Kalihi Pet Center

We purchased what we thought were Muscovy ducklings but they look like wild ducks.
Randy the manager of Kalihi Pet Center is AWESOME! He followed up on our ducky situation and solved our problem. Yes there was a mix up and the ducks we have are actually Mallards. The breeder has graciously offered to give us ducklings from his next brood of Muscovy.
Thank you!
Third update. The breeder gave us three Muscovy ducklings to replace the mallards. The ducklings are Muscovy and we are so happy with them.

A conversation with my boss piqued my interest in pet fish when I found out it was allowed at work. Not too long after, I went to the closest pet store & bought a Crowntail betta, signifying the start of my aquarium hobby.
I’m quite selective about aquarium design & décor so I shopped around on Amazon & other pet stores to put together my setup. Live plant selections are very limited & aquarium décor can be pricey at the store compared to what you can find online, but the pet supplies are on-​par if not cheaper than big name pet stores.
The employees are pet owners themselves & tend to answer questions with personal experiences so it’s a good place to get quick advice on pet care. Point out to them if you’re new to the hobby because I when I bought opae ula (Hawaiian red shrimp), they all died within the week since I put them in a freshwater tank instead of brackish water. It’s on me though since I didn’t do my research.
Kalihi Pet Center has a shelf full of bettas so you’re bound to find one you like with the periodic shipments they get from a local supplier. If freshwater & tropical fish aren’t your thing, they’ve got a zoo-​full of animals from puppies, birds, reptiles, amphibians & rabbits along with everything you’d need to care for them.

Called a number of pet stores on the leeward side (and searched on Craigslist) in search of a baby bunny (Holland Lop) for a gift for my mom (she’s been hinting). Kalihi Pet Center was open an hour earlier than almost all of the pet stores I called (9:00am, most of them open at 10:00).
Located in a shopping center, there is lots of parking available.
Not only did they have the specific bunny I was looking for, but they had other types of bunnies also! They only had one Holland Lop available, and I was informed they usually do not place it on hold, which is understandable. I told them I would be coming in ASAP anyway, and the person who helped me (possibly the manager?) said, «You know what, I’ll make an exception and will hold it for you until noon.» That was only a couple of hours, but it was still nice of him to do that for me! I came within the half hour though. Maybe it was my persistence. LOL!
When I got there, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful. I wasn’t planning on buying a cage because I knew we had one at the house, but there was a good-​sized bunny cage (bigger than most) that came with food, litter, water bottle, and a food bowl… all for under $ 100! It was really great, and I couldn’t resist the deal, so I purchased it. A lot of people on Craigslist ask around the same price for used ones.
They also had a variety of animals! A lot of pet stores carry mostly supplies, but Kalihi Pet Center has an awesome variety of animals: birds, reptiles, dogs, fish, bunnies, chinchillas… these were just a few that I saw.
Will definitely be back.

Is there any better pet store in Hawaii??? Absolutely not! I’ve had pets for over forty years. Fish, dogs, birds, backyard lizards. This has been my store for all of them forever! I used to go to them when they were deeper in Kalihi by the bowling alley. Loved that old shop. It was better than a visit to the zoo. You never know what you would see in that old shop. The birds they had were unmatched around the island. This new shop, it’s still got some of the flavor of the old shop but much more organized. Sure, they’re inventory still is greater than their square footage but you don’t feel like everything is going to fall on top of you like the old place. :)
I’ve been coming to this City Square location since they opened and have bought fish, dog food, bird food even lizard food though the years. The people working there all know their stuff and even better, they all seem to be pet owners. If you have a bird question, they’ve got the answer. They even will trim your birds wings there. So much better than a visit to the vet!
The selection of dog food is huge. I’ve had show dogs and pet dogs and Kalihi Pets is where I’ve always got my food from.
The back area is still a fun place to visit. Even if you’re not shopping for a love bird, parakeet, cockatiel, dove, chicken, quail, guinea pig, chinchilla, salamander, turtle, chameleon, dog, cat etc. they seem to have some kind of pet you’ll want to take home! It’s still the place you’ll want to bring your kids because hey in the middle of Kalihi this place is better than the zoo!

