Happy New Year... As…read morewe approach 2026 so did Shop Toast which used to have a shop in Kaimuki is not online though will do curbside as well was here at the New Year's 'Ohana Festival at JCCH to celebrate the culture of how we celebrate the Japanese New Year. Sticking with the theme the best in my opinion with adorable wooden boxes in the shapes of the kagami mochi stacks, wooden zodiac animal charms and what really really caught my eye was their fortune cookie coin purse which was so thoughtfully crafted to include a fortune in each one is so cool. The unique items they have is what I love and it was nice to meet the crafters behind it along with seeing all the items they carry on hand versus online is more my thing but now know some of their items since I've seen them will give their site a visit for more unique finds and to support this cute local small biz. Thank you!

This is a cute little shop that sells awesome gifts that are locally crafted. The main items are…read morehandmade kokeshi gift boxes handmade by Jeremy, the owner of Shop Toast. There are also other knick knacks, from magnets, keychains, and cake toppers to picture frames and the awesome Loco Moco Belly t-shirts. This is a tiny shop with a lot going on. I ended up getting a wooden pineapple-shaped desk calendar for the new year as well as a shaved ice magnet to take home. Cheers to a fabulous first visit at Shop Toast.

Shopping in Downtown, Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. What does JNBTQ stand for? I don't know. I Googled it and searched for it on Instagram. Nothing. Anyway, we had parked across the street at Ali'i Place and walked over to JNBTQ Toys Gift and Accessories where I took a long time to look at everything! According to a previous Yelp review, this space used to be Chit Chat Sundries. I have visited a long time ago! Gosh - there's such a variety of merchandise here! From clothing, greeting cards, and backpacks to snacks, costume jewelry, and plushies, there's something for everyone! I feel like this store is filling in the gap that Ross, Macy's, Hopaco, Longs, and Walmart left when they closed up shop in Downtown. The children's items (like lunchboxes) may be for parents who work nearby and don't have time to shop after work. There were so many cute things, including Hello Kitty, Miffy, Labubu, Pikachu, and Stitch! I'll be back!

Just Nothing But The Qutest…read more.. That's how I'd remember this shop as we stumbled upon it walking in the Bishop Square area that's filled with various eateries there was this store you can't miss with window display filled with various cuteness and you know I had to see what else they have as well. The first thing that came to mind is I felt like I was shopping at an airport shop as it's filled with various Hawai'i souvenirs, luggage, various plushies and some grab and go food as well. With items for kids and adults I find myself looking at various cellphone accessories from phone holders to charging cords, some cute blind boxes and yes even some Labubu tucked away in display cases. So much to see in one shop and is a cool and practical spot if you're ever in need for a gift or yourself as the items found here is unique and fun. Thank you!

Sanrio surprises! There's a lot of Sanrio, Sailor Moon, and other fun anime merchandise. There's…read morerandom anime yukata, face masks, phone cases and yes, charms. I like their little collectibles and half the shop is a candy store. The pricing is to be expected for imported goods so expect it to be a little expensive but not many shops in Hawaii carry what they have. The cashier is always friendly and sometimes they do have a cute dog inside. Unfortunately the setup can be difficult to walk through because they have tubs of merchandise on the floor and tables. Just be careful not to knock anything over!

A hidden treasure! Lots of everything for a special gift(s). Located at the City Square Plaza in…read moreKalihi. Also, Judy's Shop. All various kinds of crack seed and treats. Check out the photos for more. Go check them out and you don't want to miss their specials,

Fun and cute…read more.. That's what you hear me saying as I browsed through this cozy shop. Located in Marks Building I noticed this shop as I finished mailing a package and since i found metered street parking decided to give them a browse. As soon as I walked in and obviously seen it from outside is some Hello Kitty merchandise and decided that i had to give them a browse all very selected and not seen at many places is something that i browsed carefully. Of course not limited to Sanrio characters but some Disney and Pokémon as well. Lots of Funko Pops in the back wall all displayed with care i can see this shop is a collector's dream as i also notice some Pokémon Legos that I really wanted but no did not need making this shop a fun place to shop for that hard to find items. The staff here was nice as I browsed around with many of the items are collectors dream the prices actually are quite nice and with the Pokémon Championship coming into town places like this is a gem and a great place to shop at and many must scavenge around here as I can see why. Thank you!

More and more Funkos!! This craze is never ending, especially with Marvel/Disney pumping out…read moreanything and everything. You see Funkos everywhere, but there's only a few places where you can buy and sell, and this store might be the only ones that carry brand new Funkos as well. Let's welcome a new store to Hawaii that keeps us adults young at heart, The Scavenger's Vault. I first saw this store when I went to Mei Sum across the street as I saw a wall of Funkos through the clear glass. I had no idea what exactly it was, but someone posted about this store, and I was there the next day! The Scavenger's Vault is a small Funko specialty store that really has a wide variety of items that are brand new, hard to find, and probably some secondhand. You won't know it because ALLLLL the Funkos are specially encased in a quality plastic case with the store's name imprinted on top. Immediately there, you can see the care and pride the owners take for their items. Everything was super organized, clean, and easy to see. All the prices are very fair. Better than other places. And the variety is better! Better than the "other" store 5 minutes away. I seriously never bought anything from that store after several visits, but on my first visit to The Scavenger's Vault, I bought something! The owners are very friendly and nice, and kindly explained to me their business. They also have a stall at the Aloha Stadium swap meet and participate in various events. Overall, this store is awesome. Owners are great, and take pride and care for their Funkos. I really want to go again, but I do need to cut back on this stuff lol.

