We had a large amount to exchange so we made an appointment and came in on an early Sunday afternoon. Met the older sweet man, Kenji. He was so very patient with us throughout the whole transaction, which took about 15-20 minutes, maybe longer, and the line was getting pretty long. We were lucky to have also exchanged a little bit more as we had forgotten to call in to add it. Anyway, it was such a pleasant visit and it was really nice to have met him. We came back a couple hours later to drop off some pastries to thank him and he was so cute he gave us some Japanese candy. He made our day. read more

Decided to come by and exchange because I heard they offer the highest and there is a kamaaina rate. Might be worth the drive to Waikiki if you get a lot, I tried to call and get rates over the phone but they don't do that. I found their rates were the same as DFS Galleria, what I like about DFS is you can call for rates (automated message) and then use that as a ball park for Pacific Money Exchange. Other than that Pacific Money Exchange made it real fast and simple to exchange. read more

Pacific Money Exchange is a small business found on Royal Hawaiian Ave. Walking toward the Ala Wai from Royal Hawaiian Center, it's on the right hand side. Here are some tips: - Consider how much money you want to exchange and call to make an appointment so they can reserve that amount for you. If you choose to go without an appointment be sure to call to make sure they have the money to exchange because you'll need to find somewhere else to exchange. - Do your research... As if I need to tell you more. - There's no exchange fee. - Tag team with a friend so you don't have to park at RHC or the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. Although not such a bad idea with nearby restaurants. I had come here the night before my flight to Japan and was able to get a pretty good deal. Definitely one of the businesses to include exchange rate comparisons. read more

Best rates for yen. Follow the rules: 1: Call first to reserve amount and get the rate 2: Bring your passport, you're going to Japan, you have one, don't forget it. 3: Mention you are kamaaina there to get a point or so above stated rate. 4: Have cash. That's the only thing they will change. Don't expect to use a check or anything else, bring cash. 5: You can park briefly in the small private lane makai of the shop on Royal Hawaiian. (They told me this) Make sure to follow the rules for a super fast transaction at the best possible rates. read more

This is the place where everyone has told me to go exchange money. To be honest, because of the no parking factor I have sent people to go for me, until recently. I need some yen for a future Japan trip and since this place is supposed to have the best rates, I decided to stop by since I was in Waikiki. Their service is speedy and they were nice. They only take cash. They don't have coins so they will give you back USD for what they can't exchange. So when I went is was 105¥ to $1 and since I had a local ID I got a 106¥ rate. I decided to check the DFS money exchange afterwards since it's so close and was bummed to see that theirs was 109¥! Everyone said this place had a better rate but I guess not that day. In the future, since it's so close and literally across the street, check both places before you commit so you can get more ¥ for your $! read more

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Pacific Money Exchange is the best place to go if you are traveling to Japan and need Yen. + Good rates. + Fast and easy. If you're changing a large amount of money, it would be a good idea to call ahead to make sure they can process your request. + Great service. - No parking. But I've usually been able to just pull in up front, jump out, change my money, and be back in my car in less than 5 minutes. read more

This is the only place I ever go when I need to buy yen for an upcoming trip to Japan. Located next door to where Hiroshi Yakiniku used to be (wahhh... i miss them!)--- look for a teller window and the sign above. The closest garage parking would be at Waikiki Shopping Plaza-- but it's Waikiki so parking can be expensive. I just go when I have someone that can wait in the car so that I can jump out real quick. Be sure to bring your Hawaii Drivers License too, since they do have a special rate for Kama'aina! Every little bit helps =) Usually they can exchange up to $500 as a walk in, but if you want to exchange more than that, call ahead and schedule an appointment. read more

Update: You need a government issued ID (ss card or passport-they need either #) if you exchange more than $999. I recommend calling ahead for their rate and reserving yen if it's over $2000. They don't disclose their kamaaina rate over the phone but it's about +1 then the "public" rate. There are 4 exchange places in this one block, so shop around. This is still one of my favorite places to exchange for yen. Cash Only. read more