One day while talking with my friend about all the roaches in my chicken feed bag I had just purchased from a pet shop close to the stadium not to mention names, he recommended me to try Kalihi Pet Center. What a great recommendation it turned out to be. For all those in need of pet supplies I highly recommend you visit Kalihi Pet Center. They have everything you can think of. All the shelves are well stocked and organized. There staff is always helpful and willing to lend a hand. They have a very very nice display of many different fishes. I was also amazed by the variety of turtles and tortoise’s they have. The store is super clean and well organized. What ever they are doing there it’s the right thing! I wouldn’t recommend any other place an here. I’ve been to so many pet shops and this place is awesome! You will not leave disappointed. Give them a try and I’m sure you will leave just as impressed as I was. Oh and there was NO roaches enjoying my chicken feed when I opened the bag at home. Not a single sign of a roach. You can really tell they take a lot of pride in what they do and it’s not just a pet shop!

The staff is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. They have a good selection of pet supplies at reasonable prices. Love to look at all of the dogs, birds, fish, bunnies and other animals they have here. There’s always something new whenever I visit. My favorite local pet shop!

The guy that helped us with the fishes was so nice! Very patient as my daughter tells him exactly which fish she wanted.

Like a lot of reviews say, it’s cramped in the store and the presentation isn’t as nice as say, Petco or Petsmart, but it’s a small, local store. The prices are a little high, but again, it’s a small, local store.
There’s a lot to choose from at this place — lots of fish, lots of birds, lots of fish and bird food, dog food, snacks, etc. and they often have larval tiger salamanders and axolotls (which I’ve found difficult to find here).
Every time I’ve gone the staff has been really friendly and knowledgable. Today I was trying to get cat toys off the top row (I’m 4’11″). An employee heard me struggling and took about 5 toys down so I could see them all (I was able to put them back although he said to leave them and he’d put them back later).
I live a ways away but I work in Kalihi so I’m always glad to stop by here after work if I need something or if just feel like going to a pet store.

Bought my pup here!
The staff is friendly, the «earthborn» guy in the back is super knowledgeable and they have a huge assortment of products. I love that their prices are competitive.
The only negative I have is that the prices on animals are a little steep. A mixed breed for over 1000 is kind of crazy. They explained that the price was so high because she doesn’t she’d since she’s hypoallergenic. Which turned out to be false. She sheds like crazy! But, I can’t complain… Bella is adorable and I regret nothing! She’s my baby.

I love this place because they do bird nail and wing trimming for a much more reasonable price than any vet! Prices are reasonable for bird supplies also. Staff is friendly.

These guys have the best customer service! All the staff here is super knowledgeable and friendly and they have a great selection on everything from fish, to reptiles, birds they have it all.
I came here recently to start a new 55 gallon cichlid tank, and the staff here made sure I had everything I needed, and now my tank is doing excellently thanks to them, this is my first stop for pet supplies.

This is our favorite pet store — mostly because it is the closest one to home, but also because the prices are good and the store is well stocked. We have turtles, tortoises, several varieties of birds, a dog and a most recently, a kitten — with a veritable zoo at home, we are frequent shoppers here!
When Kalihi Pet Center moved to this location from its old location on King Street (remember the shopping center with the bowling pin?) it was a huge improvement. The «new» store is so much cleaner and organized. Initially, the parking was great but as the shopping center gained more tenants the parking can now be a challenge. There are so many great places to eat and/​or get a cold bubble drink that once you find a parking spot, you should check out the other businesses in the shopping center.
We come here for everything from toys, treats, leashes, food and water bowls, crickets for our turtles, bird food for three different types of birds, dog food (a special formula of salmon and sweet potato), cat food, bird cages, dog crates and carriers, and did I say toys? They also have a huge selection of aquarium fish and accessories.
The only downside to this place is the parking, and sometimes the staff is less than friendly. In fact, the friendliness of the staff is pretty inconsistent. Some days, they are very nice and helpful and other days, they seem pretty grumpy. Having said that, one time we needed a pet carrier to bring birds to the big island in an emergency situation and when we called to see if they had the size we needed in stock, they were just about to close but stayed upon a bit longer to wait for us to get there. THAT was super sweet and awesome for them to do. So, while the customer service is somewhat inconsistent, its still worth a visit to Kalihi Pet Center — if for nothing else, to check out all the adoreable pets available in the back of the store (mostly dogs and birds, and the occasional chinchilla). Beware, it could be dangerous. I came here for bird food one day, and ended up with a puppy.

