There were multiple bad and very honest reviews of this place that somehow disappeared. This place…read moreis extremely rude, dishonest and does not follow through on their own policies. I was sold a few defective Heather Brown frames (online order and pickup). Once arriving home, I noticed the difference against my other Heather Brown frames. When I went to exchange them they accused me of intentionally damaging them myself (and claimed I kept them in high heat when my house and car are air conditioned). I am not alone in my experience here. They refused the return so now I'm stuck with the defective frames they sold me.

Great selection, they really make it easy to support local artists. Staff is friendly and helpful,…read moreand make finding the right piece easy. Will be back! Thank you!

Stumbled upon this after grubbing on some Giovanni's shrimp truck. The colors and art caught our…read moreeye and we had to step in. The artist himself is managing the gallery that is set up in a shipping container. He has art for sale and articles of him traveling the world doing murals! On the side, he has his workstation and you can see his work-in-progress canvases which were cool. Very chill and lowkey dude and his artwork is beautiful! Definitely worth the visit. Don't miss it as it's tucked away by the second parking lot on the dirt road, in the middle of both food truck plazas.

My wife and I have been a fan of Hilton's art. As we had a late lunch at Giovanni's with guests…read morefrom LA, I noticed the sign out by the street. After lunch we made it a point to find the gallery. It's in the back behind all the other vendors but has lots of open space around it. I like the set up and how the gallery is a converted container. It totally fits his style! We started looking and come to find that Hilton was working the gallery! He is a very nice and down to earth guy. We purchased a print and had some nice conversations with Hilton. He even entertained our daughter who was all over the place. Perfect little memory and story behind the piece that will be on our wall at home. We like Hilton's style of blending street art with surf themes. Definitely worth stopping by and checking out his work.

I love Wahiawa Botanical Garden. I grow and collect plants of my own but seeing them growing…read morenaturally in the wild is very inspiring and awe-inducing to see them thrive at that level in nature. I especially love seeing the monsteras crawling on the trees, and the tall bamboo garden. The cherry blossom trees here are also my favorite place to visit when it is spring in Hawaii :). This place is one of the locations where you can view cherry blossoms. I don't usually frequent this area since it's a bit out of the way but the views and beautiful plants are worth it! Definitely bring walking shoes because this was actually a work out...Felt like I was in Jurassic Park - I was having fun jumping on rocks and stuff but I decided not to go too deep into the jungle of this botanical garden this time because I didn't want to get my shoes *dirty* I am very particular on keeping my shoes looking good... LOL

We visited the botanical garden today as a family, but unfortunately, it was below our…read moreexpectations. It is nice that the entrance is free, but the garden was not as well maintained as we had hoped. There was not a lot of area to explore, and the experience felt more like a walk through a forest rather than a traditional botanical garden. That being said, it can still be a peaceful place to relax, enjoy a quiet coffee, read a book, or simply spend some time away from the city. It is a nice spot for unwinding, but it may not be the best choice if you are looking for a well-developed botanical garden experience.

This is a really lovely little gallery that is tremendously fun to look around. There are all kinds…read moreof art from more modern and photography to glasswork (hence the name) to the most insane and cool collection of Vietnamese embroidery. I am not sure I can fully explain how cool this embroidery work is, but the attention to detail is incredible and the way they reflect light is extremely mesmerizing. George, who I take it is the owner, is a wonderful guide, talking with you about the art and answering any questions you may have. There is even an artists' studio in the front window where you sometimes may be lucky enough to watch a live demonstration of glasswork. Totally worth the stop.

This is a great place to watch, learn and purchase glass sculptures in the laid back surfer and…read morehippy town of Haleiwa on the north shore of Oahu. You can watch the glass craftsman through the window blowing heat on glass and crafting a new Hawaii inspired decorative art piece, beautifully made and magically designed, most sitting on polished driftwood pieces. The price are reasonable, and there are even some discount pieces made by apprentice glass blowers. Most of the glass creations are local creatures, like turtles, dolphins, sea horses, etc., although they had some nice Dragons and other pieces as well. They are all beautiful. The pressure to sell is pretty high, as two girls are right on top of you for service, but they are not pushy. They pack it up real good for you if you are taking it home for a souvenir, and they even say if you break it, you don't own it. Not sure what happens after you do, and I wasn't going to try and find out.