Pacific Money Exchange is awesome. If you have $ to change to ¥ this is the place to go. Tomoko there always hooks it up if you are Kama'aina. They beat the banks' rates all the time if you are Kama'aina. Even when the rates are about the same Pacific Money Exchange does not charge a service fee which pretty much every bank does. I have only gone here to exchange dollars to yen never yen to dollars but I hear they usually have better rates for that too. One thing to note when you are changing $ to ¥ they usually won't give you coins in ¥ so the difference is always given back in $ and ¢. Pacific Money Exchange is open later than most banks and is conveniently located in Waikiki on Royal Hawaiian between Kuhio and Kalakaua. read more

Called in advance to book a reservation. Great service and a lot of information given. Went down and discovered this place was just a hole in the wall. My friend said sketchy... Lol. But after being quickly serviced everything went great. I guess you truly can't judge a book by its cover. Highly recommended. read more

Pacific Money Exchange - Reservation holders and Kamaaina receives a slightly better rate. - Currency Exchange Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Easy to buy Japanese Yen here; you can call them for the day's rate (Kamaaina rate is about one Yen better). Their rate is pretty close to the published market rate on CNBC. There is no regular parking, but I always street park right in front of their place, and wait for any line to deplete, then go up to their window (usually in and out within 2 minutes)...or... if you have the time, and want to visit the International Marketplace like I did recently, (really to visit Kona Coffee Purveyors / B Patisserie there), I parked in their big parking lot (entrance on Kuhio Ave side). The first hour is free, 2nd hour $2, ...etc...if you purchase at least $10 of goodies in any store there...easy to do at B's. read more

Review #15 for 2018. I've heard from several people that exchanging money in Waikiki is better than at a bank. And if the places to exchange money in Waikiki, Pacific Money Exchange is the place to do it. I've used Pacific Money Exchange a few times to get yen prior to trips to Japan, and the service is always good. In the fall I was getting ready for a trip, so I kept on calling, but they'd be out of yen. Finally I decided to place an order for pickup the following week. I didn't have to make a deposit or anything, and I just gave my name. When I picked up my yen, I got a great rate, which was even better than advertised because I placed an order rather than just showing up. I'll be back again for my next trip overseas! read more

Make a reservation. I did not make a reservation. Got there and stood in line. Then noticed the sign that said reservations needed for exchanging $ to yen. Waited anyway to see what I might be able to get. I figured i could go to the next exchange if I needed more. The lady at the window was very nice. Said normally you need a reservation. Then asked how much I wanted to get. I told her and she said she would be able to help me. Guess I got lucky. When I left, she gave me her card to make reservations next time. One of the best exchange rates. No transaction fee. Great service. read more

Bad customer service! Said I had to put in a reservation for yen, said to call a few days after my first call back but when I did she still wouldn't take my reservation for yen. I don't think they want my business since she told me to do to DFS which I did with no problem or reservation necessary. Funny thing is I did get yen from them last year without a problem, don't know what happened but I won't go there again. read more

Fast. Easy. Good rate. Convenient hours. Polite service. What more could you ask for in exchanging money? Maybe not to be located in Waikiki, but it's understandable that they'd be located there. I called on a Friday and was able to make an appointment for my dollar to yen exchange for that Sunday. Super great for someone like myself who waits until the last possible weekend before traveling to take care of such things. The hours are fantastic (open late if you're common folk like myself who must work during the day). I also appreciate they work on the weekends for similar work related reasons. I had called another business in Waikiki that said they didn't work weekends, so apparently it's not a given for a money exchange place to operate on weekends. If you're exchanging large amounts, appointments are definitely recommended to ensure they have enough, especially if you're going later in the day. I believe they also said if you're exchanging over a certain amount you also need to provide your passport number or social security number. The hardest part for me was finding them because I didn't realize they were basically two windows (has the look of script booths at carnivals) that you could see from the street. Their sign reads "Pacific Exchange". Once I found them, I was done under five minutes. Luckily, I was in Waikiki to eat, so I walked there from a few blocks away. I can see where if you're only there to exchange money and looking for parking, it could be a pain as always is the case in Waikiki. If you can get a friend to drop you off and drive around the corner, I'm sure the process would be complete by the time he comes around. I would definitely use them again for future exchanges. read more

