If you're a book lover in Hawai'i, Da Shop is hands down one of the best local bookstores you can visit. Da Shop isn't just a bookstore, it's a community space that supports readers, writers, and local culture. With great selections, special orders available, engaging book events. There's just one small detail I wanted to share. The girl at the front desk has never welcomed me when I walked in. The first time, it honestly bothered me. After noticing it again on another visit, I decided to approach her myself, and she was actually warm, friendly, and excited to talk about books. read more

If only this shop was open on Monday and Tuesday, I could sing its praises for having local books and a great atmosphere. Does Kaimuki partially sleep until Wednesday? Methinks it does. I was so looking forward to my visit. There is parking across the street of course. Pipeline isn't even open for malasadas. Oh well.,, read more

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Such a cool local book shop. They have a pretty small space, but lots of genres of books to choose from. The space feels so welcoming when you come in. The books I purchased cost just as much as any other bookstore, but I think this shop caters more to locals with their selection of books. I'll definitely come back soon! read more

Da Shop - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Stopped by Da Shop in Kaimuki while spending a Saturday morning wandering through the neighborhood's small businesses. This charming boutique bookstore was such a great find to leisurely browse through. The space feels rooted in the community, with a curated selection of popular national, international, and especially local titles focused on Hawaiʻi. I loved wandering the shelves that held everything from early childhood picture books to scholarly works for deeper research. The staff was friendly and welcoming, making the experience even better. read more

First bookstore we stopped by on our trip to Hawaii - Da Shop, and it was the sweetest little bookstore. Quaint, cozy, and full of charm -- the kind of place that makes you want to stay and browse for hours. What made it extra special for me was finding a book written by a Filipina author. I was so excited that before I even finished the first one, I went back and bought the second! It felt like such a meaningful discovery and really made the visit memorable. The staff was kind and welcoming, and the overall vibe of the store felt warm and intentional. If you're in Hawaii and love supporting independent bookstores, Da Shop is a must-visit. It's a little gem that captures the joy of reading and discovering something new read more

Da Shop - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love da shop. They have an amazing selection, including lots of local literature, culturally relevant books for keiki, diverse cookbooks, nonfiction, graphic novels, and more! Plus they have cute posters, stickers and trinkets too :-) I like their "staff favorite" notes to highlight their staffs' current favorites and why they love them. It's really fun to browse their selection and honestly I have spent hours there. They also have a discount table in the back! The vibe is super nice, with lots of natural light, and a little lending library outside their door. AND they host events like book releases, author talks, and readings in their warehouse space! It's really incredible to see community come together here - that's what indie bookstore do best! read more

Da Shop - Attended a reading for the anthology We The Gathered Heat in da shop's warehouse - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I've seen this shop as I drive to the freeway on ramp but this is the first time I've been inside of the store. I want to get the book, Sketches of Kaimuki. Unfortunately it is not in stock and while on order, they do not know when they will get it. But they are nice enough to put me on a wait list. There is a nice selection of books with local ties-the whole gambit, history, hiking, architecture, botany et al. Even a whole kids section from pre-school to teen. And a fiction section but not the ones on The NY Times best seller list. Like some of the other reviewers who said the shop is cute, I agree. read more

September 18, 2023: I have made two trips to this shop after spying it from the parking lot that was utilized when going to have breakfast nearby. THE GIST OF IT: This shop is not unlike many smaller shops thatI have come across in my global travels, in that it is a small quaint shop that has something for everyone. YOU'VE BEEN SERVED: When I get inside a book shop everything except my personal book hunt of the day turns into the voice of Charlie Brown's teachers and parents... even faces of the employees (sorry). With that being said, the staff that I have met (two ladies: which could have been the same person due to the blinders I wear once I enter the store) are what serious book lovers have come to desire, dare I say "expect" in this day and age, from your local book shop (LBS). Rating the sevice here as professional, knowledgeable, and courteous is a good way to start my description. I will finish it with recommending this shop to all who love the small town bookstore feel and, of course, to all my brethren (Yelp Elites). PARKING: You can find a parking lot diagonally across the street at Harding and 11th. HOURS: The sign on the door states that the NEW 2023 hours are Wednesday thru Sunday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. END GAME?: Take heed and come out to support this gem of a business. read more

