Not many book stores left. So I can safely say this is THE BEST! LOL. Lot's of books and magazine selections plus a Starbucks. Got a couple of magazines and slices of cheesecakes to go. Cheesecakes were a disappointment, small slices and I've had much better from the supermarket. read more

Rated A-OK simply for lack of any competitors. But this location has some serious flaws. For one, there were hardly any personnel working the floor. It's tough to recall the last time I was in any store and had to look so long for some help, and this was because the books I was seeking were stocked in the wrong section. Additionally, the displays for the most part are stacked higher than the aisle names. In other words, if you're looking for the current events or biographies sections, you have to look down every single aisle because there is too much decoration blocking the views. Otherwise, it was generally simple to get what I needed at the typical Honolulu price gouge rates. read more

Wiiiiiiide selection of books. I love the lighting in this bookstore, dim, but still can read books. they just don't have the study guide I was looking for yesterday. but that's not a problem. for bookworms, if you get tired of shopping, stick around here and glance at the books! read more

I love love love books and hate that ebooks/online books are taking over. There's something about holding the pages and rummaging through shelves and shelves of literature to find a new good read that can't be beat. Barnes & Noble is just about everything you need in a bookstore; clean, organized, quiet and tons of options. Also theres a in-store Starbucks coffee shop with the most amazing sandwiches and Cheesecake Factory desserts! Need I say more? The only reason that this review is short a star is because I haven't really had the best experiences with their customer service. I always have a hard time finding employees when I have a question and I notice they're always chitchatting with one another even with customers waiting patiently nearby waiting to be noticed or for a good moment to interrupt. The cashiers have always been very pleasant and quick, same goes for the workers in the coffee shop. No complaints there! I wish they'd open a location on the Leeward side! read more

Having lived just one stop light away from this Barnes and Noble, I'm indeed a fan. I spent nearly everyday of my pregnancy at this location, reading and sipping on decaf coffee, and I loved every single minute of it. The staff is friendly and helpful, both in the cafe and in the actual store. My only complaints are that the cafe gets so crowded and the wifi doesn't hold up throughout the entire store, only in the cafe area. Tip: If you go often enough, the membership is absolutely worth it. It pays for itself if you buy even a handful of books a year. read more

Normally I like Barnes and Noble, and even have a membership in their book club. It costs a little but I fully retrieve it and then some as I buy a few books every time I walk in. But yesterday I was going to purchase some hats as buy one, get one free. The lady at the cash register said just come back tomorrow, the sale would still be on, as I was pressed for time. I did, but the price had changed to full price! Of course, the lady that had worked the day before was not there. Unfair! No wonder Amazon is doing so well selling books! read more

This is the Ala Moana Shopping Center location. Overall a pretty large store and I havent had too many problems trying to find any book that I need. The only downside is sometimes it gets pretty crowded and parking around that store is limited. A nice walk from the basement parking is always nice. 365 Challenge: #52/365 read more

It's Christmas shopping time and I'm in a thirty customers deep line with no one to be seen in the book store while raw sewage and car exhaust is all we smell. This is why you guys suck! read more

There is nothing this store doesn't have The staff are both knowledgable as well as helpful. Broad DVD and blu ray varieties. Cafe is a welcome option read more

This shop is a dying breed as book stores are slowly going away with the advent of online shopping. With Amazon and eBay being the go-to for convenience and price it is getting harder and harder for brick-and-mortar stores. I did find a cd on sale here for less than the cost of buying it online. I snapped it up. A good brand new cd for $4.99 is hard to come by and I found one here. Why don't they have bargain bins for $3 cd's? I'm sure they have cd's that are not selling and could go on clearance. Maybe they do but I haven't seen it in all the times I have come here. I'm more apt to go upstairs to Bookoff to purchase cd's and books as used items is the green way to go. But I did find a cd that I've always wanted and it was basically five bucks which is what a lot of used cd's go for upstairs so I'm happy. I do like the appealing appearance of the store. But a lot of the books and cd's here are just too expensive for my taste. My friend stood at the kiosk and waited a while for assistance but no one showed up. They just lost a sale as he finally decided to just leave empty handed. read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love coming here because it's a nice break away from the hustle and bustle of the mall crowd. It's tucked away on the lower level makai side of the mall in what use to be J.C. Penny a long, long time ago. Lol. It's a huge space! They have every type of book or genre you can think of. If you're looking for a particular book, you can just go right to the little customer service booth in the center of the store. The checkout line is never really a long wait, which I love. What's great is they always have tons of bargain books and other things you might need to get your thoughts or ideas out to the world like notebooks, stationary, and office supplies. Another great thing about this Barnes and Nobles is their store hours. They're open daily from 9 A.M. to 11 P.M. When almost everything else in the mall closes at 9 P.M., they're still open! I love that they have a Starbucks in there too! The best part of this Starbucks is that they offer food that you can't get at your neighborhood Starbucks. They have different cupcakes (my fav is the chocolate), Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes, pastries, and hot sandwiches for something more filling. It's a little bit more pricier than most Starbucks, but I don't mind paying the few extra cents for delicious food. If you want a quick break from the mall crowd, come to this Barnes and Noble! read more