Best place to exchange $ to yen! No fees, quick and easy. It's best to call and make an appointment ahead of time so they'll have enough when you go. They are pleasant and efficient. I will definitely use them again. read more

Bottom line: easy to locate and convenient yen exchange. They have close to the best rates you can find on the island - definitely better than the duty free across the street. If you have a partner to drop you off you can quickly get in and out of Waikiki since they're right alongside the road. Please note that if you need $1000 or more changed you'll need your passport to make the exchange. read more

Thanks to my mom, I discovered a jewel of an exchange store in the heart of Waikiki. As a local, I try to avoid going to Waikiki for the fact that it is: 1) always so crowded and 2) you can never find any parking! However, if you ever need to exchange USD to foreign currency, it is WORTH the drive to Waikiki to visit Pacific Money Exchange. The best place to park is in the Ross's parking structure located on Seaside Avenue. You will just need to purchase something from Ross's (no minimum dollar amount. The last time I went I purchased the cheapest bag of chips they were selling) and they will validate your parking ticket. The first two hours is free! Once you exit Ross's, walk down Lauula Street and take a right onto Royal Hawaiian Avenue. The Pacific Money Exchange is on the street opposite from DFS and about halfway down the block (close to Unibazar). All it is is a window with usually 1-2 workers. HUGE TIP FOR KAMA'AINA'S: bring both your passport and local driver's license and they will give you their "Kama'aina Rate," which typically means they will not tax your exchange. So essentially, you'll be getting more bang for your buck! They typically have the best rates when compared to other currency exchange companies. Also, if you are planning to exchange more than $1,000.00, it's best to call ahead and have them reserve the currency for you because sometimes they may run out and not have enough if you show up unexpectedly. read more

Before we flew out to Japan for our trip we wanted to have some yen on us so we didn't need to be stressing out on where to do money exchanges overseas. Saw some reviews on Pacific Money Exchange and went to get some yen! The rates were the best when we shopped around! Easy transactions..Just call ahead of time if you are looking to trade more than $500. Also, if you are trading $1000 and above, you need to have your passport with you. I definitely recommend getting you yen here when you plan to go to Japan! Worth the drive! read more

I was told not to exchange at banks for their high rates of fees. So then I was told about this place from a co-worker and then reading reviews on yelp. Awesome place to get YEN. Must say, the reviews do not lie. Fast, easy and best rate in HNL. They offer KAMAAINA rates so definitely do not forget your State ID as well as your passport. You must call in advance to reserve YEN over $1000. On the flip side though, parking can be an issue. This place is right across the street from DFS on Royal Hawaiian Ave. This place will be my go to for all my international trips. read more

Kind of a hole on the wall, parking is only in front or in the narrow driveway just past the window. However, once you get to the window, women there are very friendly and efficient. Got my money exchanged for yen in less than 5 minutes. read more

They always give me the best rates in Hawaii when I need to exchange yen! One pointer is to call ahead and make the appointment.

