Here’s my attempt at resurrecting an old blog idea I had months ago by writing a new “Manoa and Makiki Favorites” blog this week. My plan is to write about one of my “Favorites” in Manoa or Makiki about once a month… favorite place to grab take-out, exercise, or have a special dinner (send your ideas for topics!)… and ask you to add your favorites to mine. I figure that way, we’ll get to know our neighborhood (and each other!) a little better!

My favorite “little spot to shop” is a gift shop on the second level of Manoa Marketplace called, “Green Time.” The shop, originally opened about a year and a half ago as a café that also sold specialty items, was transformed five months ago into a full gift shop. Although I miss the shop’s tea, I love that it now has more room to display all of its unique items.

So why is it my favorite little spot to shop?

• Green Time is very serene and leaves me with a peaceful feeling (even after spending money!)
• The owner is very sweet and extremely helpful in helping you find that perfect gift. She also thinks of us, the consumers! She told me that she recently was able to lower prices on items in Green Time when she struck up a deal with the companies shipping them by purchasing the items in larger bulks. Rather than keep that extra money she was saving, she made her items even more affordable for us, knowing that we are all need every break we can get!
• The unique gifts (perfect for a girlfriend, mom, child, or new parents) that you can pick up here are hard to find elsewhere and really irresistible!

Just check out some of the items in Green Time! Every nook and cranny holds sweet treasures!

The gift shop’s located on the second floor of Manoa Marketplace, right above Island Manapua

Look through the door window- isn’t it already charming?

The sign outside the store announces its specials- these are great ones!

Here’s a display of Precious Moments- my mom used to collect them so there’s a special place in my heart for these sweet ceramic figurines

Wouldn’t these make great gifts for that friend who already has everything?

I fell in love with these large plush rugs (or are they stuffed blankets?). The owner told me they’re her top selling item, and customers swear by their ability to get babies (and pets!) to sleep peacefully. You have to feel them to believe how soft they are!

These made-in-Japan “cakes” are actually towels!

Here are the zoo of stuffed animals that open up to flat, comfy pillows

Here’s my own stuffed pillow bear from Green Time, given to me by my student, Ke’alohi. His home is my bed- I’m one of those big kids who loves to hug a stuffed animal every once in a while!

What’s your favorite little spot to shop in Manoa and/or Makiki? Share it here!

Green Time
Manoa Marketplace
2752 Woodlawn Dr. #5-213
Honolulu, HI 96822
(808)988-0588
Mon-Fri (10-6)
Sat (10-5)

On Saturday, March 15, a friend who teaches at Noelani with me sent out a mass e-mail to a bunch of our co-workers. It read something like this:

FYI- The Pizza Hut and Taco Bell in Manoa Marketplace are closing on Tuesday! Read here to find out more.

Yes, this was very big news to our Noelani lunch group. We have given the little take-out fast food joint lots of business over the years! At least once a month, one of us would call in an order and make a lunch run to Taco Bell. And the delicious Pizza Hut pizzas would show up as faculty refreshments a few times a year (just last month, the purchased pizza saved my grade level from having to prepare refreshments- picking up pizza is so much easier than slaving away in the kitchen!).

The closing of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell really came as a surprise to us, as I’m sure it did to many others in the community. I would always see the place full of kids after school grabbing a quick snack, or moms and dads heading to their cars with a stack of pizza boxes in their hands at dinnertime.

Now comes the big question- what will occupy the space left behind? Does anyone have the inside scoop? I’m personally hoping for another eatery! If you could choose what would take Taco Bell/Pizza Hut’s space, what would it be?

The letter that was posted for a few days prior to the closing of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell

Pizza Hut and Taco Bell officially closed