YAHglobal It’s necessary to separate vintage from antique on this annually updated list of the top antique shops on Oahu. Visitors searching for vintage stores are generally looking for retro clothing and accessories. There are no shortage of those. Antique shops, on the other hand, are harder to come by on the island of approximately 597 square miles. These retailers are defined as those that specialize in selling older, collectible items such as furnishing, decor, old edition books and ephemera, along with cameras, coins, stamps, toys, typewriters, and “hard goods” that are between 60 to 100 years old, although there is no steadfast rule. Adding a layer of complexity, is that visitors aren’t typically looking for a 19th-century mahogany writing desk or a mid-Victorian walnut armchair when wondering where to find antiques. The cost of shipping such things back to the mainland could double what was paid for them in the first place. Instead, curious souls interested in antiques (and curio) on Oahu are generally hunting for decades-old Hawaiiana, surfing memorabilia, odds, ends, and quality oddities that appeal to their sense of wanderlust. This loose classification is what the list below identifies. Read ahead for a peek at where to find the perfect period piece for your collection.
Top Four Antique Shops on Oahu to Browse and Shop for Classic Hawaiian Items and More
Hound & Quail
1156 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, HI
Nuuanu Avenue in downtown Honolulu is considered to be the “antique district” of Oahu, although this distinction has ironically waned with time. All that remains are three stores. One (Single Double at 1121 Nuuanu Avenue) is more of a vintage store which disqualifies it from this list. Another is Tin Can Mailman, which is infamous for extremely rude service (something we can confirm).
Then there’s Hound & Quail.
H&Q doesn’t win the distinction of being the top antique shop because of the failure of those surrounding it. In fact, it holds up against some of the elite in more densified mainland markets from Los Angeles to New York City. The store is as thoughtfully designed as the collection is curated, and the staff is accommodating and friendly, never making browsers feel as if they are required to buy. View more on the Hound & Quail in Honolulu.
The Vintage Hawaii
43 S Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI
The Vintage Hawaii is aptly located in the historic town of Wahiawa – the gateway to the mystical North Shore of Oahu. The compact antique marketplace is an extension of a non-profit humanitarian organization led by a collective of surfers known as Surfing The Nations (STN). As a result, treasure hunters may find surf memorabilia, such as contest trophies and vintage boards every now and then. Additionally, the shop is decorated with costume jewelry, old LPs, early 20th-century Kodak Brownie box cameras, and loads of old books and magazines. Shop for the sake of it, but enjoy a sense of pride in supporting this non-profit antique retailer.
Trash from the Past Collectors Cottage
43A S Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI
Trash from the Past Collectors Cottage is the newest of antique shops on Oahu. It’s hidden behind The Vintage Hawaii (above) as a part of the same Surfing The Nations (STN) organization. It’s a cool little store that is filled to the brim with an eclectic collection, including vintage toys, collectible bottles, ceramics, porcelain signage, ukuleles, and kooky knickknacks from a bygone era.
Antique Alley
030 Queen St, Honolulu, HI
Antique Alley on the South Shore of Oahu on the border of Ward Village is a disheveled mess. There is little regard for shelving units and display cases within, as items are piled upon one another without rhyme or reason. Vintage posters hang from the rafters like tinsel from Christmas trees, well after NYE celebrations have concluded. It may sound like we’re criticizing the shop, but we’re not. Antique Alley’s lack of order makes it a pickers paradise. It dares you to spend an hour or more digging through surface scraps to uncover something you didn’t know you couldn’t live without. There are binders stuffed with old advertising, glass fishing floats, chalkware decor, Pan-Am carry on bags, and the quintessential “more”. Be sure to come by and experience Antique Alley in its chaotic glory.