Da Shop - Helpful signage - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Such a peaceful precious spot to find some great new reads. Spent a while here just browsing and enjoyed their big selection of hawaiian and AAPI literature, and was happy to see a lot of cultural and historical classics. They also had a little 20-50% table tucked away in the back and I got to snag a limited book on collected Taiwanese Indigenous stories. Would highly recommend coming to support! read more

Da Shop - We the Gathered Heat - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This store is small, yet cozy, and packs a lot in it well. I have frequented the shop off/on throughout the years and in the earlier days, they had a cute nook for kids with a cloud above. My only issue has been the customer service. Every time I have come in, no one has asked me if I needed help/was looking for something in particular. Sometimes not even a hello, welcome-in. For me, it really affects my experience, as if I'm not wanted there or am an inconvenience. I have shrugged it off, but a few weeks ago I came in and was looking around for at least 15+ min and was the only one there. The worker did not ask me if I needed help even though she could see me circling around looking for something. She did not say anything at all and it felt awkward because she was sitting facing the showroom the whole time. A little welcoming goes a long way and shows that you deserve the business. read more

Cute shop. The girl at the front seemed very bored. Great selection of Hawaiian books. Whatever they don't have on the shelves, they can order for you. Does not have their own parking, so gotta use the public lot across the way. read more

Getting lost in a book is a place no one else can occupy. Da Shop has such a great selection of books many local including a fantastic children's section. It's been awhile since I've read a good book and this cozy shop makes me want to pick one up again. I did purchase some gifts for book loving friends here and you are able to go to www.dashiphnl.com to pre-order and shop Da Shop online. Getting lost in paradise is a dream, thank you!! read more

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I have been to Da Shop several times since they opened. I have always found a great selection of books, especially children's books. I love how Da Shop has organized their selection (by poetry, Hawaiian authors/subjects, cookbooks, fiction, non-fiction, children's). They also have a great selection of notecards and journals. With COVID-19 they have quite a few precautions that make for a safe shopping trip. They are only letting 5 people in at a time to browse and have a plexiglass barrier at the check out desk. My only complaint is not validating public parking. They also have a relatively new Little Free Library. Super cute, but had a very small selection last weekend. read more

Da Shop - Little Free Library - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Such a cute bookstore in Waialae. It's easy to locate. The public parking structure is right across. It is a busy road and the crosswalks are on the top of the hill and the bottom of the hill-- da Shop is in the middle. Please use crosswalks to be safe. All of the books they sell are carefully curated, which is so cool. If you ask them where things are, or if they carry certain books and prints, they'll know whether they have it. I love that there are staff pick books. On their Instagram, they'll have their staff picks of the month. I've only been here twice, but I already bought 4 books: * Red Dirt by Scott Kikkawa (local author) * This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (featured at the first YA book club this past weekend). * Sharks in the Time of Savior by Kawai Strong Washburn (one of Blake's recommended book) * Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami (one of Lainey's recommended books). read more

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How has this little bookstore been here for 4 years and I only discovered it today! Lots of HB new releases plus a perfect selection of unique and beautifully illustrated books. There's something for everyone - I love independent bookstores and am so glad to have found this gem! read more

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This place is adorable! The store is tiny, but they have a variety of books to choose from. There was a reading going on the in back room & everyone was super respectful & stayed quiet while the event was going on. After the event my friend and I checked out the back where they had several discounted book options & everyone was super helpful! Stoked we stumbled upon this gem! read more

Da Shop - Their walls are filled with options, this is the only picture I snagged that afternoon. - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Finally found a small private owned bookstore on the island. I've thought it didn't exist but there it was. Tucked away in a cute neighborhood not too far from town. I love the curated collection of books that are sold. Was so in love. read more

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I absolutely adore this bookshop and we try to patronize it as much as possible!!! My daughter is a bookworm and we gladly invest in her habit ! We both love the relaxed atmosphere and enjoy browsing around and chatting with the staff ... they've recommended some great books and we love supporting local ! Da shop has lots of fun community events so go "like" & follow them on Instagram and fb for updates. We just attended the book signing of Tae Keller and looking forward to another one coming up which features our favorite ballet teacher, Page Kamakoa dancing in the shop let's keep this brick and mortar bookshop in business and our kids in books Mahalo for reading read more

