Hawaii

[Fabienne]

I have a planned business trip coming up to Hawaii. I know everything is going to be out of reach, but: are there decent men's stores I shouldn't miss, if only out of interest?

 

[globetrotter]

hawaiian shirts....

 

[Fabienne]

hawaiian shirts....

Na, I got him one in Tahiti two years ago (OK, a Tahitian shirt, but they're extremely similar) and he hasn't worn it once. So I appropriated it.

 

[johnnynorman3]

There is a vintage watch shop called TKK or something like that -- might be on Maui, but I'm not sure. Lot's of great vintage Omegas. Do some searching and you'll find it.

 

[JBZ]

Fabienne: If you're going to be in Oahu, I recommend visiting Newt at the Royal, which is located at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki. I am in no way associated with this establishment, I just think it's really nifty. The Waikiki area also has many higher end retail establishments (I don't know how many bargains you'll be able to find, however). I know you said you're not interested in Hawaiian shirts, but Newt is a small specialty store which sells Hawaiian shirts modeled after those which were made in the 1940s and 1950s (at least according to them). They also sell Panama hats (which are quite a bit more expensive than the shirts). My wife and I were in Hawaii for our honeymoon in 2001 (quite original, yes?). I really liked the store (obviously). It is something unique in a place where you can buy a Hawaiian shirt on every street corner. I purchased a shirt which I pull out during the summer months on the weekends from time to time, and it has held up well. They have a website, which is www.newtattheroyal.com. Sorry if I've sounded like an infomercial. Regards, Jeff

 

[Fabienne]

Registrations have not been made yet, but the person in charge of booking my trip said I would most likely stay at that particular hotel. I should be able to visit the store between meetings.

 

[JBZ]

Great.

My wife and I stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki, which is right next door, but we ate a couple of meals at the Royal Hawaiian (very good, as I recall). The hotel is right on the beach.

The only bad thing about Oahu is that there aren't many touristy things to do (other than the Pearl Harbor memorial). However, there are many good restaurants, to the extent you have time. I'm sure the concierge can help. Avoid the Dole plantation. It's the very definition of tourist trap (cheap tee shirts and soft-serve pineapple ice cream).

Have a great trip.

Regards,

Jeff

 

[LA Guy]

Never been there, but I occasionallly order stuff from Aloharag, which is in Honolulu, I think. Great collection of Margiela and similar brands, with an emphasis on casualwear. Very cool - though the prices are standard designer.

 

[Renault78law]

not on topic, but I highly recommed Indigo for happy hour and/or dinner.

 

[drizzt3117]

I was just in Hawaii and just stayed in the Royal Hawaiian, I would highly recommend the hotel. As for shopping, across the street on the main beachfront blvd are Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo, Hermes, YSL, LV, and others. Ala Moana mall, which is a short trolley ride away has even more stores, and is a really nice place to shop, they have live music and a bunch of interesting Japanese stores as well as the normal Prada, NM, Gucci, Chanel, etc.

 

[Fabienne]

I was just in Hawaii and just stayed in the Royal Hawaiian, I would highly recommend the hotel.  As for shopping, across the street on the main beachfront blvd are Gucci, Prada, Ferragamo, Hermes, YSL, LV, and others.  Ala Moana mall, which is a short trolley ride away has even more stores, and is a really nice place to shop, they have live music and a bunch of interesting Japanese stores as well as the normal Prada, NM, Gucci, Chanel, etc.

What is the nature of the Japanese stores?

 

[drizzt3117]

There is a Japanese department store and several boutiques, it's a scaled down version of what you might find in Ginza, but still quite a bit better than what we have here in the US, some interesting electronic items that they don't have on the mainland and other items as well. Also, if you can get a duty free tag (which you won't, coming from the US) they have a duty-free mall across the street from the Royal Hawaiian, you make your purchases then pick them up at the airport, some ridiculously good deals, especially on liquor and other heavily taxed items. I did stopovers on the way to Asia all the time for shopping there.

 

[Fabienne]

Thank you for all this information. I have copied it in my "valuable information from style forum" file before it gets burried so deep I can't find it.