Happily, Jelly’s in Aiea belongs to the cool crowd. Its unassuming, almost random location in an Aiea strip mall somehow just increases the hipster vibe. And when you go, don’t be fooled by the random look of the shelves—the place is well organized with a good selection of music and books (and I assume comics, but I’m no expert. Sorry!)

The atmosphere is stripped-down but functional. I liked the music listening stations, and I didn’t feel awkward squatting in the aisles for almost two hours, reading bits of each book that caught my eye. I could see these guys adding a small coffee bar to make the place more of a destination. My only criticism is a lack of seating. You’ve got to have a place to sit and look at all the oddities you find. But squatting and leaning work too.

Go with an open mind to Jelly’s. You can’t always find something specific, but you’ll always find something you want.

Cool Fact: Jelly’s was also a hit with ABC who used it to film scenes for the hit TV show “LOST” which is filmed entirely on Oahu.

Jelly’s is located in the Harbor Center at 98-023 Hekaha Street in Aiea, behind Cutter Ford. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone: (808) 484-4413.

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I’m your average gal with an average body and like most average girls, an ill-fitting two-piece makes me look ridiculous. Most bikinis are made for people who are perfectly symmetrical. So what does the gal with no toosh or a lot of junk in the trunk to do?

I went to North Shore Swimwear in Haleiwa and got a custom made bikini for my bod. It’s just so much more comfy to have everything perfectly contained and exactly where it’s supposed to be. I may not have the perfect body, but I feel a LOT better.

The locally-owned store can turn around a bikini in the style and fabric you want in 5 days, plenty quick enough for even a vacationer to take advantage of. And the fabrics are super cute.

It’s a mix-and-match operation, so you can try on all sorts of top and bottom styles until you find the perfect set. I fell in love with a halter top, but the neck was long. So, for $5, they altered the suit. And that’s a one-time fee, folks.

The two suits I bought (because I can’t just have one, can I?) cost about $85 each. That seems steep until you realize that the $30 suits you buy only get worn for one season. It’s like good shoes versus shoes from Payless. You get what you pay for.

For more info, visit http://www.northshoreswimwear.com

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