Shopping in Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I saw an intriguing program on television last night. Note: I hardly watch TV, so this program was quite special! The purpose of the Mana Up Showcase 2025 was to give ten local entrepreneurs and four local musicians/singers a chance to introduce themselves and their small business. I truly enjoyed learning about how these businesses started; how they chose their names; how these entrepreneurs get their ideas; etc. The audience got to vote online for their favorite in each category. Entrepreneurs: 1. Arlie Glass 2. Oribe Tea Company 3. Maoi Swim 4. Aloha Spice Company 5. Keani Hawai'i 6. Paper Crane Soaps 7. Sugar Caddy 8. The Keiki Dept 9. Kauai Gourmet Nuts 10. Daguzan Charcuterie Musicians/Singers: 1. Wehilei 2. Keahi Delovio 3. Sidney Spencer 4. Anthony Pfluke I'm not an online shopper. I wanted to go to the store, House of Mana Up, to see/touch/feel/smell the products in person. Located at South Shore Market, the House of Mana Up was clean, well-organized, bright, and pleasantly air-conditioned. The merchandise was from more than the ten featured Entrepreneurs on the television program. I recognized Ulu Mana and the Hawaiian Chip Company. I didn't know about the other companies and products. Service was very helpful and friendly! The manager knew exactly what I was looking for and told me that the featured companies will be stocking the South Shore Market store soon. These products are sourced locally and can be ordered online. I just wanted gifts to send to the mainland. It's a convenient one-stop shop for gift giving! I appreciate the free, covered parking! I will be back!

Yay! Another House of Mana Up location, right here at South Shore in Ward!…read more Beautifully designed, well appointed, and quite the spacious store, it's filled with products from the Mana Up Cohorts, including the newest, some of which are shown in this "unboxing"! Imagine the joy of browsing the store, curating a thoughtful set of gifts, and delivering a House of Mana Up box similar to the photo (and yes, they have several different sizes) - to someone special, your family, or, yourself! You could also save yourself some time and call on their corporate gift team to help you curate your own client gift box! Imagine the joy of your recipients as they open their gifts! Carefully packaged, along with the bio card of each company, highlighting the story behind their business. The quality, presentation, and value are evident, and you KNOW you're supporting a LOCAL business here in Hawai'i. And the service? Clearly the pride in work quality is evident just in the packaging - I wish I took a picture of all the boxes awaiting pick up! But I also asked many questions of the staff, and all were answered with a smile, and if research was needed, a quick follow up ensued. From home goods, skin and body care, tea, coffee, and specialty beverages, a variety of food and snack products, clothing, and even a huge children's section, you'll surely find something for everyone on your gift list. (And be honest, something or two, just for yourself!) Enjoy browsing, learning about the new products, how and why they were made, tasting (yes!), and shopping up a storm - you'll be glad you stopped by!

"Children who read become adults who think"…read more This simple, but thought provoking statement, is painted above the interior door as you exit the shop. Da Shop is filled with books written by local authors and more. A great place to pick up a children's book, multiple genres of literature or a book about Hawai'i. It's air conditioned inside so you can meander and check out the book and gifts selections in comfort. Great service here as well. I picked up a children's book on counting up to ten in Hawaiian. I hope my gran niece enjoys it. The book was very reasonably priced. There is no on site parking for customers. You will need to find street parking.

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.

Is this place even still open? Well, I've only been here a…read morefew times to get a planner and see what cute stuff they have. The Korean lady, I'm assuming was the owner kept following me around as I hear they do to a lot of people. It made me feel really uncomfortable and not wanting to shop here. I couldn't even look at anything without here commenting on it.

Although I ended up making a purchase, I felt uncomfortable. I was the only customer in the store…read moreat the time. The lady working there was nice but kept following my every move. I'm not sure if it was for anti-theft or to secure a sale. I'll probably return when I need a new planner but not to just browse.

Trying to get creative ideas for Christmas gifts for our mainland friends and came across this…read morelocal owned & run business here in Kaimuki !! They are in the little atrium up the stairs by the Himalayan Restaurant ... super cute signs, ornaments, and they do custom orders as well !!!! I got 3 ornaments for $10, a Aloha 3D sign, and one of their monsterra leaves ! I'll definitely be back and look forward to doing a Family sign and have some of my favorite Bible verses made up with a set background The owners were all very nice and I hope you go check them out in person and online ....@giftsbytheseahawaii on Instagram

So, while surfing the Internet, I came across this art that caught my interest. Took a peek at…read moretheir locally made products, and contacted the shop. I ordered on a Wednesday, and picked this up on Saturday early afternoon. Although it's looks simplistic, there's time, thought and quality put into the product. Upon picking up my purchase, I had the opportunity to meet the Owner(s) , who are truly SUPAH NICE! We talked story small kine, but their ALOHA! OMG! We all had masks on due to present situation, but if you saw their eyes, you could only imagine those big beautiful smiles behind da masks! BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE I've posted my pic of my purchase, and recommend support local -808-, they have other wares that they make, worth your while to stop in! Located In Kaimuki, and afternoon you walk out with a purchase, plenty of ono places to grindz, jus' steps away, literally! Stop in, and check these beautiful souls out!!!