for 3-hours pushing at least 130 watts. I am thankful for Mike's help, and appreciate the professionalism and care he showed by following up after my bike fitting, making sure that the bike fits well. Be sure to contact Mike ahead of time for bike fittings appointments. Also, every Friday there is a community run of 4-5 miles starting from the store that sounds like a fun social event to participate in. The store also supplies top of the line nutrition for triathlon, clothing, fuel, shoes, sunglasses, camel pack. Highly recommend.

Just had the greatest shopping experience at Target - Kailua. (Hope I don't jinx myself and my…read morepurchases!) I bought a microwave oven. On sale. What made this experience so great was: 1. So many shipping carts all appearing to be in great working condition. 2. Every worker greeted me with a "good morning" or a "hi" or "do you need help". 3. Anyone I asked for help was cheerful and an employee walked me to the location I was looking for 4. The app was accurate as to the location of the product 5. Store was clean and neat (I worked at another retail store and I know how "fronting" of shelves takes time and effort. 6. Another employee rushed to help me put the microwave in my cart and then checked to make sure that the barcode was available for the cashier to scan. 7. Cart return station was overflowing with carts when I arrived but less than 30 minutes later it was cleared by employees when I returned to my car. (Unlike many other stores.) Downside (not the employees' issue): 1. Displays in the aisles make it difficult to navigate with those large Target carts 2. Parking lot full. 3. I nearly got hit by a car that didn't stop as he cane out of an aisle.

Okay, I have to admit I shop at Walmart waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than Target, but what led me…read morehere today is because after doing work at a local financial institution (just next door from Target), I actually had to use Target's restroom to wash my hands after touching multiple bags of coins (your hands actually become black from touching a lot of coins). After using Target's very clean restroom, I thought I'd walk around & check out the Kailua Store. Making a small observation.......... ever noticed that Target's store layout is pretty similar to the other Target stores in da 808??? I guess this is kinda neat, as it makes it easier to find things in the store. I noticed that the Kailua Target store also had a Starbucks coffee shop, & a Pizza Hut within the store. I really didn't have anything to buy today, but while browsing around, I came across some DEALAGES on a microwave oven. DARN! I just bought a new microwave oven for my dad, as his microwave had broke down recently. Guess where I bought my microwave??? Yes gangies..........Walmart! And ya know what???? Target actually had a better sale price on the microwave, as the microwave I bought on sale at Walmart was ($60.73 w/tax). I guess Walmart doesn't always have da best DEALAGES! Lol! The Kailua Target store is very spacious & clean. A very nice store to visit, should you need groceries, or any other item.

We are a veteran family of six here on vacation for the first time. When working through the Marine…read moreCorps Base travel agency, Aaron's dive shop came to the very top. Now we can see why. The whole team was incredible. We had all levels of divers from Discovery scuba, working on open water certification, and myself, an already certified diver who last dive was some mumbley years ago. Our instructors and divemasters were fantastic. Francesca and Brian are an incredible team. They made everybody feel comfortable with every level of diving that they were at. Both were incredibly knowledgeable, easygoing, and were even able to put up with our family dynamics, as they are. We were all laughing for a good part of the day. That I find incredibly important--giggling and trading stories, being comfortable with the people you're diving with. Once the dive started, they both were 100% professional, easygoing, and incredibly knowledgeable, helping all of us make memories that will last a lifetime. Even our boat skipper was fantastic. Quick ride out. Incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the diving, but told us about local places we could go, things that we need to make sure that we see. Was incredibly helpful getting in and out of the water. Skipper gets five stars as well. Folks, I can't recommend this place enough. If you're going to go scuba diving, snorkeling--beginner or advanced--this is the place to go. Geo aka James Bond.

The BEST customer service!! I went in the buy new foot pockets for fins I bough somewhere else…read more Instead of just selling me new foot boxes, they had me bring in my fins try them on and explained how they are supposed to fit. I didn't need new foot boxes at all. Just some education and a sock for comfort. I will be shipping here for all future dive needs.