This place is huge!!! I would come here almost everyday when I lived in Waikiki as a teenager. This place always had the books and manga I was looking for. It also had ample seating, so I could relax while I read. Overall, you can't go wrong with this place. read more

I love going to a bookstore. I have a kindle and even use audible but there is just something about opening a book and flipping pages. I've gone to B&N quite a few times while I was still in school getting my bachelors degree to get some good History books to keep and also for something fun to read. B&N offers a membership and as long as you remember your phone number you don't need to take your card. All the times coming here I haven't had any issues. I like that they have the information desk to ask questions or just browse. I like getting the books on the Hawaiian Islands. They also have the clearance section that is nice to browse because they always have a variety of books. The store is always clean and plenty of people are they every time I am there. They do have a Starbucks café but it isn't affiliated with the Starbucks rewards program. They serve a variety of desserts too. Throughout the store they have chairs to sit in and read your book if you would like. They have a huge area for children and teenagers too. I like that they label the sections but sometimes it can seem like a maze so I never hesitate to stop by the information desk. They also sell toys and games which can be fun if you are looking for a specific card game, they may have it! Going through the check out line they have all kinds of small gifts and trinkets to look at and add to your purchase. read more

My favorite place. When I want to concentrate on my work on a laptop, I can go there and get away from the noise at home. It's a upper scale version of library. Much more with new books and and quietness. There is Starbucks inside with free wifi so, perfect place to sit down and work on your own project. read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I really like the children's area. I think it has a perfect variety of books for my 3 and 5 year old. The reason for the 3 stars is that the books I'm most interested in, Native American and Latino culture, only have a selection of 20 books total to choose from. read more

Barnes & Noble - Liking the children's section. - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I never cared for the library nor a darn bookstore where people would actually pay for a book but ever since bookstores have been closing, I was actually happy to see and go inside Barnes and Noble. To see my kids excited walking into a bookstore was refreshing. Great atmosphere, lots of books to choose from. I hope this store stays open longer than Macy's does. Thank you for giving the next generation a chance to see an actual bookstore. Sad how hard it is to find a great place like this to hang. read more

Friendly, able staff Popular study hangout Needs more restrooms, though read more

Wow surprised this book store is still around in this day and age of ordering online. I remember when this was Borders. I really love bookstores though. This one was very well organized and I found what I needed. The restroom is clean. I also saw a bunch of games I want to come back and buy for Christmas. They had gift wrapping for donations too which I took advantage of and donated $5 for 2 books. We had coffee at Starbucks while we waited. read more

I love this Barnes & Nobles in Ala. I have no idea why it's my favorite. Well, it's easy to find books. There's Starbucks. Convenient location... Actually, every Barnes & Nobles has that. So um. Yeah. It's pretty awesome. Every time I go to any Barnes & Nobles, anywhere, I have no problems whatsoever. Maybe it's just me? Anyway, bookworms that munch on recent stories, go ahead and walk in. You probably won't regret it. read more

Very helpful with information on looking for certain books. Coffee shop - great drinks. read more

This place is where my son likes to come and buy books. However beware you can't sit on the floor in the kids lounge. It's "company policy". So when you come here don't sit on the floor even if the seats are taken. They'll kick you out! read more

The one star is for the drink and food concession (not for the bookstore which is cool). Posted " closing hours" are until 10 p.m. I had not eaten all day so I went to the coffee bar and wanted to order a turkey and brie sandwich. Large haole guy with a bit of an attitude tells me "sorry the ovens are closed down." It was 9:05. Seriously?! You can't keep the "oven" (what is it a microwave?) on until at least 30 minutes before closing? And where's the sign stating that there are no sandwiches after 9? Or is it 8? 7? I put my drink back they're not getting any money from me tonight! read more

This is a great bookstore and I can spend hours in here! It's nice and organized and the selection is pretty good. I love to just browse while munching on a pretzel from the cafe. (Spinach and Feta stuffed! ^_^) The only problem that I have is that there aren't many seats anymore. Sometimes I just lean on the shelves whenever I am flipping through some books.-_- The only seating available is a few wooden chairs, the reading area in the children's section and the cafe (when I am actually having something from there.) read more

I don't understand why B&N did not accept my HSTA membership card as proof that I am a teacher.