Used them twice and never had a problem. They just ask that you call ahead and make an appointment if you're planning on exchanging a lot which is understandable. We were running late to our appointment and they were very accommodating. Will always use them should we need to exchange again read more

Everyone says this is the best place to get your yen. I called and was told I could get the max amount of $450 worth of yen so I made a trip down there. When I got there I was told, right now you have to "make an appointment"! The next available reservation is Oct. 9! Wth?! What a waste of time! read more

You have to have a RESERVATION to get Yen from US Dollars. I was shocked. A reservation? Oh and the earliest I can get a reservation is JUNE THIRD! A week and a half wait... And yet there were Japanese tourists exchanging their yen for US $. Of course I couldn't ask the current exchange rate... read more

I love this place for yen exchange. They give kamaaina discount, which basically means that they give the current going rate, no fees. It's nice that they understand that the local clientele will be the ones returning for business. The location is pretty inconvenient, but that's not the reason for the three stars. They are located across the street from DFS, which is great for tourists, but bad for the locals. There is nowhere to park. You have to risk getting a ticket by parking on the side (or drag a friend along to drive around the block if necessary) or get lucky with street parking. But I'm willing to go through the trouble for a one time exchange for my trips. I gave them three stars because they almost never answer their phone. I've called over 30 times since they opened today and the phone either continues to ring and ring or I get cut off completely. And they don't seem to have voice mail. This occurrence has happened on at least five other days throughout this past month and I've just about had it. I haven't talked to a single person in all my approximately 100 calls to them throughout different times of different days. They require you to make reservations for a certain amount, which I completely understand and don't mind doing. But I will not drive into the crazy of Waikiki to make a reservation and come back one more time to do the actual exchange. If I could just reserve the amount over the phone, I wouldn't mind at all, but they never answer!! Maybe some people have time to go to Waikiki multiple times before their vacation, but I don't have that kind of precious time to waste. If this keeps up, I'd rather just pay a small fee at DFS that actually has parking, answers their phone and requires me to make a one time only trip. It's been a very disappointing experience not working with them this past month... read more

Best place on the island to exchange Yen. Its ashamed I can't exchange other currency here because their rates and their customer service is always top notch. I've been using this place for years and they have always consistently came through. If you are Kamaaina make a reservation in advance and ask for the Kamaaina rate, you'll get a better rate than someone who just walks in. read more

Yes i do agree with everyone that this was super easy and fast to exchange usd to yen. I wasn't sure if i wanted to walk around or just run out so i decided to just run out. I swear the whole transaction was like 2minutes. I didn't call earlier so i only changed some and will go back no problem with that. The guy that helped me was on the younger side and was very quick nice and very easy to talk to. All he recommended was that next time i call first to make sure they have what i needed. read more

Great place to exchange your money for Yen. They have a great rate and with a Hawaii drivers license you get an extra percentage on your exchange rate. The workers are really fast and courteous. Parking is difficult so it is much easier if one person parks in the loading zone and the other jumps out to do the exchange which will take 5 minutes or less. read more

This is the only place I go to exchange dollars for yen! I travel quite a bit so I come here pretty often and I always feel that the rate they give me is higher then I could get anywhere else (including the DFS Galleria across the street). Here are my tips on parking: - Park at the zoo ($1 per hour) and have a leisurely stroll down Kalakaua - Park at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, eat lunch for validation (I want to say...first 2 hours free with validation?) - Park at the DFS Galleria (free!), get lost in their maze of a building, and check their rate (which on rare occurances, can be a little higher) The ladies here are super nice and helpful, PLUS you can get a kama'aina rate if you show your Hawaii ID. Listen to Travis D., they are open late and this is a cash-only place! (Also, as a side note that I'm assuming is consistent with other money exchanges, they don't exchange coins.) read more

Things need improvement is parking and hopefully someday they can start accepting walk ins instead of having to make an appointment. I understand that they run out of but hopefully they can order more for the future. read more

