Imagine my delight on my first trip to Hawaii and there's a Donki nearby. The immediate rush of…read moreexcitement filled my veins. The inside is as chaotic and busy as a donki in Japan, although this location (because this is the only location I've been to in Hawaii) seems to be merged with Safeway a bit with the items it held so it's almost double the overwhelming yet still fun to browse and walkthrough. It's bright, it's massive, and I'm sure you can play a mean game of tag inside, but don't. While there was a ton of items that almost swayed me, I only opted for a couple bags of cookies and a little hot wheel for my husband.

My sister took me to lunch and suggested the Wagyu Skewer lunch spot in Don Don Donki. It sounded…read morepretty good, so off we went. The layout of the store is pretty strange, with the entrance on one side, and the exit at the other end of the store by the food court. It forces you to either park near the entrance or exit (or in the middle), and either way, it's gonna be a long walk. We parked near the entrance and went in and found the food court at the other side of the store. The store is fairly large, and offers a huge selection of Japanese foods, snacks, and other specialty products. It was surprisingly empty for a Friday afternoon, but at least we didn't have to wait very long. They have a large counter for sit down dining, along with tables in the middle of the court. The skewers were a petty good size, but the meat wasn't as tender as I had expected. It was a bit stringy, and chewy, but the taste was good. They also provided a Teriyaki style dipping sauce, which had a good flavor. I like that it included both a green salad, and mac salad, and the bed of rice under the skewers were also topped with furikake. For some reason, although it was a take out order, they forgot to include any utensils for the eating salad and rice. The exit is located right by the dining area, so the walk back to the car is quite a distance. I understand that having only one exit reduces the chances of theft, but it's still pretty inconvenient for their "primary" customers, who are probably an older demographic. Maybe that's why they're not as busy as when they first opened?

Overview: Kapolei's first boutique wine / liquor shop. Small with about a tenth of the selections…read moreof the Kaimuki location but at the same prices. Wine - A well chosen cross section of domestic producers with most major varietals represented at all price points. Some old world producers but it's not their thing. The inventory focuses on drinkability with almost no cellar worthy collectables. Beer -OK selection. Liquor - brown libations - A random assortment with some of everything chosen with no rhyme or reason. Some very high end gems available. No cult offerings. Liquor - Minimal. Essentials are represented. Prices: Fair. Domestic wines all at or slightly below MSRP. French and other imported wines all at increased tariff pricing. No pre tariff import stock. Staff product knowledge / service: Above average. They are capable of making recommendations. Friendly and approachable. Conclusion: A convent place for nearby residents to grab libations not offered at Costco or a supermarket for gift giving or personal pleasuring. Those looking for cult libations, collectables, or old world offerings must look elsewhere.

Came on for their varieties of cigar and left with a bottle of Whiskey. Great selection of wine as…read morewell. Defensively coming back check out more. Service was good.

Long Overdue: My First Time at Azuma's (And Why I'm Already Planning My Return)…read moreOkay, I have to be honest with you all -- I've been sleeping on Azuma's. For months, people have been telling me about their dried aku, and I kept saying "soon, soon." Well, soon finally happened, and I have nobody to blame but myself for waiting this long. Now, before I go any further -- yes, I forgot to take photos. I know. I know. But here's the thing: the moment that dried aku hit the table, all my food blogger instincts went completely out the window. It was just me and that fish, and nothing else mattered. The dried aku was everything the hype promised -- deeply savory, with that concentrated, almost smoky flavor you only get when something is made with real patience and skill. The kind of dish that makes you close your eyes after the first bite. Absolutely ono. No notes. Next time -- and there will be a next time, probably very soon -- I'm going in for the laulau. I have a feeling it's going to be just as worthy of the word-of-mouth buzz. Watch this space. Azuma's -- go. Just go.

Just found out about this place from someone we just met in Kapolei, and Azama's will be my go to…read moredried aku and laulau store. The aku may be a little pricey but so worth it...I bought the regular and seasoned flavored and both werethe laulau was very tasty, had just enough salt and love the butterfish & pork, nice portions stuffed in side, the luau leaves were ono as well as a generous amount... Spreading the word

I sent an email inquiring about a cake for my daughter's birthday. Not only did they have a quick…read moreresponse, I ended up calling to see if I could come in to discuss further details about my idea for the cake. Herbert has great customer service. He wrote down everything I had in mind. When I went to pick up the cake, I was so happy how it turned out. Literally how I envisioned it. Let me not forget it tasted really good too! Definitely recommend them. I'll be ordering from them again!

Strawberry cheese cake was excellent. Very friendly staff…read more Lots of free parking. Bakery had a very cozy atmosphere.

