Treehouse

The Asato family runs this funky little shop that has film, film cameras, and all the accessories you might want. Bobby loves photography, so he hosts exhibits, events, film camera swap meets, and workshops. Be sure to check out the place.

So very happy to find this wonderful store! The employees are very knowledgeable and kind! They went the extra mile to explain to us about the cameras. We were looking at the Nikonos brand cameras (waterproof film cameras) and he knew everything about it! Which made us so happy to hear because we were not familiar with those cameras. We needed a camera to shoot underwater and he knew just the right camera. So very happy with their customer service and their products! Will come again soon!

After reading all the comments I just had to see it for myself. Yesterday blew my mind. I thought I did my research about film cameras but I was definitely unprepared. It was quite overwhelming with the amount of stuff they have but they definitely know pretty much everything. I ended getting a holga 135bc for $ 56 just to get my feet wet. I learned the basics of the camera and how to put the film in before leaving the store. My 2 yr old loved the kids crafts and just couldn’t let things go so we both came out with toys. I’d say the prices are just right. If you figure the cost of shipping, the ready availability of buying in store, and the quality that you can see and feel their prices are affordable and pretty spot on. And you can’t go wrong with supporting local. This is probably my new favorite place in Kakaako.

I always seem to stop by the store when Lenny, who I believe is the owner, is outside having his lunch. But he’s always more than willing to put his meal aside and assist in all of my camera needs.
I had just recently joined the film community so I always have questions whenever I go in and Lenny is more than happy to answer all of them.
They have everything your little camera needs. They also offer local film processing which takes roughly three to five days and not only do I get my prints but I get my negatives back as well!
It’s the one stop shop fit for any photographer’s needs!
xo, c.

There are great gifts, books and things here, but Treehouse is more than a little shop: it’s the home-​base of a growing community of film enthusiasts in Hawaii. Always attentive and never pretentious– I can ask these guys anything about any film, lens, or camera and never get an eye-​roll. There’s more than meets the eye here at this seemingly hipster haven– this place is part of a churning analog Renaissance that I am proud to be a part of.

Love love love this place. At first I thought it would just be another hole in the wall store, but they have everything. If they don’t have what you’re looking for they’re more than willing to look it up for you. I dropped off my film to them and they sent it out to be developed. I got a call when it was ready (3 days or so later) and swung by to pick it up. I was in and out in 5 minutes. This place is great.

Love
This
Place!
SOOO STOKED! Thought we were just stopping by to pick up film and got to meet the one and only Lenny_​K! Staff is always helpful, place is always stoked and you never know who’ll you’ll run into! Thanks Treehouse…

Best and only place on the island this far that sells legit photography and art supplies. Love this place can NOT get any more real than this

Came here in search of film for my minolta and I wasn’t disappointed. There’s a lot of cool stuff in this little store. I finally found a place to buy 35 mm film for my old school cameras, pro quality and regular for amateurs like myself, in color and b&w. There’s also a selection of instant cameras, like updated Polaroids, Holgas, and actual Polaroids and film for all of them. They also do a drop off service for film if you need it. This will be my go to place for film in the future!

As an avid photographer of digital and film alike I can’t say enough good things about treehouse. The camera selection is all used but always a wide variety and checked for quality. Treehouse staff is both friendly and super knowledgeable.

Went here today to grab some supplies for my photography class. The sales associate (whose name I didn’t catch, next time though) was very helpful and cool. When she knew who my teacher was, she helped me get everything I needed for right now. Will definitely be grabbing all my future photo supplies here. #supportlocal

If you’re a photography lover such as I, this is your Haven.
Whoever found this place first, THANK YOU. This store is thee coolest place for vintage cameras and cameras that are usually sold at Urban Outfitters in the mainland.
Store wasn’t difficult to find, it is located on the 2^nd floor.
As I entered this store, I was like a kid in a candy store because of all the cool cameras. My favorite part was the fact that he had some vintage cameras (such as the old Polaroids!) that were refurbished to modern technology, so if it had a battery that is no longer made, that’s okay because it got remade to use basic batteries that can easily be bought today!
Considering the prices for some of the cameras, they are actually pretty reasonable, I would’ve thought some of them would cost more than mentioned because they’re Vintage and hands down unique.
Forget Digital cameras, Polaroid has always taken photography on a whole new level because of it’s instant film.
If you buy the camera here, don’t worry they also sell the film to go with it! I was beyond ecstatic when I found out they sold Instax Mini Film. That film is hard to find (in person) especially if you’re impatient like me, who wants to use my camera asap. ALSO, that film is sold at Wal-​Mart too but let’s be real? Majority of people here go to Wal-​Mart, and you can bet they’re either Sold out or never restocked. So rare to see it fully loaded with instax film at Wal-​Mart and if you do, it’s best to might as well buy as much as needed.
However, why do that when you have Treehouse?! ALWAYS restocked, never sold out, easy parking, no annoying customers, great customer service, awesome photography gadgets. It’s a winning situation my friend. SERIOUSLY.
So, if I can’t wait for Wal-​Mart to restock or my online order to ship. Treehouse is Thee place!

Just visited this small shop yesterday & absolutely LOVED it!
The owner was super helpful & was there with his daughter. Too cute!
I walked away with a small pink reusable film camera and a lens for my DSLR. I feel like he helped me get everything that I wanted (even when I was unsure what that was myself)!
I urge everyone to pay this place a visit & support local businesses!