Say no more. A bookstore is a rare find nowadays and I'm thankful Barnes and Noble is keeping their Ala Moana store open...for now. I used to enjoy going to the "other" guy's bookstore in the neighborhood, but ever since they closed up shop, it hasn't been the same. So whenever I'm at Ala Moana, I make it a point to stop by and support them. Reading a "book" through "glass" and not actually holding it in your hand just isn't fun. To be able to stick a bookmarker in it and lay it down by your nightstand is something I miss. Perusing through the magazine section is also something that I'd miss if they went away. Being an avid Aviation fan, this is one of the few places one can come to pick up the latest copy of Airliner World, Classic Fighters, Combat Aircraft, etc. You can also pick up a copy of one of my favorites, Soldier of Fortune! Also, for all of us Classic Muscle Car enthusiasts, magazines abound for us! There is something for everyone here. If you like cooking, go to the cookbook section! Tons of titles... Planning a trip? Check out the travel section! If you want to spend a leisurely afternoon relaxing, reading a book and sipping on some coffee, this is the place for you. Let's all support, hope and cross our fingers this bookstore stays here, because if they go, it just won't be the same anymore... read more

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Really- the internet has not destroyed book- yet. How many book stores, record stores and CD shops have closed since the internet here in Honolulu? Here really is my last stand for a normal book/ dvd store. (I mean within walking driving distance for me.) I really appreciate that BN is still here on Oahu- they have some great reads like the childrens reading for the keiki and some authors expecailly local authors every now and them. I appreciate that it is one of tte few bathrooms on this side of Ala Moana mall- I kinda do not like the new mall bathrooms. Starbucks in the BN is almost always busy- there are only a few chairs compared to how many people want to sit and drink Starbucks- and then there are those that just read there a BN book or stuff. Sometimes- there are some people that will allow others to sit at the same table if there are more chairs- sometimes these folks are homeless and just keeping it on the down low that they have a step up from the library and read new books- then leave them on the back tables at starbacks. I don't like this much but thought it way odd when 2 individuals told me this - ok....... Still- I find it great to look at the new fictions, sci fi and other modern novels. I really like the selection. Still a great way to find new authors and find the latest books out- I am still hoping for more Harry Potter series books from JK (I have not read her other novel about a England village something- but I would read in a heartbeat a new HP book) I think it is awesome when BN has midnight events for new book releases- hoping again for a new HP book release event. Conclusion- book stores are really important- we should keep them and patronaize them when we can and learn learn learn, followed by read read read. read more

Ok, so more than half of this store is no longer BOOKS, but rather: gifts, accessories, toys, collectibles, bags, chocolates, water bottles, notebooks, electronic devices, yoga gear, and other stuff. Basically, the US is trending towards FRICKEN ILLITERACY & Hawai'i shoppers happily take part. {Sadface.} Lemonade out of I-no-read lemons, folks-- 1. You can get their book bags, usually smartly designed in various fashion styles, discounted, in the "clearance" aisle near the back of the store. Watch those displays, 'cuz occasionally, they have solid, still-trendy bags which can carry books and/or laptops/iPads, on sale at up to 50% off. Also if you're super cheap, the seasonal holiday goods end up here, too. So buy your Val's Day present in March, then save it 'till next February. :) Unless it's chocolate; nobunny want no old chocos. 2. A lot of GREAT books often eventually make their way towards the discount shelves/tables near the cash registers. So perusing these regularly is a must. 3. The film/TV section often has sales, especially the Criterion Collection--when those Blu-Rays get discounted, watch out! 'Tis seriously good stuff. Get yer hot fresh foreign films guys! Also, behind that cash register, they post which new DVDs/Blu-Rays are coming out when, so it's a nice place to keep track of these things, if you're not doing so, on your own. 4. Staff are generally friendly, available, and knowledgeable/helpful. My guess is, all the fired/laid off workers/managers from the old Borders, Waldenbooks, Honolulu Book Shop, Revolution Books, Rainbow Books, and other defunct biblio-venues, all ended up here. And are now forced to sell lifestyle goods at one of our few remaining retail outlets which USED TO specialize in reading materials. {Sigh} read more

