Shopping for the Unusual

These new Honolulu stores will appeal to shoppers on a quest for something unusual.

Hound & Quail

“The size forces us to edit,” says Mark Pei of the 200-square-foot shop he co-owns with Travis Flazer. “I spent some time in Tokyo, and I realized you really can use small spaces.” Pei and Flazer’s previous retail venture was a vintage furniture store in Chinatown; their new brainchild offers vintage items, as well as hard-to-find imports and natural history curiosities. The shop feels like you’ve stumbled upon an incredibly cool garage sale, where you might pick up a $2 wisdom-tooth eraser or a $1,500 library cabinet. Or an 18th-century, Belgian wood angel. Or a bat skeleton.

“I like our concept because you don’t know what to expect,” says Pei. “It’s almost anti-shopping. You don’t know what you’re going to get until you go in there. We don’t pigeonhole ourselves with what we carry.” 1400 Kapiolani Blvd., A21, second floor. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 5 to 9 p.m. and by appointment. houndandquail.com. 

Chai Studio

Whenever she traveled to India, Amerjit Ghag’s friends would ask her to shop for them, so she wound up doing small trunk sales. “I was finding beautiful items and I couldn’t fit them into two suitcases,” she says, so she took the plunge and opened Chai Studio. Everything in her dreamlike store has been hand-selected in India by Ghag, from the lanterns to the dowry boxes to the custom-made beds. You’ll find handicrafts including housewares, clothing, jewelry and furniture. “The Island lifestyle is casual, comfortable and colorful, and it can be indoor/outdoor, so I keep that in mind,” Ghag says. 675 Auahi St., 536-4543. chai-studio.com. Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays, 12 to 4 p.m.; and by appointment.

ITO

Hilo’s creative powerhouse family—printmaker Sig Zane, his wife, kumu hula and designer Nalani Kanakaole, and their son, artist Kuhao Zane—will exhibit at Interisland Terminal’s latest contemporary arts presentation. “ITO” will showcase the family’s art and products inspired by the concept of interisland travel (ITO is the airport code for Hilo). Hurry, “because everything will be limited edition and will probably sell out,” says Interisland Terminal’s Wei Fang, who adds that the family will often be at the pop-up shop during the show, held June 2 to June 12. Waikiki Parc, lobby level, 2233 Helumoa Road. The shop is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Monday. interislandterminal.org.