Chicken Crossing the Road
For whatever reason, I find this video of a chicken running across the road of the Target Kailua parking lot very entertaining.
Maybe she was amped up from that Starbucks coffee.
target
Note to Self: Target Hawaii Does Not Price Match Amazon
Just a reminder to myself that Target locations in Hawaii do not price match online stores. They’ll price match target.com but not other sites like Amazon.com. On the mainland, it’s a different story, but be wary of the “except Alaska and Hawaii” exemption clauses.
So if you ever need to upgrade your cable modem to take advantage of Oceanic’s newer faster speeds, you can’t just go to Target, hoping they’ll sell you the $120 Motorola SB6183 cable modem at the $90 Amazon price. Just won’t happen. Even with a 10% electronics coupon, Amazon is still cheaper.
How Hard Is It to Make Color Copies?
Much too hard is the answer. So I wanted to make copies, actually smaller versions of a school photo. From a color 8×10 photo, I needed a 4×6 and some 3×5 sizes. First, I call Target to see if they have photo services. I was ensured they have a photo kiosk near Customer Service. I ask the rep if there’s a scanner to scan in images. Yes, confirmed. I go to Target to find the Kodak photo kiosk with a yellow sticky saying it’s out of order. Gee thanks customer service. You could have walked the 10 feet to the kiosk when I was on the phone with you.
Next I went to Longs. They recently got the same Kodak photo kiosk system I saw at Target. There was an attached scanner, so I started going through the steps. What a piece of junk that Kodak photo kiosk is. Maybe it’s the hardware, maybe it’s the software, or just that touch screen, but the kiosk would just bug out. At best you could touch the Start Over button and start again. At worst, the kiosk would get stuck in a loop – warming up scanner, capturing image, warming up scanner, capturing image, over and over. When finally one photo scanned successfully, I tried to rotate it. Is it just me or is timing the click on the okay button when the image is rotated correctly much too difficult?
Eventually the system just wouldn’t accept any more and was just hung. So I went to a different Longs. This location had the older Fuji system that was easy enough to operate. The cost of two prints is $0.41 or something like that, but then the clerk says he can’t print school photos due to copyright issues. He had gotten into trouble for doing this once already. I had no release consent form on me since the picture was taken at the beginning of the school year. Maybe I could call the photographer and ask for a release over the phone. Who took the photo? No clue.
Next I went to a neighborhood print shop. Sure, they could resize and print the image…after 24 hours. They needed time to scan and resize the image manually then print it out. 24 hours? Heck, I would have taken a printout made using PowerPoint.
So who could accomplish this seemingly daunting task? Walgreens. The store had two staff members working the photo services desk. A third Walgreens employee helped me with their kiosk system. Seems like the days of 3×5 photos is no more. A 20-minute print time was like 20 seconds, and I had to pay $0.78 for two prints. Woe is me. Thanks Walgreens!
The Dregs of Lilly Pulitzer at Target
Yes, I’m still fascinated by the successful disaster that was the Lilly Pulitzer collaboration with Target. The demand and attraction, the fanfare, the hate, the Black Friday-like lines of shoppers, the crazy resale markup – all so fun to watch (from afar). In most locations, all traces of the Lilly Pulitzer launch have been sanitized, making you question its existence.
However, at the Kailua location, there’s actually a few Lillys still available, but I’m guessing this must be the dregs of the collection.
Actually, the set of colored drinking glasses is okay but not at $30.
The Existence of Lilly Pulitzer at Target
A mere two days after the release of Lilly Pulitzer’s affordable collection at Target, it’s like it never happened. On Sunday, Lilly fans overwhelmed Target and its stock. On Tuesday, there was nothing to be found. Even the signage celebrating the collection was removed, and all the clothing displays reset. You would’ve been none the wiser.
But scouring around,I did manage to find two Lilly Pulitzer products proving the release did indeed happen.
But by now, I’m sure there’s no trace of the Lilly + Target line.
Lilly Pulitzer + Target @ Kailua
So thankfully, I missed it all. Heck, I didn’t even know about it but just happened to be at Target when the Lilly Pultizer collaboration released. Fashionistas had known about this day, lining up outside retail stores early in the morning or swarming Target.com. By the time, I was at the Target in Kailua, this is what remained of the Lilly clothing line.
Actually, when I first walked by the rack, it was completely barren. But seems like a few items made it back to the rack. In the back of the store, there was another section for home items, mostly towels at this point. Sorry no pictures, and sorry to the fans who missed out on the Target + Lilly line that supposedly is not being restocked.
Not sure if it was related, but the in-store Target guest wifi network wasn’t behaving as well. Once you connected to that network, Internet traffic was super slow and yes, Target.com and its app just would keep throwing errors. Taking a look at the hashtag of #LillyforTarget, you can still get a glimpse of the nationwide craziness and the unhappiness of empty handed shoppers. In the store, I felt compelled to move some of these pastel colored goza mats into the Lilly Pulitzer section just to see what would happen.
Looking at the Lilly line on-line, personally, I’m not sold. Oh, I’m definitely sold on the hype of the product line, loving and hating brands that can create enormous buzz (looking at Apple and Nike). For my tastes, I described the Target + Lilly line as “Easter Hawaiian,” meaning Hawaiian style prints in Easter pastel colors, but some items are eye catching.