We got invited to dinner at Monkeypod Kitchen with a big group of friends and their families, and I…read morehave to say it was such a great experience. The food was absolutely delicious -- very flavorful and surprisingly quick to come out considering the size of our group. Our server was amazing. She was so friendly, attentive, and made everyone feel welcome and special. She explained all the specials very well, and when a few menu items ran out, she was very apologetic and accommodating. I especially loved the rib eye and all the sides that came with the entrée. Everything was packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience with great food, great service, and a fun atmosphere. Would definitely come back again.

Eh, I think this place is hyped more than it should be. Service was ok... some delays in…read moreattentiveness for water refills, etc. The vibe is happening with live music, plenty of options for seating indoors or out. Food wasn't anything spectacular to be real. And prices were as to be expected for the location but truly not worth the meal. One and done, I'm good. Best part of the it all? Watching the train pass by!

We stopped here for some snacks for our hotel as soon as we arrived to Oahu!…read more We were so impressed by this amazing store. There are so many fresh options of local and authentic food! The store was very well kept, the employees were so welcoming, they have super cute bags that i had to bring home a bunch! The prices were really good and i was surprised as how expensive people say food is in Hawaii.

While we were waiting for our hotel room to be ready we decided to head to the grocery store to…read morepick up supplies at the famous Foodland supermarket, which is a must-stop anytime visiting Hawaii. First thing we noticed was that the prices here were way more affordable than Maui. We went to costco beforehand because we didn't want to pay inflated prices for things like water and liquor but honestly it was pretty comparable. Of course we had to get the poke here. They have so many options and flavors that you really can't go wrong. We asked the guy behind the counter what he recommended and he had just made a fresh batch of their spicy poke which was delicious. We also got the californian poke, but that was just alright in comparison to the spicy poke he made. I think the trick here is to just ask what's the freshest and go with that. While the poke gets a lot of love at Foodland, the low key superstar is their fried chicken. Warm, cold, room temperature, it's hella good. We tried their salt and vinegar wings and their garlic fried chicken, and it was some of the best bites on the entire trip. Definitely don't skip out on this on your next trip to Foodland!

Food is great! Service is excellent. The ambiance of the place is lovely, especially if you can…read moresnag a seat on the outdoor lanai. It's cozy and gives you that Waikiki vibe

We're back to our favorite breakfast spot! I love the keto breakfast at Island Vintage! It came…read morewith two eggs, bacon, cauliflower risotto, sautéed mushrooms, asparagus, and fresh greens. Everything was delicious, and the asparagus looked especially fresh, vibrant, and healthy. The combination of flavors made for a satisfying and tasty breakfast. The only disappointment was my latte. I ordered a coffee expecting the beautiful latte art and presentation that Island Vintage is known for, but this time it was missing. The drink itself was fine, but the presentation didn't match my previous visits. Hopefully it was just an off day because I usually enjoy both the food and the coffee experience here..

Came here for first time since I read so many positive reviews. This place is so cute and has so…read moremany cute products. Reminds me of Daiso store. Prices are cheap! Very casual atmosphere and staff are friendly.

Fun and cute place to shop for random cheap stuff! My husband and I enjoyed browsing along all the…read moreaisles and buying a bunch of things. I like how they have an instagram to showcase what is on special sale so we know when to come back! + Every purchase we've made came with gwp(s) so that made us happy!

I woke up bright and early this morning see what this place is all about. I was pleasantly…read moresurprised! Even though there were not many vendors, there were still enough to make me happy. All kinds of fruit and vegetables were available for sale along with fresh poi, filipino pastries, and a variety of fresh herbs. Half of the large parking lot at Kapolei Community Park is closed to allow the vendors to set up. They are all on the basketball court side of the park. Prices were really cheap and the vendors were really friendly. I definitely would go again. I am super happy with a bag of five tomatoes that I picked up for only $2! If you want Thai basil, it is only 50 cents a bunch, and pastries start at only 50 cents among lots of other items. Parking is street parking. There were lots of parking available. One thing though is that this farmer's market is a really early one ending at around 730 or 8 am. Cash only and open only on Sundays. Here's a YouTube video that I made of this place: http://youtu.be/prBcnXp5VI8

First time at this market and I have to echo everything Keri said. Great deals, not as huge a…read moreselection as the Diamond Head market, but the service can't be beat and the prices were out of this world. Among the selections: sweet onions, broccoli, cucumbers, peppers, basil (already made pesto tonight!), oranges, apples, potatoes (all kinds, including purple sweet), beans, lemons, key limes, and apple bananas. I will DEFINITELY be back. One downside is that you have to arrive early (between 7 and 7:30 a.m.). After that, they're getting ready to tear it down, so you almost feel as if you're being rude while they're cleaning up. Be sure to bring smaller bills and even coins. Also, pack some cloth grocery bags or bring a big purse.