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Basically Books in Hilo is still my all time favorite small bookshop, but here in Honolulu, Da Shop is da best! Great local author selection and I always find something for me or for a gift. Just park across the street and you can spend a loooong time in here. read more

i was excited to look at this place because i pass by it all the time. however when i walked in there was just a plethora of 'trans' 'lefty' 'woke' stuff and i felt like i lost 1000 brain cells and literally had a migraine from all of it. read more

For any fan of book stores, this is a must-visit. Located in Kaimuki, they are located across the street from the shared downtown parking lot. The entrance is covered in green plants, it's a welcoming feeling. They specialize in books on local interest, but also has a diverse selection of popular, children, and general interest. This is a new book store; items are sold at cover price. The store is somewhat small, but makes great use of big windows with natural light. It's organized well and spotlessly clean. They also have local interest gifts like puzzles and home goods, so it's a great place to shop for friends and family. This is a hidden gem and I hope more people visit. read more

I don't really know why it's taken me so long to get myself in here, but wow am I behind! What a gem! I mean, independent local bookstores usually are, and Da Shop is no exception. I came in on Small Business Saturday because they had a pop-up of a local artist I follow. So glad I did, because I came out with a couple presents, plus something for me. And since they were running a 20%-off special for the day, I probably should have bought more... Local teachers do get 10% off every day if you show your ID. It's a small space, but they have a very good, very well-curated selection. Their keiki section is marvelous - loads of local books as well as some seasonal titles. Local fiction and nonfiction, plus some bestsellers. There's a little free library outside, too. It was pretty busy the day I was in, but still easy enough to get around other shoppers and still stay somewhat distanced. Parking can be a challenge, but not a problem. There is a municipal parking lot across the street, but you can only enter on 12th. There's no street parking on Harding, and there are crosswalks at 11th and 12th, so you're at the mercy of drivers - there are no stop signs or lights at 12th. There is a light at 11th. read more

I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I haven't been reading a lot lately, and I used to be an avid reader since I was a small child. Honolulu is a beautiful city known for its outdoor activities, not so much for being bookish. Having a full-time job, being outside a lot, and tech gadgets have eaten away at time I used to devote to learning. Finding Da Shop, the only independent bookstore I have come across so far in Honolulu, was a sign for me amp up my reading. I could spend all day at Da Shop. I love this charming little bookstore so much. Despite its small size, there is a large collection of Hawaiiana books and recent bestsellers. The shop is very aesthetically pleasing and cozy. I would have been enchanted by this store as a child. The children's section, including its wonderful reading nook, is what I would have wanted my bedroom to look like growing up. I was saddened that Da Shop was empty when I was there. Parents, Da Shop is a great space for your children to get away from social media and video games for a few hours. As the quote above the entryway of the store says, "Children who read become adults who think." Da Shop has a good selection of books to keep your children engrossed in reading and out of your hair. I ended up buying The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. I plan to read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens next and Bad Blood by John Carreyrou before the movie is released! Da Shop has a loyalty card, which I forgot to sign up for, but will on my next visit. Perks include discounts on purchases, free merchandise, and an invitation to a loyalty event. I also had a nice conversation with Da Shop employee, Lani, who informed me that Da Shop is owned by a local publishing family that specializes in Hawaiiana books. That would explain Da Shop's amazing and extensive Hawaiiana section. Maybe I'm just being sentimental, but I love the feel of actually holding a book, turning the pages, and not having my face in front of a screen every minute of the day. My hope is that everyone in Honolulu stops by Da Shop at least once to support this wonderful independent bookstore. I know it is easier to buy a book on Amazon and read it on your Kindle, but I think it is important for every city to have independent bookstores that can survive because residents value reading and support stores that add value to the community. See you at Da Shop's reading nook! read more

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I was excited to check out this place because it's an independent local book store! Which are rare and few in Hawaii. This is truly a hidden gem in Kaimuki on Harding Ave with a lovely vine wall on the exterior and a cute cozy interior to match inside. They have curated books with genres ranging from Asian American authors, Local writers, politics, humor, psychology, and many more. They also have a great Keiki book section curated with lots of classics like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to Hawaii based books like Twinkle, Twinkle, Small Hoku. It's a great place to pick up books! You can check out their website to browse their collections. Don't forget to check out the free lending library to the side of the store. It's a great community resource, you can drop off books to share and pick up one if you're interested. Covid measures: 5 people max in the store at a time, if it's busy it can be a bit of a wait. If you're on a time crunch you can order online and pick up in store. Parking: There's no on site parking, you can find street parking or use the parking lot across the street. read more

