Target

About a decade ago, I lived in West Palm Beach Florida. Target stores in southeast Florida were kinda gross. A little run down with employees who seem like they didn’t want to be there. However, the Target store in Kailua is very, very different. On the outside there is a huge parking lot that is very well maintained meaning it is not littered with trash or shopping carts. On the inside, the store is very well organized, well lit, with many employees.
I went to Target specifically to buy a Playstation 4 because my Playstation 3 recently broke. The promotion was for $ 350 which I think is a nationwide retail price but the target package also included a free game and a $ 50 credit gift card that could be used in store or online. Effectively it made the price cheaper than Black Friday or even Amazon because of the free game and $ 50 gift card.
I wandered around the store and saw that everything was neat and tidy. There’s even a grocery and huge liquor selection. There’s even a full service Starbucks immediately inside the store to the left. Definitely a beautiful target Super Center.

My first time out here I forgot my bags. As soon as I got home I put all those reusable bags I’d be getting for years into the trunk.
Traffic out here from Nuuanu is normally good for me instead of dealing with the H1 to get to Stadium. Lots of parking and very calm atmosphere. I think I need to come here more often instead of Walmart.
This is the only store in town that I know carries thermal underwear. And even better their target brand stuff is on clearance! The websites still has it at regular price.

This is the newest Target and opened in early 2015. The workers were very friendly and helpful. Came in to pick up electronics but they ran out of my item. The workers were kine enough to call the other Target locations and check their inventory. Never really had to wait in long lines which the most was 1 or 2 people ahead of me.
This Target is in a really good location that has plenty of parking. Very clean and well kept. Not overly crowded. Really clean and organized inside. Did not see abandoned carts in the parking lot that would make me wonder whose car will it hit.
Target has a really good transparent exchange/​return policy. This target offers a lot of variety of quality products. The prices are reasonable. Also has a Starbucks located by the main entrance. Target overall has been pretty consistent and never lets me down. Stick to your list or be disciplined because I am sure it is common to come here to pick up a couple items and end up leaving with more then originally planed.

Target has a reputation for offering a wide variety of decent quality products (from groceries to furniture, sporting goods to personal hygiene items, clothing to kitchenware) at reasonable prices, and this location provides all of that in a clean, not overly crowded environment.
Service has been pretty good, and parking is free in their lot and generally easy to find.
Items we tend to buy at Target (due to their being an especially good buy): ice cream, fuji apples, Kashi cereals, spices, eggs, legumes (black beans, lentils), the occasional 12-​pack soda. As you can see, we sort of use Target like a less expensive grocery store. Walmart in town is cheaper on many items (though not the ones I just cited), but it’s far away, harder to park at, and much more crowded — not nearly as clean or pleasant an experience.

This Target has really stepped up their cleanliness game the last couple months. Maybe they read their reviews? But it definitely has not gone unnoticed!

Target at Kailua is very well maintained and the aisles are very clean. I like seeing the team members wearing Hawaiian polo. It really makes you feel you’re in Hawaii LOL, because we are used to see them wearing red shirts in Cali. It seems that the prices here and walmart are almost comparable. However, there are items found here but not at walmart and vice versa. This is the beauty of competition compared to monopoly. Everybody wins.

If I need something in at Target I prefer this location. It’s a nice and huge Target that has more to see than the Salt Lake location that is near my home. It’s very clean and well stocked every time I’ve been in here. I can’t say much about customer service because I’m usually in and out the store quickly. Make sure and bring your own bags. I always forget and end up buying more. I think I’m up to around 15 target red bags I’ve bought.

