Best of HONOLULU 2025: Shopping on O‘ahu

EDITOR PICK

Trinket Lei

Leave it to Small Kine Gift to take something ordinary and crank up the fun. The Kaimukī boutique has been whipping up fantastical trinket lei ($18) filled with surprising, kooky and giggle-inducing delights. We’re talking everything from tiny toy hands, fruit-shaped erasers and finger traps to dinosaur figurines, bag charms and flower rings. And let’s not forget the snacks, a mix of local favorites such as Haw Flakes, White Rabbit and Hi-Chew. If you’re feeling extra generous, you can even finish it off with a bag of Small Kine Mix, the shop’s insanely good in-house blend of gummy candies, li hing powder and dried lemon peel chunks, or some furikake crunch kettle corn. —BT

3424 Wai‘alae Ave., Kaimukī, small.kine.gift, @smallkinegift

READER PICK

New Boutique

Already popular with Hawai‘i Island shoppers, Coconut Ave opened its first O‘ahu outpost at Ala Moana Center last November. The brainchild of Kelly Pila and Mahealani Gambill, two friends from Hilo High School, the shop is known for its in-house resortwear and sustainable swimwear lines that feature Hawai‘i-inspired prints. Additionally, the shop stocks several small local labels, including Tiare Hawai‘i and Alohiwai. —BT

Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2306, Ala Moana, (808) 809-6963, coconutave.com, @coconutave

EDITOR PICK

Home Scents

One of our editors is smitten with the pīkake. Another raves about the mango-coconut. I’m hooked on the guava nectar. We’d all independently fallen for Jules & Gem Hawai‘i’s delicious home fragrances. Inspired by the aromas of the Islands, the scents come in the form of room sprays, reed diffusers, hand soaps, diffuser oils and phthalate-free soy candles, making it a snap to leave each room smelling better than the next. (Jules & Gem also makes perfumes, lotions, hand sanitizers and other products in the same beloved scents.) —BT 

Ten Tomorrow, 1114 11th Ave., Kaimukī, (808) 591-6219, julesandgemhawaii.com, @julesandgemhi

READER PICK

Pet Shop

Founded in 1984, Kalihi Pet Center has been helping locals care for their animals for 40-plus years. A reader favorite, the store boasts an extensive array of pet products, from food and grooming supplies to toys, gear and health care items. We also like that it stocks local pet labels, such as Pure Aloha Pet Treats, 808 Raw Pet Food, ‘Īlio Dentals and Kanaka Puppy Pads. —BT

1199 Dillingham Blvd., #101, Kalihi-Pālama, (808) 841-5234, kalihipetcenter.net, @kalihipetcenter

EDITOR PICK

Unisex Sunglasses

They’re not flashy, nor clad with monograms. In fact, they’re a bit under the radar (as the coolest things usually are). All of which adds to local sunglass brand Hula’s appeal. North Shore-based designer John Esguerra, who owns vintage store Single Double and formerly helmed the Quality Peoples clothing line, launched the label during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. “I wanted to blend timeless style—sharp details and lasting comfort—with premium quality at an approachable price,” Esguerra says.

Available in playful and classic silhouettes, the shades are made from Mazzucchelli Italian acetate (a plant-based acetate that’s 100% biodegradable and recyclable) and fitted with polarized lenses that offer UV protection. They’re nicely priced at just under $100 (rare for sunnies this well-made) and come in an array of fantastic hues. Done in a smoky olive, the slim, rectangular Ke Nui style feels decidedly fresh. The blue-gray lenses of the Waimea pop against a clear rounded frame. And the mustard yellow Ke‘iki, with its pale green lenses and squared frame, gives off major surf vibes.

Hula doesn’t have a web store, but you can snag a pair in person at Single Double, Oliver Men’s Shop, Number 808, Island-Boy and Mōno. —BT

@hula_eyewear

READER PICK

Swimwear

As a teenager, Tyler King upcycled fishing nets into swimwear for her ‘Iolani classmates. Today, the Native Hawaiian designer channels her passion for sustainability into Tai Swim, her Kailua-based swimwear line for women, men and keiki. Readers undoubtedly appreciate its eco-friendly fabrics, including Repreve, a polyester performance fiber made from recycled plastic bottles, and Vita Carvito, a regenerated SPF 50-plus nylon. We’re particularly fond of its hand-drawn and wood block botanical prints, featuring indigenous species such as white hibiscus, laua‘e and kukui. —BT

taiswim.co, @taiswim.co

EDITOR PICK

Kawaii Goodies

I’ve shopped at Sanrio Surprises since I was a kid, and it’s been a fixture at Kāhala Mall for 40 years, drawing both keiki and adults with all kinds of cute merch. As an officially licensed retailer, the shop specializes in Sanrio characters emblazoned on everything from eco-bags and stickers to bento boxes and blankets. The bestselling character by far is Cinnamoroll (above)—no surprise to those of us who know our Sanrio. You’ll also find other kawaii brands, like Tokidoki, Peanuts and Miffy. —AL

Kāhala Mall, 4211 Wai‘alae Ave., #2080, Kāhala, (808) 732-1668, @sanriokahala

EDITOR PICK

Locally Designed Area Rugs

A good area rug will ground a space; a great one—like those from local textiles label Noho Home—can infuse it with a rich sense of heritage. Native Hawaiian designer Jalene Kanani Bell has a knack for translating elements of Hawaiian culture, such as kalo, crown flower lei, kapa and ‘opihi, into striking abstract motifs. Pair that with earthy hues, luxe yarns, and hand-tufted and hook pile construction, and you’ve set the stage for a meaning-filled, beautifully designed space. —BT

Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 3515, Ala Moana, (808) 779-8576, nohohomehawaii.com, @nohohome