Da Shop: Books + Curiosities

Da Shop: Books + Curiosities has quickly become one of Honolulu's most beloved cultural spaces since opening in Kaimuki in 2014, bringing a fresh, community-centered approach to bookselling in Hawaii. The store's name reflects its playful, distinctly local sensibility -- 'da shop' is pure Hawaii pidgin -- while its carefully curated shelves reveal a serious commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices. The Asian American and Pacific Islander literature sections are among the strongest in the state, featuring authors from Hawaii, the broader Pacific, and the Asian diaspora. Local zines, chapbooks, and small-press titles line the front tables, giving emerging island writers vital shelf space alongside established names. The small cafe in the back serves shave ice and local coffee, and the walls rotate exhibitions by Hawaii-based artists. It is exactly the kind of bookstore that could only exist in Hawaii.