Er… Why is this Target rated lower than the others here? It makes no sense because it’s the best Target here! After a recent terrible experience at the Target in Salt Lake I drove out to Kailua to check out the newest Target on the island. First off, the entrance to this Target is beautiful, its lined with palm trees and there’s mosaic tile art pieces on the pillars. A stark contrast already to the middle-​of-​nowhere sandwiched between nothing and nothing Target in SL, and that’s just the driveway!
While it is far away from town, I feel like it is worth the drive. Not only were they well stocked with all the products that I needed, the store was neat and tidy with a low-​key vibe that I am used to from Target on the mainland. This store is the exact OPPOSITE from the Target in SL — the aisles were wider, the employees were friendlier, and the crowds were non-​existant.
Call me a mainlander, but I enjoy a peaceful shopping experience… and this Target has it! I like to take my time browsing the aisles w/​o being in anyone’s way or having to move my cart to make way for a flow of carts. I like going to Target without leaving disappointed that my favorite yogurt is completely cleaned out. And most importantly, the Target employees didn’t seem to be overworked and looking like they hated their jobs (which is a frequent phenomena at the Salt Lake location).
They really do things differently here. This has become my new go-​to Target location.
Goodbye chaotic Salt Lake Target, Goodbye!

Overall, I love Target and I was excited when this location opened.
My one complaint:
Kailua is a very dog-​friendly town. And Target as a brand is dog friendly (I mean, their mascot is a dog…) but each location has the autonomy to choose whether or not it will allow dogs. Very understandable. Knowing this, I called ahead to ask if my dog would be welcome in the store and I was assured she would be. For the record, she is extremely well trained and friendly. At the store, some employees even came over to pet her. After about 20 minutes, an employee approached us and informed me that I could not have my dog in the store and asked me to leave. I did so without argument but had to leave my items behind. It was embarrassing to say the least. If they do not allow dogs in their store, that is perfectly fine. But they really need to get their employees on the same page with this policy.
I have since seen dogs in the store multiple times…
Minus 2 stars because I was told I could bring her. Plus one star because the employee that approached me was polite about it.

Typical Target store: clean, large, crowded. Great place to stop in and get what you need.
Conveniently located in Kailua town. However, there’s LOTS of traffic going in and out, and the parking lot isn’t very large so it tends to get quite crowded VERY fast.
The prices are a tad bit higher that the Walmart in town, but the quality of their products, as a whole, is substantially better.
Given its location in Kailua, we would be much more likely to go to this Target verses the Salt Lake Target based on traffic alone.
Super clean and organized, unlike Walmart.
Friendly staff, also unlike Walmart.
Offers numerous items that no one else has.
When shopping for the basics, I really don’t need to have the customer service be exceptional, but when it is good, I tend to WANT to return, and in this case, I WANT TO GO BACK.

One of the best additions to the windward side! Their atmosphere is really large, and open. It seems to be a lot more organized than the other locations I have visited. This is really the only large department store we have on this side.
Their ‘Baby Deals’ sale is really good, and has many gift card offers.
The variety of product they have is awesome. They also have a lot of competitively-​priced «store-​brand» product (Up & Up brand, etc.) which are pretty good quality.
Other pluses include a Starbuck’s and Hot-​Food counter (serves Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas and other hot food items) near the entrance.
Small pluses include: Umbrella bags for wet umbrellas, sanitizing wipes for the carts, etc.
Parking is very easy to find. It is an open-​lot, with many stalls.
Plastic-​Bag free = Awesome. They even give you $ 0.05 off when you bring your own bag. I really like that they are eco-​friendly.

I dont know what it is about Target, but I love to spend money here. I just feel like I need everything!
The new location in Kailua is so convenient for us Kaneohe folks! But make sure you account for traffic. I usually make my Target trips after 6PM to avoid traffic and the busy hours at the store.
I am a huge Target grocery shopper! A lot of the products are cheaper than at Safeway and you can use the Cartwheel app to get better deals!