I wish I could give one review for the store and one for the bathroom. Ick! The two times we have been in here and had to use the bathroom (once taking our 2 year old that is potty training) the bathrooms are disgusting. I would rather pee on a bush then go in this joint. Hold on HPD... I said I would rather, I didn't actually pee on a bush. I couldn't find one. I drove all the way home doing the potty dance. When we took our daughter here the bathroom was so gross that my husband told my daughter to pee in her pullup which regressed her potty training for a week. Made me so mad! When I went there Saturday evening there wasn't one piece of TP in the entire bathroom. Definitely something you need to work on. I would give this place a 4 star for customer service and cleanliness of the store. I ended up with the Barnes and Noble membership for 1 year. $25 and you save 10%. That's even on the cafe. I bought 4 books. Saved $5! At the cafe I bought Orange Creamsicle Cheesecake from Cheesecake factory. Utterly amazing. I had never seen this flavor before and had to try it. We devoured it. read more

The best place to chill out after dealing with bad customer service at a Petco. The staff in the book section are relaxed and knowledgeable, and the baristas made me a great drink. read more

Great place for books, bad bathrooms. Who can blame them with all the bums that float in and out thinking it's a place to bathe? For all those people who complain that you can't sit on the floor of the establishment, it is not just a company policy, it is the law! If there is a fire alarm going off at the store and you are trampled because someone is panicking and running towards the front of your store, you're going to blame the poor employees for not telling you that IT IS A FIRE HAZARD! Also, there are a ton of the employees coming in and out with big carts full of books, so don't blame them if they squash you 'cuz you think it's okay to sit on the ground. This establishment isn't a library. Keep doin' what you're doin', B&N. read more

Two stars is very generous for this location. I love Barnes and Noble and was a frequent shopper until I moved to HI. The Ala Moana location is very small compared to others and there is no where to sit! The location has cafe seating but you will get kicked out if you do not purchase anything from their Starbucks (that is if you can find an open table). There is about 5 or 6 single chairs strangely put through out the store and like the cafe seating you are considered lucky to find an open one. The cafe area is also usually full of college/ high school students doing homework hours on end making it difficult to find a nice place to enjoy some coffee and read for a few minutes. One day, I could not find any open seats and was interested in a book so I sat down on the floor out of the way where there were no people and within 2 minutes an associate very rudely told me I was not allowed to sit on the floor. Do you think I want to sit on your dirty floor? No, why don't you get some more public seating so your customers enjoy their experience? I lost all interest in being in the store and purchasing anything from them. I am from Montana where there is a much larger store with plenty of seating. There are even large work tables to do homework and read on along with nice public seating areas with lounge chairs and tables. Ala Moana is about 4x busier than the MT location yet the store is about half the size. Doesn't make much sense. Unfortunately, I haven't had the best experience with the Starbucks at this location either. The associates are pretty friendly but do not present themselves well. There is an associate who, every time I order from her, she is smacking on a piece of gum. It is very unappetizing when ordering from her and very unprofessional. read more

Grab a book and a magazine, order a cheescake with Earl Grey tea at Starbucks, and take a seat (if you can find one)! I love hanging out at B&N, reading and caffeinating myself. It's my one-and-only getaway in Honolulu. Shhh. Don't tell anybody else! It's quite crowded during peak hours at the coffee shop area, and you're not allowed to sit there if you don't purchase anything from Starbucks. I haven't experienced rude customer service from the employees. The baristas at Starbucks are extra friendly! read more

Why are the bathrooms always so dirty? Someone explain that to me. Glad I got that out of the way because, other than that, I love B&N. I love coming to the store to browse because they always have rotating specials on prominently placed tables. Since I'm not the biggest literary expert, the power of suggestion works well on me. I've been able to find books for my summer reading list, and since I joined the rewards program, having an additional 10% off (on top of coupons or specials) has really saved me money. Price-wise, you'll always find better deals on Amazon, but since the eBook and online shopping craze began, B&N is now the little(r) guy, so I like to support them as the underdog. The magazine section is quite extensive, although they don't have NY Magazine :( I think it's interesting that this store has such a large offering of puzzles/games/cartoon paraphernalia, which I never pay attention to. It's easy to lose track of time at B&N, but time reading is time well spent. Shoutout to Kahala! RIP (in 2014) read more