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This bookstore makes me want to read. The selection and layout are so inviting - all of the books are so well curated and arranged in both an aesthetically pleasing and intuitive way. Love the collections of contemporary fiction, poetry, cookbooks, and local authors. It's a must-stop in Kaimuki. read more

Da Shop - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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So there I was at Kaimuki, shopping around Small Business Saturday. Hubby and I see "DA Shop" listed on the flyer. We have NEVER heard of it. Totally caught our eye when it mentioned "books and others curiosities" We decided what the heck! Let's find this place and stop by. The store was tiny, but well organized. It was a filled with books for everyone. We actually found some great books here. It is a treasure trove a great books in one place. There were popular books, local books, cookbooks, children's books, adult books that look like kid books. It was awesome! I was contemplating grabbing the ILLUSTRATED Harry Potter books or the local cookbooks. My husband and I found an atlas of all the obscure places to see in the world. We totally grabbed it. It is a fun read when you love to see new places! Anyhow, this place is a GREAT place to find books of all kinds. If you are looking a the perfect gift, it just might be here! Bring in your "keep it kaimuki" bag and you get discount every Thursday! We will definitely be back! We found some books our kids would love and so much more that we thought would be awesome gifts. This little shop has a treasure trove of some great stuff. I suggest checking it out! read more

I love da Shop and I love to give books as presents. I would make more gift purchases here if they had an exchange policy, which they do not- it is all sales final. By not having an exchange policy I feel that da Shop is not meeting current customer satisfaction and is missing out on gaining new customers should the recipients of the gifts want to make a visit to the store for an exchange. I imagine the recipients would find other books or items for purchase (it is so hard to leave empty handed!), da Shop would increase their overall sales and find a new loyal customer. read more

Support small, local businesses! I've placed online orders before but nothing beats coming into the store and browsing around the perfectly curated tables. While this shop is pretty small and cozy -- and I believe only allows 5 customers in at a time during the pandemic -- I feel like I could spend hours in here. There's something special about an independent bookshop that makes you feel at home. Already planning my next visit back! read more

Da Shop - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Great selection of reads in a fun shop w/great employees. Shop local and support the local flavor

This is a great little bookstore, cultivating a massive local community. While today was my first visit to Da Shop, it was certainly not my first experience with them. Either hearing about the numerous events they're hosting on local radio, or seeing a Da Shop booth at the many local events and festivals in East Honolulu, this business has an unmistakable presence designed to build a community. Our visit today was part of the Keep it Kaimuki event, and Da Shop offered a discount on all books, and was hosting some other local vendors in its warehouse -- even in their own business space, playing host to other local businesses, amazing. The great thing about a local book store is its ability to stock according to local interests, or whatever is hip in the book world at the moment. On this visit, I spotted sections dedicated to crafting perfect cocktails, home organization, and a wonderful nook full of kids books. They even had a short story time and hula lesson for the keiki, which was a lot of fun. All of this creates a business that feels like more than a business. It feels welcoming, it feels comfortable, and it's a place I'm happy to support. read more

My friend who reads really wanted to come here. So I tagged along. I feel like many bookstores have closed over the years, so it's nice to see that they do exist. Da Shop has a great selection of books, from chapter books to kids books to Hawaiiana books and cookbooks, there are definitely some nice finds. I ended up buying a book off the discount cart. The books were marked as 40 percent off because I guess they had imperfections. Indeed, the book I bought had a water stain on the inner cover. The books are pricey, but I can't remember the last time I bought a book for full price. I just bought a bunch of books at the friends of the library sale, but they were $0.50 to $2.00 each. My discounted book ended up costing me $10. I guess that's not bad, but regular priced books here would be like $18-$40 normally... The parking lot across the st costs $0.75 per hour, but I think da shop will reimburse you if you show them your ticket. read more

I love this small, nicely curated bookstore. I especially like their selection of children's books. To be honest, I don't read a lot of books these days, but visiting this store makes me want to choose a big stack to take home because everything looks so interesting. It's very easy to special order if the title you're looking for is not in stock. Look how cute my order was packaged when I picked it up! There is parking across the street in the lot - park on the Harding Ave side and use the path by the Harding Square building that comes out directly across from Da Shop. read more

Da Shop - Special order book - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

super cute shop! it's a bit of a niche selection but definitely worth a visit to see if they have what you like!

