Daiso — Attraction in Oʻahu

Pros: -Always wonderful deals & you never know what you'll find. Stock replenishes randomly and even the clerks here can't say what will come in next. Surprise! ;) -Very sweet customer service. -Lots of free parking. -COVID protocols in effect; sanitizer at front and all employees masked. Make sure you bring your mask and keep it on. -Best assortment of cute erasers and stationery items. The 4-in-one pens with mechanical pencil beat out every other seller, anywhere (yes, even online).

Cons: -No tap-to-pay. Cash or credit card only. -No public bathroom. -No returns for any item, for any reason (even if the item is broken or doesn't work--rare and hasn't happened to me yet, after hundreds of purchases here, but the policy is posted everywhere). -Tight space in-store means it can be frustrating when trying to socially distance. Patience required. -All folder/stationery measurements are Asian style, such as A4, B5, etc. Make sure you know what sizes you need. -No website/purchase online and pickup in-store, like other stores have adopted during the pandemic. You still need to physically come here to shop. -If you've shopped at the huge multi-level Daisos in Japan, you might be disappointed. But you've saved tons on airfare! ;)

Still, $4 tamagoyaki pans, super cheap and good quality 4-in-one pens w/mechanical pencil, and lots of terrific stationery items, mean it's such fun to shop here. Yes, there's a higher price than in Japan, but it's still cheaper than most anywhere else in Hawai'i. Make sure you know what you're getting and that you really want it. Love this store, at the end of the day. Could be better, but still, I...

Still takes about 45 minutes get in the door and then another 30-40 minutes to get to the registers, but because they regulate how may people can enter it's easy to get around and look at the items. Many of their pens/stationery items have sold out since they opened on Wednesday, but they still have a lot of the cute erasers that they are known for.

Eventhough a lot of people waited in the long lines, I didn't see anyone going crazy and buying up the store. I think we all just wanted to see what they would have and bought stocking stuffers and other items that would be useful at home. It's nice to know that there's a place where I can get all of my plastic containers for papers a crafts in the future. I'm hoping that once they figure out what the hot sellers are, they can change some of the items (like cups, dishes and generic crocs) for things that are more cute and useful like their insulated lunch bags and reusable bags. I also hope they consider bringing in more...

At $1.50 for nearly all items, it's incredibly hard to leave without making a purchase, even when the items aren't particularly "necessary". A good place for school lunch items like bento boxes, miniature utensils, etc. And generally there's a good selection of Asian snacks but nothing so unique that I haven't seen them elsewhere. The line to enter can get long which only boosts the desire to avoid leaving empty handed. The line is often in direct sun and can result in a significantly wait (pack some form of shade). And, because the items cycle without any specific "return" or "restock" intervals, I can't help but feel the "get it now or never" shopping feels that I forget Daiso purchases are all sales final. 4 stars as the store is constantly reshuffled that retail associates often cannot even tell if something is in stock and/or where it's located. If this were something that could be improved, there's lots to appreciate about...