Really like this place, small shop, neat and simple. Definetly coming back for more film and maybe a camera.

This is probably my new favorite camera store.
I went in today with my dad’s 2 Polaroid cameras, not knowing if they worked or not. Bobby gave me some test cartridges to stick in the cameras to see if anything would happen. Turns out that neither of them worked.
Not a big deal. The store had quite a large selection of Polaroid cameras which caught my attention. I had a lot of questions and Bobby was very patient and helped me with everything. I walked out with a Polaroid camera and a film cartridge.
I was very impressed with the customer service I received while I was there. It was also a great atmosphere. Very kid-​friendly, and not dark, cramped, and stuffy like most photo stores are. The selection of items was very extensive, and I will definitely be back when I need more things for my expensive hobby.

we signed up for a workshop at treehouse– bobby brought in the honolulu printmakers to do a demo and a hands on event for kids 6 – 10. total success, kids had a blast, and hopefully will keep their creative juices flowing!
love the store and the film toy cameras here as well as the art books, shirts and art supplies for kids. we will be back. thanks, and keep the workshops coming!

Love this store and the owner’s concept: that we can teach kids to be creative, to be problem-​solvers, to be unique and to enjoy using our hands and our minds together — and express ourselves!
We ending up buying stuff for ourselves and it’s great because he has film both of my super fun cameras: 110 for baby diana and my fuji mini polaroid!

I am so excited to do this review! This store is a true gem and I am so glad my husband found this place. He first heard about it when he saw an article in the newspaper. What caught his interest was the words «film photography». He has taken many digital pictures of weddings and portraits but none with film. What he does like is the feel he gets from film photos so like a good wifey I said sure let’s go check it out.
Now this place is geared mostly for kids. They have many workshops for children. When we went in there was a flyer for screening t-​shirts and drawing/​coloring manga characters only for $ 10!!! There was also many art supplies enough to spark any kid’s imagination.
Met the owner Bobby and of course my husband got right down to talking about all the film cameras he had displayed and what type of film he should be using. What is awesome was the wall of photos taken from all film cameras right when you step into the store. It is called the slim&wide project which started from April 5 and runs through May 3, 2013. On the flyer Bobby had it states:
5 local photographers were asked to shoot the Superheadz Slim&Wide point and shoot camera. The objective was to see it’s ease of the use & the diverse photos taken with it.
Photo-​wall is open to anyone who wants to submit their favorite S&W photo. Just bring the photo by & we’ll put it up along with the others to create a on-​going collage of photos.
Needless to say we purchased two Superheadz Slim&Wide cameras and you will see my husband’s and daughter’s photos up on that wall soon enough. Price was $ 30 which is a whole lot more cheaper than the two Cannon cameras that cost me in the thousands of dollars so $ 30 for a camera is a steal to me. He has an assortment of other film cameras too. What I have my eye on is a Holga!!! But I need to save my money for that. Price for the one I wanted was around $ 75 still not bad but Bobby was saying that he was expecting another shipment of more goodies so I opt out on purchasing anything in hopes I find something better the next time I come.
There’s also t-​shirts and some artsy coffee books that you are able to purchase. Along with some novelty items like camera pencil sharpener and a camera usb. For a small store there was just so much to take in we got lost for about an hour in there.
A few tips that everyone should know. Treehouse is located on the second floor right above First Hawaiian Bank at Ward. Right across the street is Bank of Hawaii and the other corner is Wahoo’s and Starbucks. Parking is limited so if you can’t find parking just park at Sport’s Authority and walk on over. It’s not that far of a walk. Not sure if there’s an elevator since we walked up the stairs so if you have a small child ditch the stroller.
Um I think that’s it. Obviously I will be back.

Get the pueo mug!

Treehouse is a small, tucked away store filled with whimsy and kid-​centered fun. The owner, Bobby Asato, has a vision on a store filled with art projects and supplies, and of kids and their parents gathering in a space filled with meaning and fun.
Treehouse reflects the tastes of it’s owner. Film photography, music, graphic arts books, and novelty items are arranged alongside craft kits for children of all ages. The center of the room features a collection of tee shirts, with sizes running from infants to XL.
As I shopped, I couldn’t help but notice the vinyl spinning behind the counter, the whisper of the needle adding to the atmosphere in the room. I was so happy to have spotted the flyer in the lobby of the Art Museum School, and mentioned it to Bobby. He said that he was hoping that students at the school would see it and discover him. He is also hoping that there will be an opportunity to hold art workshops in the store, but is still working on the details for such a project.
It took me a full week from finding the flyer to actually making it to Treehouse. Parking is a difficulty, as are the hours, but it is worth working around these slight inconveniences to visit the store. The shopping center does have a few visitor spaces, but they were full when I visited. I parked across the street in front of Ward Center and simply walked a bit. As for the hours, Treehouse is currently a one man operation, so his hours are arranged so that he can still spend time with his family and on his own projects. It was easy enough to grab lunch in the area and then head to Treehouse, and I look forward to doing so again soon.
If you are in the market for good quality, creative, reasonably priced gifts for the children in your life, do not hesitate before climbing into this Treehouse. The store is already on my go-​to list, and I know that I will find reasons to visit again soon.