"The Inspiration"…read more Curating their inventory to fit the local need. Family owned and operated. Cozy and welcoming, it's a place with unique offerings. They lock into the local community to make the whole town feel complete. It's a special, one-of-a-kind place. These are the mom 'n pop stores I grew up with on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Some are still around. Mom 'n pop stores, the inspiration behind Kalepa's Store at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Ko Olina-O'ahu. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "My Storytelling" It's the weekend and my parents are taking my siblings and I to a kiosk in Kaiko'o Mall. To enjoy Icee from Kaiko'o Seeds N'things, as we choose bags of cracked seed from this mom 'n pop store. Household appliances weren't purchased from corporate retailers like today. My family and most of East Hawai'i years+ ago were loyal to mom 'n pop stores like Modern Appliance. Next door, Kay's Lunch Center had the most delicious Korean fried chicken made by "mom", and slices of homemade cream pies by "pop". ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Kai Store since 1948, Chika Nakano since 1975, Optical Dispensers, Hilo Siam Thai Restaurant (see my Yelp review), and Leung's Chop Suey House since 1975. Doris Place since 1948 on the west side and Hirano Store since 1969 in Mountain View. These are some of the mom 'n pop stores currently still in-business on the Big Island of Hawai'i. Since my childhood. And of course, the Hasegawa General Store since 1910, still serving the local community in Hana-Maui. Featured in the Disney animated film, Lilo & Stitch. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Disney Storytelling" A story is shared with intricate details. Culturally significant, extremely immersive. The Disney way - through storytelling. The culture of the Hawaiian people is displayed in the most creative way by Disney Imagineers. Unlike any resort in Hawai'i. Unique architecture and design, awe-inspiring artwork and murals throughout. Multi-sensory excellence at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Home to Kalepa's Store. The only place to purchase official Disney merchandise and exclusive Aulani items in Hawai'i. (Visit my Yelp review of Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Elevated Perspective" Joyful suspension, relaxed excitement. A rental car made the drive possible from Waikīkī on my first visit. Fourteen months later, a last minute window of opportunity became available for another visit to Kalepa's Store. I've learned to look upwards for hidden high level details and architectural Disney magic. As I entered Kalepa's Store, I found the most meaningful key designing element. Framed photos of actual mom 'n pop stores in Hawai'i. Some are now closed, others are currently still in business. It brought personality, warmth, meaning and an authentic deep connection to the rich history of my home-state. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Retail exclusivity is why I'm here. Unique Aulani logo items, clothing and accessories that cannot be found inside the Disney theme parks and online. Bags of Disney Parks Main Street Popcorn like those found at Disneyland are found along with my favorite, Gummi Disney Character Bites. Guest service excellence at Kalepa's Store. Individual attention, personalized conversations, strong engagement from the cast members. We laughed and reminisced about our past trips to Disneyland, Disney vloggers we watch. Photo ops were taken, care was extended. I felt valued. That the drive from Waikīkī was worth every minute, that my choice to be here as a local Hawai'i resident was appreciated. I'm departing Kalepa's Store, Aulani logo shopping bags in both hands with orange tissue paper puffs. All smiles, I'm content. Parking validation is extended since my purchase reached a certain dollar amount. It's now time to enjoy the resort property for just a while longer... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Future Inspired" Mom 'n pop stores. Independent, family-owned, a unique role in the local community. But they struggle to compete with larger corporations, big box retailers and e-commerce platforms who have buying power. My visit to Kalepa's Store at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa opened my eyes. It made me realize my unique role in my local community, how important my choices are. Where I shop, where I dine, where I choose to take my business as a consumer. It matters to help keep money circulating nearby for the vitality of mom 'n pop stores and small businesses in my community, on my home-island. In Hawai'i. Even though I'm employed by a corporation, I've recently decided on making small, gradual changes in some of my habitual spending. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Be Inspired" I implore you to do the same while you visit, shop, casually meander and enjoy the most unique resort property in Hawai'i. Like I did. Stay for hours, return for a second time, or become an overnight guest. Immerse yourself in the details. Embrace the magic of Disney and the rich history of Hawai'i at Kalepa's Store. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Become inspired.

This store is always busy no matter what time it is. People come here to pick up their Disney…read moremerchandise. I love to check out the different designs of their bags. I've bought a few over the years. I didn't see anything that I liked this time around. They did have those popular Disney x Aloha print bags near the entrance. People were buying everything in the store. They were standing in line holding clothes, mugs, toys, headbands with the ears and snacks. I really liked the Disney ears, but they were $40 something each or $30 each when you buy 3. I decided not to get them, even though they were so cute.

A nice museum that provides insight into the history of Hawaii and people who helped it become what…read moreit is today. Museum is free but you need to pay an entrance fee to tour the grounds outside. Very peaceful and a nice escape from the hustle and bustle outside

This is an absolutely hidden gem. Out your guide was phenomenal, as he explained each location we…read moresaw in such great detail and to where the story was told. Many tours are just names and facts, but this was totally different. Being able to walk from location to location was very insightful. The check in staff was incredibly polite. What a great way to break up vacation with local history and also to another part of the island.

Gallery and Art Studio that just opened. Great place to see lots of art and they are starting…read moredance, yoga, and dog training classes. The owners JoyMarr and Claudia are wonderful people and are very interested in giving back to the community of Waialua.

This is a great little venue with a real local flavor. The deal is that there is no middle man…read morehere - it comes straight from the farmer or the artist or the baker to YOU!! You can find the BEST local tropical fruit in season (say LYCHEE or Mango...ONolicious) or gorgeous orchids, heliconia, ginger plants and cut flowers. Found some great mosaic mirrors and porcelain gift tags that you can't find anywhere else. It's cool that you can talk straight to the artist that makes it - and it helps the local economy as well. Lots of locals buy their produce here every weekend, which should tell you something. Come early for the best selections - it usually breaks down by 1PM.