Target has the best shopping carts! I love pushing them around! The carts are so light and smooth with excellent maneuverability, and also very quiet. It’s the total opposite of those old metal shopping carts that stores have been using for probably over a decade. It definitely makes your shopping a lot of fun. For me, anyway. :)
This is my first time visiting this Target, and it pretty much looks like the one in Salt Lake when you first walk in, but after roaming around a little bit, this store is newer, cleaner, more organized, well-​stocked, very neat, and more selections of items.
I came here to buy some gifts for a friend’s baby shower. She has a baby registry with Target, and you are able to print out the entire list at the little kiosk, for free! This is much better than looking at the list from your phone. The printouts were very clear with useful information. You knew the exact aisle, the item number, and detailed descriptions of the item, so there is no way you will buy the incorrectly item. I easily found the exact items I needed.
After that I did some browsing around, and there is a LOT of stuff. Each aisle is very spacious, so you won’t get stuck by someone’s cart, or needing to slowly inch by, and each section is clearly indicated, so you know which aisle has what. Everything is well-​stocked. Other than a few «super, great deal» items, everything was well– and neatly– stocked with a wide variety of items. There were a lot of excellent deals at this store too. Way better prices than Wal-​Mart, or other «on-​sale» items at other stores.
A huge positive for this Target is how friendly, attentive, and well-​spoken each and every staff member are. Whenever I came upon a Target employee, he/​she would ask if I needed help finding something. On one instance, I seen the same person twice in a row at different areas of the store, and she still asked me if I needed help. Or she was stalking me! :) The cashier and the customer service ladies were the same as well. Very friendly and accommodating.
It was such a great overall shopping experience. If I lived a bit closer, this would be my go-​to shopping place for all my necessities. The parking is easily accessible with spacious stalls, the staff are genuinely friendly and well-​spoken, the prices are great, aisles are neat and well-​stocked with a wide selection of items, and the shopping carts are AWESOME! :p
Definitely need to come here more often, and move to Kailua!

We walked here after eating Boots & Kimo because we needed to pick up some towels and sunblock before heading out to Lanikai Beach.
Seems like your average Target with all your basic essentials and a small grocery section. Not a Super Target, though. And huuuge parking lot. I also love their wall of Spam haha! Hawaiians loooove their Spam!
Nice that you can kill time here if your wait at Boots & Kimo across the street is forever and a day.

Come here weekly for grocery shopping. Sale prices are good. Heck, even regular prices are good, too! Staff is friendly and helpful when you are stuck looking for something. Aisles are smaller than I’m used to compared to the Salt lake store. Overall, a smaller store, but still has everything.
Big tip, get a Target card. You get a 5% discount on your purchases. AND, if you connect it to their Pharmacy Rewards program, after 10 refills on your prescriptions, you get an additional 5% off card to use in combination with your Target card for a total of 10% off your purchases for a day (can be used multiple times on the day you choose).

One-​stop shop for all your needs.
Finally, a big box retailer on the windward side! While Target’s prices are not as low as Walmart, the quality, selection, and shopping atmosphere is so much better. Shop for groceries, clothes, shoes, school supplies, soap, towels, gifts, jewelry, cosmetics, garden supplies, anything and everything! It also has a Starbucks located in the store! Woohoo!
I am in love with the two-​seater attachment that is attached to some of the shopping carts. It’s a must when you’re a parent and flying solo with two or more kids.
The layout of this Target location is spacious and not overly crowded or cluttered. It’s easy to maneuver a stroller or shopping cart between aisles. The check out lines move way quicker than at Walmart.
The parking lot has an entrance/​exit with a traffic light off of Hahani Street. While many residents worried about how this store would impact the traffic in Kailua, it doesn’t seem like it has impacted traffic at all. The traffic in Kailua is certainly not due to Target.
This location is plastic-​bag-​free — so bring your own reusable bags.

Living on the Windward side, my family and I have been counting down the months, then days and then hours until Target opened.
I think that majority of the Windward peeps felt this way as well. When Target opened it truly took Kailua up a notch in regards to look, appeal and credibility.
The place is awesome! The parking lot is clean and pristine and the store is larger than life. It’s gorgeous! And the best part is it’s plastic bag free.
If you want to shop there you need to bring your own bag, or two, along with you.
For us folks on the Windward side, if you need a quick present, you can swing by there to grab something. Need new sunglasses or a bikini, you can swing by and buy one. Need a new fan, a bedspread, plates, forks, DVDs, toys, whatever you name it — you can swing by Target.
I am happy that we finally got a one-​stop shop on our side of the island.