But really who am I trying to kid? While I may not be a fan of the Lilly designs I saw, if there was a collaboration between Lilly Pulitzer and Nike, I’d definitely be open minded and would consider rocking the “Nike + Lilly.”
Target Kailua Soft Opening
The Target location in Kailua had their soft opening today with the grand opening scheduled for Sunday, March 8. Open to the general public for the first time, the people of Hawaii didn’t disappoint. There was an expected line to get in as many thought today was the official grand opening.
The shopping carts were quickly snapped up as the people kept on coming.
I didn’t grab a cart but instead, opted to zip around unencumbered, and you know what? From what I saw, this Target looks like any other Target you’ve been to. Check out the familiar bath section.
Here’s the electronics section.
The groceries.
Although I love the layout of the milk containers. Reminds me of the Matrix movie for some reason.
The toy section was happening as serious Hot Wheels collectors picked through the virginal batch of cars. I found the latest Lego Minifigures series along with the newest line of Lego Elves.
Some of the sale items advertised in last Sunday’s ad were wiped out already on the first day of shopping.
Sadly, no new flavors of Mountain Dew Kickstart were available like at the other locations. Just the usual ones.
The Target dog wasn’t on-hand today but his replica was. But I didn’t take a selfie.
The Starbucks inside wasn’t as crowded as I expected, and there is another location just down the block.
All shopping carts were accounted for, and you had to hunt for one.
The plentiful parking disappeared as well. The connecting lane joining Safeway was still blocked off. All I can say is that Boots and Kimo’s is gonna be nuts with this Target (and its parking) open across the street.
Be sure to watch the local news tonight for in-depth coverage. Every channel was there. Anyways, here are more of my rushed pics. I didn’t want to stay too long as more and more people entered the building. Although I must say that since this location is so huge, even with all the shoppers, the store didn’t actually feel cramped or crowded. It was a comfortable shopping experience despite the craziness.
Driving in
Sale items gone already?
Hawaii News Now
Line at Starbucks
Police on scene to monitor traffic
Parking lot full
Yellow Spring Oreos!
News interviews
The Matrix of milk
Lego Minifigs
KITV4
KHON2
Groceries
There’s a backup generator
Parking all gone
The shoppers kept coming
Lego Elves
Take a selfie with the Target dog
Shopping carts went fast
Free shopping bag
Baby registry
Target Kailua Almost
The newest Target in Kailua is set to open this week, and here are a few more pictures before the opening.
Target Kailua Coming Soon
The sign is officially up – COMING SOON. And “Coming Soon” for the Target location in Kailua actually means two months with the opening set for March 8, 2015. It’s been a long time in the making with first rumblings of Target taking over the Don Quijote location back in 2009. Over this six-year journey, the pace has picked up greatly over the recent months to include neighboring road work to repave and re-stripe the lines and install a new traffic light. Only three months ago did the official Target signage go up.
While the exterior looks complete, the interior is still bare. The shelving is being installed, but there’s no inventory on the floor yet. Workers are busily getting the store ready and yes, there is police officer stationed there all the time.
Some highlights of this Windward location. The roadway entry is nicely decorated. There are touches of Hawaii to go along with the iconic red Target logo.
Speaking of that red Target logo…
The store itself is immense. You don’t realize how much real estate this location takes up until you walk from the Safeway side to the Post Office.
Accordingly, the parking lot(s) are huge as well. There are plentiful spaces on both sides of the main road entryway, and there are even more stalls on the Safeway side (maybe reserved for employees?). The paved grave material looks rough and rocky though.
No explanation needed for what this logo means. Looking in the window, the cafe area appears huge with space for lots of tables.
Living walls are only now beginning to take root.
Yes, there are two stalls for electric vehicles (sorry, there’s a coffee cup on top of the charger, but not mine).
The most significant change in my opinion? Connecting the Safeway parking lot. Yes, soon enough you can drive to the adjoining lots.
Just don’t mind the wild, free range chickens that’ll eventually roam the Target parking lots.
I can’t wait to check out the store in operation in March. Until then, here are a few more pictures of Target in late January.
Update: the Star Advertiser is reporting a March 4, 2015 opening date.
Target Kailua on Target
The new Target location in Kailua is slowly coming together. I had a hidden hope that the store would be ready by year’s end, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. But the store is shaping up and looks on target to open in March of 2015.
The bonus part? The interior lights are working and during the evenings, you can see an illuminated green mermaid logo in the window of Target. Yep, there’s a Starbucks inside of the store which is across the street from Starbucks.
Anyone got the ins with Target? I wouldn’t mind taking a tour of the work in progress or attending a soft opening. 😉
We Have Signage
While it’s still some time before the Target in Kailua opens for business, its well known red logo is installed and is very visible. Never mind that there’s no sidewalk or parking lot currently.
Holiday Gift Guide: Alice and Olivia Bike
Target and Neiman Marcus are collaborating on 50 gift items this holiday season. Available starting tomorrow (December 1), these high fashion items are sure to sell well. If you’re not looking to purchase any of these items, I’d steer clear of Target on Saturday.
My 2012 Holiday Gift Guide pick would be this bicycle cruiser for a fun loving female.
Source: target.com via Gee on Pinterest