I've known Pacific Money Exchange by other names-- "That kiosk by Duty Free," "The little white window" and my favorite, "The shady window on Royal Hawaiian." Everyone who's been to Japan knows about this place, but for some reason, the name is just so forgettable. Regardless of its name, this is definitely the best place to get yen before heading to Japan. If you didn't know any better, you would definitely think it was just a shady window in the middle of Royal Hawaiian Ave. Parking is a pain (darn you one way streets in Waikiki), but normally I would turn left on Seaside from Kalakaua, turn left on the next dinky street, park in the stalls listed for another business, SPRINT to the window (which is just around the corner), quickly exchange my monies and make like a baby and head out back to my car so it doesn't get towed. If you have someone come with you, you could probably walk/jog instead of sprint because they can move the car just in case. Kama'aina rate is at least 1 yen/dollar more than the listed price... score one for us locals! It definitely adds up to be a considerable sum if you're planning to exchange a lot of $$. The lady at the window is super nice. They only give out bills, no coins, so they'll give you change if necessary. I don't even know if they have a limit to how much you can exchange... I've had to convert large amounts of $$ to yen multiple times and their supply of yen seems endless. This place thrives on word of mouth. TELL ALL YERR FRIENDS! read more

Most Yen to the Dollar anywhere on island PERIOD you can even reserve an amount if you call ahead. Kama'aina rates and all. If you need cash for your next trip to Japan, get it here. read more

If you've been looking for an awesome place to exchange some USD for JPY before you visit Japan, this is probably where you want to go. Everyone I've talked to have told me to go to a place on Royal Hawaiian, but they can't remember the name of the place. First off, I parked all the way at Waikiki Shell and walked all the way down Kalakaua. Did some comparison exchange rate shopping between DFS and here which are right across the street from each other. The exchange rate at Pacific Money Exchange was about 0.2JPY more (77.6JPY). This is the Kamaaina rate which is given just by showing your drivers license. One thing to note is that they only take cash. If you need an ATM, there's a bunch of Bank of Hawaii ATMs near where Planet Hollywood used to be. Here are the main points to take away: 1) Kamaaina rate probably higher than the exchange rate directly across the street 2) Open until 11pm 3) CASH ONLY If you want to compare rates between the two, it would probably take you about 2-3 minutes since they're soooo close to each other. read more

Five Star! Kama'aina Rate. Flight Crew Rate. Best Rate You'll Find! This little window on Royal Hawaiian Ave across from DFS will give you the best possible rate. If you're planning on traveling to Japan, go here.. don't mess with those currency exchange counters at the airports or banks.. this is where its at. Take your local ID .. even better a Crew Tag if you're a crew member. You're wallet and sushi cravings will thank you. read more

Great place to go and exchange money. Service was quick and speedy. From what I hear this place offers a great rate on money exchange! If you intend on exchanging larger amounts of money, it is best to call ahead of time to see if they are able to perform the transaction. read more

Best rate for YEN!! Make sure you make a reservation..call AT LEAST 2 weeks ahead of your trip! Reservation rate is better than Kamaaiana rate. Will always use this place for my Japan trips. read more

Today's JPY was 118.9 to 1 USD. Pacific Exchange's rate was 118.5 JPY to 1 USD for kama'aina. No exchange fee! Their shop is also right on Royal Hawaiian Drive, and you can quickly illegally park in the taxi stand to exchange your money to get in and out of Waikiki fast. read more

Seriously the best place to exchange Yen! Don't believe me? Check out DFS's exchange rates before you go here and take a look yourself. IF you are Kamaaina make sure to mention that as we get a special even better rate. Do note that they only do Yen, and that they take cash only (no travelers checks). It's a small place across DFS and right next to Yakiniku Hiroshi. read more

This place wasn't too hard to find (right across the street from DFS on Royal Hawaiian Ave). Definitely worth checking the rate across the street at DFS, as today DFS was only slightly worse for kamaaina, and better for non-kamaaina. One thing I didn't see mentioned in any reviews is that for the best rate, you need to make an advance reservation. Today, they were taking reservations 4 days out. The difference was only about 1¥, but if you are exchanging a lot it and have time, it could be worth it. Also, other reviews seemed to indicate that they would exchange any amount, but the folks working behind the counter had to confer before selling the amount I wanted. If you need to buy a lot, I would recommend calling first. read more