Your TL;DR Travel Guide to Shopping in Waikiki, Oahu
TL;DR: 88 Tees is a Honolulu-based street/surf-wear lifestyle brand. Known for their designs (featuring Yaya) and collabs with other local brands, 88 Tees makes for unique and trendy shopping. Although the brand does have an online store, sizing and materials can be inconsistent between collections and the Waikiki-based store features additional designs. Parking can be tricky, so it’s best to plan ahead for a full-day in the area.
88 Tees might be my favorite shop in Oahu so far. Nestled in between luxury brands like Prada and Gucci, this unassuming shop can be easy to miss.
On my last stroll around Waikiki, I happened upon the colorful shop while wandering around. On maps, the store is labeled as “men’s clothing” so I debated skipping it altogether, but a quick perusal through some reviews (although I did notice some misinformation/slightly incorrect info that I’ll be addressing below) had me changing my mind.
And I am so grateful I did. And now, 88 Tees will most certainly be on my list of places to visit whenever I’m in town.
Curious what to do in Honolulu? Read on for my guide on why 88 Tees could be worth a stop during your next trip to the Island!
What Makes 88 Tees Special?
Started in 1988 by Loukie Wong, 88 Tees is a family-run clothing business and shop in Honolulu. Started with the motto “every fit for every style,” this lifestyle brand specializes in fun graphic tees (featuring Yaya), trendy clothing, and vintage wear. To this day, the shop is still family-owned and run.
Attracting the eye of Hawai’i celebrities, like Bruno Mars and Jason Mamoa, I’m honestly surprised this brand hasn’t blown up even more (although it wouldn’t be unexpected if it suddenly takes off in the near future).
Shopping at 88 Tees: Prices, Finds, and More
The shop has a wonderfully funky, fun, and comfortable vibe. Featuring some vintage or second hand clothing, a collection of originals, and a full array of collaborations, 88 Tees has clothing for everyone.
Although the shop is listed online (in maps) as “men’s clothing” they actually carry a variety of wear for women, children, men, and unisex items.
In my opinion, the prices are fair, although you can expect a bit of range depending on the season, what’s on sale, and what collaborations are newest. A standard t-shirt can be around $20-30, with sweatshirts or jackets going closer to $80+. I went during a hot spell and found a beautiful embroidered flannel for $30, which is honestly such a great value. You can also find some loungewear, shorts, hats, and trinkets throughout the shop.
Organizationally, the shop is designed for intensive browsing, so it’s easy to forget where a specific size or design is kept (or I, at least, got lost easily). That being said, I enjoyed exploring. I like to shop by fit + design rather than one specific size – so the layout worked for me. And honestly, the casual (some could say chaotic) organization fit the relaxed vibe of the store. There is a method to the madness, however. Look for posted (handwritten) signs indicating men’s, women’s, kids and the size. When in doubt – just ask the team there! They’re a friendly bunch!
I also saw someone say (online) that the shop has “cheap quality” and “limited designs” – which is completely not true to my experience.
Like other fashion brands, 88 Tees appears to run on “collections” and releases (based on what I saw). Different sizing or materials could be used depending on when it was made or released. So in person browsing is best (and the online store doesn’t have the same wide-spread selection).
The Logistics
At a Glance
Address: 2168 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815-2326
Neighborhood: Waikiki
*Please note that the Kuhio location appears to have closed*
Hours: 1:00PM-6:00PM Daily
Prices: Range from $20-$100+
Ideal for: Browsing; lifestyle clothing
Parking in Waikiki
Waikiki is a major tourist destination in Honolulu. As such, you’ll definitely want to expect traffic and paid parking. While there are some paid street parking options in the immediate area near the shop, your best bet is to either:
- Park further down the road or side street (most likely paid) and walk – this might be the cheaper option, but will require a bit of advanced exploration. This reddit thread has some great options to consider.
- Park at a nearby hotel that offers a standard day rate – best if you are staying in the area! There are plenty of shops and cafes to stop at, making your walk rather pleasant (in my opinion).
- Park at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, which has a $17 daily rate, or $3 per half hour. The Plaza is centrally located for several other shops, making it the ideal option for a full day in Waikiki.
If you’re looking for a place to shop or enjoy checking out local brands/designs, I highly recommend visiting Waikiki’s 88 Tees. A blend of trendy (without being pretentious), fun, and family-owned, this shop and brand is full of fantastic finds!
Do you like shopping when you travel? What other stores would you recommend in Honolulu?
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