I was so excited to get new fishes for my tank. I have several other fishes and they dwindled over the years from natural causes. Some of them have been permanent residents for a couple years. I even have eels that came from a pet store across Sam’s Club that closed down a couple years ago. I also have some fishes from Walmart in Pearl City. And they’ve been healthy for a couple years also. To my dismay the fishes I got from Kalihi Pet Center died one by one. I know that my tank is healthy as I checked the tank’s chemistry. Unfortunately, Kalihi Pet Center’s policy for a refund is 24 hours. If the fishes die after that time, you’re out whatever you spent.
I noticed that this store’s tank set up is not as nice as Petco’s or even Walmart Pearl City’s. It is not as nice or clean looking. I cannot say that that is why the fishes died as there are so many factors. Tanks may look clean but the chemistry might not be healthy. The tank set up is industrial looking. I even saw a large cockroach on the floor. My friend brought it to my attention.
Another thing I noticed about this store is their high price. I took a photo of a Finding Nemo ornament that was priced at $ 29.99. That same exact item is $ 6.46 on Amazon Prime. That’s $ 6.46 WITH shipping. You can take a look at that ornament that I have posted here and go to Amazon to see for yourself. Thank goodness for Amazon. Now, I am for giving my business to local businesses as I would rather keep my money in our island economy but I am not for being ripped off. I understand that they have to pay a lot of overhead costs such as rent and health coverage for their employees but this is ridiculous. This is just plain price gouging.
I’m planning to go to Petco to get fishes next time. They have a more generous and realistic store policy regarding returns for refunds or exchanges. When I had that happen they asked for a sample of my tank’s water which tells me that they care about their pets. In that case there was a little bit higher nitrates in the aquarium but otherwise it was a healthy tank environment. Petco allowed me to get replacements no problem. The particular fishes might not have been ideal for my tank when that happened so I got different fishes and happily paid the difference in price.
So if this pet store is your only option, my tip is to get only one to see if it will work out for you with your particular tank. Especially if the fishes you are interested in are pricey.
On another note, the workers here are not as friendly as the ones at Petco. They need to show some kind of enthusiasm and be more inviting.
I hate to give a negative review but I have to be honest or I would be doing a disservice to other Unilocalers. So, sorry Kalihi Pet Center, but your store will be given one star for this experience.

I will update my review with more comments and/​or a different rating after I go in tonight, but this rating is currently for the phone call I just made.
I have a new pet that needs a home and some crickets, and having seen the Kalihi Pet Center before and hearing good things, I gave them a call. They guy on the phone answered quickly and sounded very friendly. I asked if they have crickets in stock, and he said yes, both Large and Medium sized (yay! I love all the info I can get!). I also said I need an Open Air Screen Cage, and he said they have one for $ 75 right now. I didn’t even have to ask the price, which was going to be my main question! I told him I found one online for $ 64, but with shipping, it would be more than $ 75, so I confirmed that they’re open til 7 and said I’d come in tonight after work. He then talked a little story about how annoying it is shipping stuff to Hawaii (so true!), and we said goodbye.
Overall, it was very good customer service over the phone, and I can’t wait to check them out tonight and get what I need for my new friend!
Updated: For the last 6 months, I have purchased all of my pet supplies from Kalihi Pet Center, and their service, prices, and supplies have all remained top-​notch during this time.

