Consumer Reports
Aug 16, 2006 |
Best place to buy a used surfboard
Hale’iwa
Come on people. How generic can you be? Yes, we must admit that, being a surf town, Hale’iwa is probably the best place on the island to go to get your hands on a used board, but come on, we need a store to write about. Let’s see, how about Surf-N-Sea? They have the largest selection of used boards on the North Shore. Get everything from new, used and custom made boards and even a lesson or two. As for runner-up Craigslist, not only can you find that apartment you’ve been looking for or sell your moped, you can surf the net for a surfboard too. Whatever your budget, there’s probably a board for you. From $40 to $875, there’ll be a shortboard or longboard that’ll fit your needs. Need a limited edition 2006 Hello Kitty surfboard for your girl? Check it out.
Surf-N-Sea, 62-595 Kamehameha Hwy, Hale’iwa, 637-SURF, [www.surfnsea.com]
Best Brand of aloha shirts
Reyn Spooner
If you have an aloha shirt in your closet that says Reyn’s on the tag, you know it and someone else probably bought it for you as a gift. You would never buy one for yourself. Why? Not because they’re ugly. Too expensive, das why. And it’s not just one aloha shirt. It’s your Reyn’s. One reader had this pick: ‘The kind cool old uncle passes on to you.’ You know? The one that he wears at weddings, funerals and other special occasions? He no like go out anymore, too much trouble, so he wen give ‘em to you. Probably from Kramer’s or McInerny’s. Still in mint condition too. You know da one?
Reyn Spooner, Ala Moana Center, 949-5929, Kahala Mall, 737-8313, Sheraton Waikiki, 923-0331, Downtown Rack, 125 Merchant Street, 524-1885
Best local product to mail to a mainlander
Macadamia Nut Candy
Whether it’s Hawaiian Host or Menehune Mac you can’t go wrong with sending loved ones one of the most mass-produced chocolate products from the Islands. For thrifty spenders, who want to send en masse, grab the bulk boxes from Costco or Wal-Mart. Our personal favorite: the chocolate-covered mac-nuts from the Honolulu Chocolate Company in Ward Centre. You can get them in milk or dark and send as much or as little as you like.
Honolulu Chocolate Company, Victoria Ward Centre, 591-2997
Best place to buy imported DVDs
Borders Books and Music
Border’s has a wide selection of those films you see on IFC and Sundance and many of those foreign flicks you want to get your hands on. If they don’t have what you want in stock, they can probably order it for you. You can also head to our runnersup, Tower Video or Chinatown, for more DVD action, though depending on who and what you buy in Chinatown you may want to look over your back to make sure 5-0 isn’t around.
Borders Books and Music, Victoria Ward Centre, 591-8995
Best yoga studio
Manoa Yoga Center Hawai’i
Manoa Yoga Center Hawai’i is located in Manoa Marketplace with basic, intermediate and senior classes taught by Shelley Choy, Ray Madigan and team. They even have yoga for kids at a small fee of $20 for four classes. Private sessions are also available if you don’t play well with others. Oddly enough, one reader told us they simple couldn’t provide a pick for this category. The reason: ‘I can’t have milk products.’ Interesting. You also voted for Bikram’s Yoga College of Kailua and the YMCA.
Manoa Yoga Center Hawai’i, 2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-203, 382-3910, [www.manoayoga.com]
Best bike repair shop
McCully Bicycle and Sporting Goods
From its original location in Waipahu in 1923, to its present home in McCully, this family-owned bike shop has been in business providing good customer service to islanders for nearly a century. Whether it’s selecting a bike, finding new parts or accessories or fixing your bike, the folks at McCully Bike are happy to help. As for the reader that responded to this category by asking, ‘Do I look like a bike chick? Huh? Do I?,’ we say, ‘No. We’re sorry. You don’t.’ Our apologies
McCully Bicycle and Sporting Goods, 2124 S. King Street, 955-6329, [www.mccullybike.com]
Best place to get a tattoo after a movie
Sado Tattoo
If you are in the environs of Ward Theater, and you feel like replacing the bad pain of a Ben Affleck movie with the beautiful pain that comes from artful tattoo work, then you should check out Sado Tattoo. Sado and his crew will talk to you about what you want, and if your request is intricate or unfamiliar, they’ll ask you to schedule an appointment so they can perfect the design before you roll up your sleeves. (Or pull down your pants. Whatever, dude.) Tattoos last longer than many marriages, so it’s important to work with artists who give you exactly what you want.–Tim Dyke
Sado Tattoo, 435 Kamakee St., Suite A., 591-6544
Best place for the aspiring Che Guevara to learn how to topple the government
Revolution Books< /p>
Communism isn’t the force it once was. The Soviet Union jumped the shark during the space race, and they never recovered. China got its hands on Hong Kong and discovered that capitalism wasn’t such a bad thing after all. And Cuba, well, we’ll see what happens there when Castro finally smokes his last cigar. That could happen any day now. But communism isn’t dead. It’s alive and kicking. Revolution Books in Mo’ili’ili is proof of that. The bookstore is your one-stop shop for all of your Marxist-Leninist needs. Anarchists, Zapatistas, champions of indigenous people, Hawaiian nationalists and women’s libbers are sure to find something to their liking here too. Viva la revolucion.–Chris Haire
Revolution Books, Puck’s Alley, 1019 University Ave., 944-3106
Best place to buy local art
Honolulu Academy’s Annual Showcase
If you missed the two-day art event this past weekend, you’ll have to wait for the next one in 2007. Art collectors can buy some of Hawai’i’s top artists work at often-discounted prices at this art showcase. The second day usually features food, wine and more art. Proceeds from the event help children’s art programs at the Academy Art Center at Linekona.
Honolulu Academy of Arts, 900 S. Beretania St., 532-8700
Best locally designed pareau (aka lavalava)–
Mango Season
Mango Season carries pareau’s from Tahiti as well as locally made ones by Tutuvi designed by Colleen Kimura. These brightly colored designs stand up well to their native competitors and at a reasonable price too.
Mango Season, 2636 S. King St., 949-4355
Best place to learn how to fix your bike yourself
K-VIBE
Is your bike broke and you don’t know how to fix it? Not to worry. The Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange will get your bike fixed for next to nothing. That’s because you’re the one that does the fixing. The folks at K-VIBE will teach you step-by-step how to change a flat, replace a bike chain and more. Sooner than you think, you’ll be riding safe and have learned new skills in the process. K-VIBE also offers used bikes for cheap if you do a little work around the shop or trade one in.
1638 Kamehameha IV Rd., 791-9480, 384-4417, [www.kkv.net/KVIBE.htm]
Best place to buy an aloha shirt off island
Sig Zane
Sig Zane makes some of the best locally made aloha shirts, but you have to buy them online or go to Hilo or Wailuku. They used to frequent craft fairs on O’ahu during Christmas time, but not anymore. They’re known for their crisp shirts and beautiful plant designs. And once a design is printed and sold, the line is pau. So if you see a design you like, grab it fast before it sells out.
Big Island: 122 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, 935-7077, Maui: 53 North Market St., Wailuku, 249-8997, Web: [www.sigzane.com]
