Puck’s Alley

Pucks Alley is home to several of my favorite spots, including Shaka Shaka Tea and Nook Neighborhood Bistro. Through the decades, Pucks Alley maintained its nostalgic look which my parents’ generation is familiar with since their days at UH. Magoo’s Pizza may have since moved on, but the overall vibe remains. That’s a tremendously good thing.
Here comes ‘but’. Pucks Alley must address the disrepair of their parking lot. The entrance off of S. King St. does not have a functioning ticket dispenser, nor arm to stop you from driving in without getting a ticket. This is a major problem when attempting to exit and being assessed the full amount of a lost ticket fee.
The second floor parking also has an uneven area which scrapes the bottom of your car as you leave. This should be fixed in order to prevent any further scraping off of vehicles.
The stairway should also be properly lit and maintained. It is a dangerous descent when it’s raining.

What I really like about Puck’s Alley is that if you wait long enough, the fairy Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream (from which I think this alley takes its name) spirits away the parking attendant, usually around 7−8PM from my experience.
Puck is a notorious trickster though, so don’t blame me if you go expecting to get free parking and the attendant is still there. You’ve been warned.
The facility is a hodgepodge of services and shops, ranging from hole-​in-​the-​wall eateries, moped repairs, to martial arts schools and tax services. The shops change every so often, like the seasons in Westeros, so don’t get too comfy.
Since the University of Hawaii is up the road, I imagine the cool hipster college students come down here to partake of the food offerings and other retail shops.
I don’t know why it’s called an alley though. Maybe because some parts smell like one?

Pucks alley parking scam
Don’t park anywhere near the third floor ramp or on the third floor those basters will tow and keep ur ride till u pay $ 160 private lot private tow company police can’t do nothing about it. Just stay away from that third level. PUCKS ALLEY SUCKS SCAM ARTIRSTS

I’m a Mo’ili’ili girl, born and raised, living just a stone’s throw away from UH and Puck’s Alley. Businesses have come and gone over the years. I remember the days of Fox Photo boasting their 1-​Hour Processing and Jelly’s Music and Comic Store. It’s a tricky concoction of students and low economic transients (druggies, street people, and crazies) frequenting this area. What businesses could possibly thrive on this demographic? Everytime I drive by here, I always tell people that Puck’s Alley could be the next big Ward if they played their cards right. Think about it…
They have ample parking, low overhead, and lots of youth traversing the block. Just down the road are old neighborhoods where mom and pops restaurants are still surviving these tough economic times. And right up the road? MANOA. Local families with money and a palate for something new. The late Senator Dan Inouye lived right up the street on Hausten as a little boy. And Puck’s Alley is right at the cusp of both West and Eastbound H-​1 offramps making it an extremely easy landmark to find. This is a recipe for a sustaining, thriving community that can be something really great. But the reason why it has seen its share of failing businesses is it’s downright creepy. The building itself is extremely outdated and not well lit. The garage smells of rotten milk and there are street people sleeping on the grass.
My humble advice: Invest in a beautification project. Give the Alley a facelift. Taupe and olive colors with a modern twist. Provide adequate lighting (for female patrons especially) in all the walkways, corners, and parking lot. Hire 24-​hour security staff with cameras. And finally, rent out the open units to eateries and good entertainment. Already within the last couple years, some great restaurants have popped up, namely A Place to Eat (Chef Willu’s forward thinking recipes are bold and creative), Kiss My Grits (cultured, delicious comfort food), and the newest Little Seoul II featuring Korean fare with a karaōke twist.
Business here is wavering and inconsistent because of its dilapidated atmosphere and lack of draw. But with enough incentive and safety, I see great promise.

this is where you’ll find Curry House and Nijiya Market. Enough said. The Varsity bar & grill is here too. There are other random shops and tenants (a day care, martial arts studio, coffee shop, bikini shop, surf shop, another Japanese restaurant/​izakaya and a couple tax prep places, and a Greek restaurant). In the back there are other eateries, but in my opinion it’s best to stick to the best: Curry House.
I’ve lived in this area for several years both while in college and after. It’s a convenient and awesome place with ample validated parking. If you happen to not be too full from Curry or tired from walking around Nijiya perusing the Japanese groceries and products, Puck’s Alley is conveniently located at the epicenter of Moili’ili and you’re able to walk in all ways to somewhere interesting.