I DON’T HAVE TO DRIVE TO SALT LAKE!!!
Seriously, that is why this Target is getting all the stars.
It’s Target, People, what’s NOT to love? Except it will gladly take all your money, leave you broke, and then call you back as soon as your next paycheck drops only to do it to you all again. Even my husband says it’s a good day if we can leave Target without spending $ 100.
I wasn’t going to come here during the first week of the opening, because, eff a mass crowd. So I decided to come by last night, on a Tuesday, at 5PM and it was fairly empty. The parking lot is… well, I can see how it’s gonna cause some back up.
The store is massive inside, they layout is different than the Salt Lake version and there seems to be more Hawaii related items in each section. I was looking at the swimsuits and there were several souvenir displays. Same in the accessories.
The employees were all super helpful and friendly, and I know I’ll be a regular here.
OH, this store is bagless, so BYOB or get ready to buy a reusable tote for 99cents each. Even Whole Foods has cheaper totes so maybe cross the street to get a cuter one, THEN come here. ;-)

This Target is going to be a big success. It is well designed. It is not just a big ugly box sort of store. It appears slightly smaller on the outside. Inside it is a full size real deal Target.
Parking: Big parking lot with a new traffic light to facilitate traffic. This is very important and will be a key feature for customer satisfaction.
Merchandise: Groceries, clothes, cell phones, furniture, housewares etc. etc… Nothing new to report here.
Bagless: The first store, that I’m aware of, on Oahu to stop using plastic bags. Eventually all stores will do away with disposable plastic bags but this Target has decided to show leadership on this issue. Kudos to Target.
Service: Lots of staff available and lots of cash registers open. I looked for management but saw none. I was going to ask about all the dogs in the store. I counted 5 dogs in the grocery section.
Management Fail: Dogs, including fake phony «service dogs», are not allowed into grocery stores or restaurants. It is illegal to allow dogs and other pets according to state department of health laws. Target is both a grocery store and a restaurant. It must follow those laws.
Policy: Target is a giant corporation with an army of lawyers and a policy on dealing with legit service dogs. Everyone knows that real service dogs are allowed. Target also knows how to handle the fake service dog situation. The dogs I saw were all were under 5 lbs. in weight. Three of the 5 were sleeping. All were in a stroller or grocery cart. Two had fake «service dog jackets» that can be bought on Amazon. (Perhaps these are sold at Target also?) None had visible dog licenses. These were not real service dogs.
Sanitation and Food Safety: So a grocery store and restaurant with no restraints on dogs is not a clean store in my book. I’m not buying food there. Next time I see the dogs there I will find the manager and discuss this issue directly. Until then, Target has time to train their staff and start paying attention to this problem. Kailua is a very dog friendly town and this problem will only get worse once customers figure out that no action will be taken.
Update: June 2015. So I initially was discouraged with this location because of all the pet dogs that I encountered. I gave 2 stars because of this failure to monitor. So I’m revising this to 3 stars because the dog issue seems to be under control. My second visit there I only saw 2 dogs. Third visit one dog spotted and last 3 visits no dogs at all. Yeah! I have no way of knowing if the problem corrected itself or if the store management started being more proactive. Target is A-​OK in my book.

There’s nothing like the smell of a fresh new Target with their shiny white floors and familiar bollards. This Target is a snazzier, refreshed version of the Salt Lake one. It’s smaller than Salt Lake but bigger than Kapolei. 2412 is now open for business.
This store has a small «Hawaii» section with Hawaii products and souvenirs geared towards the tourists who venture out this way and some other products I haven’t seen at the other locations. This could be because the products are new or based on their location. There were 3 four foot facings of various nonrefrigerated milk ranging from almond to oat and hemp. They have P Fresh too aka fresh produce and meats.
Spam is $ 2.64 a can. I repeat $ 2.64 a can. This will get the locals to flock out here. Hmm otherwise it looks like the other Target stores we have here. Oh and there’s no alcohol. I’m not sure if they will or not. I’ve been to many target stores that do not carry alcohol.
There’s tons of parking… no shade or places to hide from the sun or rain as we found out on grand opening day since it was raining cats and Bullseyes!
One important thing to know is they have already started the no plastic bag initiative so make sure you bring your own recycle bags.
The team members are still new so be patient when you’re at the check lanes and when you ask questions. I didn’t see any familiar faces from the other stores.
I’m glad they finally opened to alleviate ten traffic at the other two. Next one… needs to be more in town.