Probably the worst experience at a book store in my life. The staff was rude, unhelpful and snotty... I don't think I will ever go to a B&N again... Borders is a much better place! read more

I think that this is a bad location for a bookstore. One day, my friend wanted to go into this Barnes and Noble to take a piss, so I decided that I should go as well. When I opened the door to the bathroom, a smell of doo doo and piss filled my nose. It was horrible. One toilet was clogged and wouldn't flush. It had a huge nugget of a crap in there. It wasn't a pleasant experience just to take a piss. As I was walking out of the bathroom, my friends had met me there and we decided to discuss where we should eat from there. As always we take forever and a day to decide where to eat. Since one of my friends was looking for a book that both she and an employee couldn't find, I brought out my computer and sat on the ground to see if Barnes and Noble even carried the book. An employee came from behind me and impolitely told me that nobody is allowed to sit on the ground. If they have a policy such as that and they know that the Ala Moana location get's busy, shouldn't they provide more chairs to customers? Also, I think they should have a key to the bathroom, it's unsanitary, and despite a sign in sheet for the employees (that claims that they clean the bathroom every hour), they don't clean it every hour. A key would prevent people from coming in to take a piss all over the ground of the bathroom floor and it will prevent people from taking gigantic poops that clog the toilet. read more

I miss Borders. You know why? Because my boyfriend & I have been itching to buy a new book so that we could spend less time watching television & more time expanding our knowledge. We went into Barnes & Noble today, found our books & headed to the check out to be greeted by this extremely peppy lady. Since we haven't gone to Barnes & Noble she asked if we wanted to get the discount card because it would be 10% off today & every time thereafter with a purchase. Sounds sweet right? Before I accepted I asked if it was a credit card & the reply was no. So I figured well, sounds like a decent deal especially if we want to get into reading more books! We checked out & as my boyfriend swiped his card the total was $60. I thought it was fairly high but we both shrugged it off thinking each book was $20. As we left we looked at the receipt to find out that the discount card costed us $25 which is more than our 3 books combined considering one of them was $5. Maybe it's our fault we didn't ask for more information but if you're going to charge us $25 for a plastic freaking card you BETTER tell me about it so I can decline the offer. It makes sense why her & the other cashier got super happy and peppy when we decided to accept it. But she won't be happy for long when I call the manager on duty tomorrow morning to get a refund for their employees deciding it would be okay to leave out some vital information :) Will be canceling this discount card & will just resort to buying books online from amazon or something which I suggest you all do. read more

Worst CompNy policy ever. I'm sorry we don't accept returns or exchanges of any sort after 14 days. Even if the book was never read. Bought it for someone and never gave it to them. Looks brand new. read more

I wrote a review at the time I went to purchase a book, however it has since been lost. This Barnes & Noble is one of the worst books stores I have been to. The only positives of this store is that they have somewhat newer books, of the popular kind (Twilight, Game of Thrones, etc.) , and the coffee shop is nice and fast with cute barristas. Other than that, I would be more than happy not to come back. After figuring out I can't try to find a book on my own, on a computer that is facing outward from the help desk (??), I had an associate help me try to find a book. After they did not have it (a book that is fairly new, "Drive" by John Sallis), I decided to look for a Howard Zinn book. I found the book and started to read it out of the way of foot traffic since the seats were all taken until the end of time, and I was told you were not allowed to sit on the floor.. Is this a bookstore or a corporate goods seller? It's a freakin' bookstore people, I go there to chill, skim a book or two, and BUY YOUR BOOK. I think spending 40$ a visit is more than enough reason to be able to sit on the ground like a normal person. I am not sure if this is a Hawaii thing or what, but I'm sure there are better bookstores. If someone who is 99% of the time a pacifist and take-it-as-it-comes sort of person, yet will take the time to write an essay on how bad a business is, you can bet somethings wrong. Then again, this is just my personal opinion. ~Ian read more

After spending over an hour in the store, then waiting in the long line, I was told by the sales clerk that they ran out of paper bags and did I want to carry my large pile of books by hand. Absolutely not. Books are quite heavy, and it amazes me that the store in a large mall, with a ton of tourists did not order enough bags. I approached another worker to inquire about this and and got a blank stare. The store itself is beautiful but the lack of customer service is horrible. read more

Used the gift card from two years ago on 5 books for my little girl. This is a very nice store, smells like a book store, staff are friendly. I can spend the whole day browsing through every isle. Oh yea, I've also ordered books through their website. They will hold the books for you to pick up and found this convenient. You should check it out. read more