Great customer service. Looked all over for a axolotl and they were the only ones who had it in stock. I got to choose 1 out of 3. Great price for a rare find.

Bulk birdseed bags are awesome!
A 25lb breeder-​size bag of Kaytee’s Forti-​diet Pro-​health birdseed is $ 42.00
A 5lb bag of the same birdseed in a pet store normally goes for $ 15.00
That’s $ 1.68/lb verses $ 3.00/lb
Now what does a owner of two lovebirds, who total 4oz in weight together, do with such a large bag? Split it with another thrifty lovebird owner! 12.5lbs can last my two birds over 6 months and I keep it in the refrigerator in containers so it stays nice and fresh.
Kalihi pets also has the best millet spray— they’re cheaper than the average pet store millet spray and HUGE, by far the biggest millet sprays I’ve seen. The brand is California Millet and it’s in clear bags (Kalihi Pets buys it in bulk and repackages it). With the clear bags, you can see exactly how the millet looks.
I cut my millet sprays in half since they are so large and I don’t want my little guys ODing on millet spray. They LOVE California millet and the regular store brand millet looks very wimpy in comparison now.
There is a cheaper bulk birdseed, Royal Mills brand, I think it’s $ 22.00 for a 25lb bag… don’t buy it. My friend bought it once and both of our birds HATED it and didn’t want to touch it. Waste money!

I’ve literally been shopping here since I was 6 years old back when they were located at the old Kalihi Bowl. After all of these years, they have yet to disappoint me.
If you are looking for any pet like a puppy or a pigeon, they are definitely your place to go. Trust me I’ve brought home many new family members over the years. On top of that they have a wide variety of supplies for all of your adorable pets at really great prices. The staff is super friendly and helpful; and they actually know what they are talking about.
I totally recommend this shop to everyone I know.
They have an awesome selection of fish and birds. I always go on Tuesdays because that is usually when a shipment comes in.

Kalihi Pet Center’s staff has continued to impress me with their care and attention to their pets. For those of you following my check in updates and tips, you are aware of the cricket shortage which hit the island as of three weeks ago. During this time, I have been visiting pet shops around the island and calling in advance for cricket supply to feed my tiger salamanders.
Kalihi Pet Center is the first and only shop to call me back the moment crickets came in. They even presented me with the option of reserving crickets through the end of the day to make sure I would be able to get some.
***
The fish selection includes a bunch of exotic freshwater and tropical fish. The tanks look well maintained and the fish healthy. Compared to other local pet shops, I have confidence in the freshwater fish at this particular store.
There is a comprehensive assortment of reptile and amphibian terrarium and tank accessories. Only Petco rivals their stock.

I just went to check out the animals and was horrified to see the back of the store. All their live animals are kept at the back of the store and the animals looked sick!
NONE of the puppies and kittens had any water. Only one cage had a little bit of food. One kitten was panting and was obviously thirsty. In one cage, 2 puppies were sleeping right next to and on top of their smeared feces. Meanwhile, 2 or 3 workers were making small talk at the front of the store and did not even acknowledge any customers that walked in. I would not buy from this place.

I recently found a little jackson chameleon and I’ve been on a hunt for crickets. Petco was again a disappointment, no crickets there! I happened to be at the kalihi dmv shopping center for lunch and had some time to kill before meeting my friends. I went in to the plant store because I saw a sign that said they sell worms and I was getting desperate (Jackson chameleons eat worms, right??) when I walked in and explained my situation, they headed me in the direction of kalihi pet center, a few doors down.
Boy, am I glad I found this place. It’s pretty crowded with supplies and unlike petco, there are plenty of workers to be found:) The people working here are friendly and prices seem very reasonable! More importantly, I was able to get 40 crickets for $ 3! Steal! I’ll definitely be back when my hungry chameleon eats all of his crickets.
This place has great parking, even if you come during rush lunch hour. If you need any pet supplies of any kind, I’d definitely come by kalihi pet center:) if you need crickets, definitely definitely come here for cheap, jumpy crickets, for a cheapcheap price!