Yes! Another bookstore fought it's way into the world. Surrounded by E-readers and other devices, that alone gets 5 stars! I love that this store is close enough to walk to, but I really wish they had stroller /wheelchair access. Inside it's tastefully decorated with great hanging pieces. They offer a mix of local/hawaiian books, current national best sellers and a kids section that takes up half the store! I plopped my lil crawler down on the carpet and we explored some books. The book about breastfeeding was cute, and I was glad to see it (not many baby/children's books talk about it). There was a great selection of local baby books and I can see my daughter reading in the kids chairs or kids reading nook as she gets older. They even hold events with movies and authors etc. I will be happy to continue to support this sweet bookstore so it can stick around! read more

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Bess Press is a local company that publishes Hawaiiana books. Da Shop is their new venture, just opening on Tuesday, March 27th. Da Shop is a cute, modern bookstore in the heart of Kaimuki town. Nestled next to Chevron on Harding, they are located in the same building as Bess Press' warehouse, with parking across the streer in the municipal parking lot. Having happened upon a Honolulu Magazine article on Facebook, I was elated reading about Da Shop. This bookstore will be a gem for our town. They carry children's books, national books (including New York Times Bestsellers, cookbooks, memoirs), and Hawaiiana/local books. There's even a little nook in the corner housing Monocle travel books. These travel books, especially, caught my attention. The covering is eye-catching, and, while flipping through the pages, realized its not your ordinary travel book -- highlights places off-the-beaten path (not your typical touristy spots). Though the book selections isn't grand, which isn't their intention, as they are a quaint bookstore for those wanting to happen upon a great book. I left with two Monocle travel books (Tokyo and Kyoto). Inquiring about an Osaka version, the employee gladly offered to look for and order the book, which if and when received will give me a call. In the near future, she said they will have a computer set-up for customers to browse to order books, which I believe will be sent to the store for pick-up. The employee was really friendly and knowledgeable. Da Shop is a store that Kaimuki town needs. Check them out and browse their store. You could happen upon a gem. read more

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Da Shop is such a pretty bookstore and is so calming. The outside of the bookstore has a beautiful wall of covered vines and on the inside a little haven for bookworms to browse around in. To be honest I felt like a could fall asleep in here, they had such calming music playing and the store was very relaxed. The lady that greeted me was super nice and was ready to help if I needed a book recommendation. They have a pretty interesting selection of books all in different categories neatly organized by each table. If you are looking for healthy lifestyle, self help, cooking, or cultural books you will find them here. read more

Da Shop - Outside of Da Shop. - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My wife found this store and we decided to check it out. I like going to book stores, so I came too. Da Shop is a cute little store. It has a decent selection of books, mostly laid out with care in a manner that you are unlikely to skip over something. You can tell that the owner puts care into the presentation of the books. I found a decent number of the books interesting. The store is fairly small, with maybe a quarter dedicated to books on Hawaii or related topics, another quarter or so kids books, and the rest an interesting mix of everything else. I enjoyed the store, I really did. With that said, the store does not have the most extensive selection. That's my only complaint against the place, but I think that's probably missing the point of the store. Its a good store, and I recommend checking them out, especially if you want a book about Hawaii. read more

Check out this new bookstore in Kaimuki off of Harding Avenue. Great gifts for keiki and for Mother's Day coming up! They have everything from bestsellers, cookbooks, local kine to kids. Support local, buy from a local business - it doesn't get better than this! read more

Da Shop - Check out this cool bookstore in Kaimuki off Harding. Great gifts for keiki and Mother's day! Best sellers, award winners, local, cookbooks. - Bookstores Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The perfect place to get your next book recommendation. I don't think I've ever seen a better curated book selection, I literally wanted to read every book displayed. This is 100% a quality over quantity selection, and that works really well for someone like me who is easily overwhelmed in larger bookstores. It isn't the largest space, but the really do the most with what they've got. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the Kaimuki area. You can usually find street parking about a block or two away and walk, or if you aren't as cheap as me, they are across the street from a large paid parking lot. I cannot recommend this bookstore enough, plus if you go you have the added bonus of supporting local! read more

Wish I could have visited this store. Giving it one star because twice I have come here during business hours and both times it was closed. No warning on the door. Voice mail doesn't state that the business is closed. On maps the business shows as open. Not impressed by lack of care of customers. read more