Basically Books is a true blessing. The energy inside the shop is very welcoming. And everyone is extremely helpful. I love that they support representation with a vast range of Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian literature, books by local artists, and everything in between including puzzles and jewelry. This is a great place to get books and things for yourself or gifts for loved ones. I would warn you though, you may end up leaving with more than you planned for. I just wanted to stay in there forever and buy as many things as I could! I’m already planning my next visit! The new location is great too!

Great bookstore! Fantastic selection of books about every aspect of Hawaiian life, culture, history, cuisine and nature. There was an entire section on Hawaiian language as well. Great kids and young adult sections. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff.

Very nice lady who runs the store. Nice little hidden gem in Hilo.

A lovely Hawaiian bookstore with contemporary books and a large childrens section. They also have maps, gifts and cultural items. There was a nice selection of cookbooks and accessories like spices as well. Also, the restroom was clean. The owner and staff are friendly and welcoming.

Very interesting book store. They specialize in Hawaiian culture

Great place to find locally crafted gifts, maps and books to learn and relax with

This is a great local bookstore. It has the biggest selection of books on Hawaii that I have seen in my travels in the islands.

Huge selection and they are super friendly and helpful. Prices are very affordable.

Nice little book and gift store.

This store specializes in books about Hawai’i, travel, children’s books and many delightful gift items. A favorite place to shop!

Theres a nice variety of things there, I love it

Great place to find USGS maps and an assortment of books.

This is a Hilo institution and a locally owned indie bookstore that has survived! Spend your book and gift money here- we loved it!!

Love the Hawaii focus here on books!

Great selection of local books and gifts. They also carry a selection of kids and young adult books and some great Hawaiiana. The staff was very friendly, too!

Amazing place for locals and visitors!

Awesome little corner bookstore

Friendly folks and interesting selection of local information

Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. The name should be Basically HAWAIIAN Books

Nice friendly bookstore with lots of local info and products, toys, souvenirs and of course, books.Not a wide selection, though. Local island cookbooks? Check. Books on island history and lore? Totally. Tolkien or Douglas Adams? Probably not. Amy Sidaris, didnt see any. You know, its just not that kind of bookstore.I want point that out so you know before you go. Its a great store though! I bought a number of things, including the local version of Cards Against Humanity but I didnt buy any books.

An ok local book store with local music CDs and gifts.

Brick & mortar bookstores are few and far between in Hawaii so I was happy to find this little gem. The selection was excellent for such a small shop. I noticed that rather than have 20 copies each of a few editions, they have 1 or 2 copies from a large variety. Check out the classics section.

Amazing collection of Hawaiian books, maps and gifts. My kids love looking through the childrens section.

Great little souvenir and book shop. Spent a lot of time here and bought a lot of great things. Highly recommended if youre looking for a gift to bring back home.

If you are looking for Hawaiian books for your little one, this IS the place to go. Great selection, friendly staff. Strongly recommend.

Owner was friendly and helpful. Good selection of interesting books and souvenirs. The only place we found so far for a reliable map of the island.

They have a small selection of books and toys. Excellent selection of Hawaiian books, so If you want a book on any Hawaiian subject this is definitely the place to go. The fiction section is limited. Toys are great.

Bad name but great independent bookseller. If you want anything about Hawaii and Hawaiiaina, this the place to go. Finding Hawaiian history written by locals is one of the finds here. Some books are published by the authors and local presses. I take all my visitors here first if they want to learn about Old Hawaii that is disappearing fast.

Hard to keep money in pocket!!I can stay in store ALL DAY!

Best placed for maps, all kinds of dust collectors and knick knacks, some useful, all beautiful. Postcards, jewelry, petroglyph press books(Hawaiian genre) etc. Good spot for high end souvenirs, but also something in every price range. Worth a visit if youre looking for something to do thats not a box store.

Theres a lot of different things in the store. Something for everyone. One stop shop for Christmas gifts.

This is a nice souvenir/gift shop with books. Clean and organized and the prices were reasonable. Fun murals on the exterior.

Basically Books has always been my favorite place to go when I need to destress & relax. It has everything you would ever need to transform yourself to another world by reading and imagining yourself in other parts of the world! What an array of goodies from Hawaii, cookbooks, souvenirs, leis, maps, songbooks, etc. New location, so no problem with parking now. Enjoy Debbies laid-back service & you will surely return like I have for the past 12 yrs!

Great customer service! They have a little bit of everything including childrens toys, stuffies, etc... as well as some gift items. Books of all ranges.

Great local book store. Lots of local books for children and adults. Locally made gifts too. Great for souvenirs shopping.

Loved this place! Quaint. Charming. Eclectic. Great customer service!

A great little place to peruse for treasures to take home. Lovely staff, excellent selection.

Fabulous selection of books and gifts! Not the best place for kids. Staff seemed weary with kids but very helpful with making great gift selections!

Great place..they do faxing..alot people dont know this

Very nice place with a great selection of books and maps.

Fun, talkitive staff.

This is an outstanding place. I totally recommend. But watch out... you could go broke here (just kidding).

Nice big store, plenty of parking, Cafe next door..

Wonderful time wandering the aisles! Found some marvelous DVDs and CDs, plus historical books on Hawaii! Go there and take your time!

Cute bookstore, super willing to order books for you and its free to order from them, you just pay for the book when it arrives

Best place for local books. I bought Sunny skies and shady characters for a friend of mine. I appreciated they had it in stock. That is all fellow earthlings.

Excellent small book store. Packed with lots of goodies. Friendly Staff. Wide selection. What more could you want.

We got the catch of the day it was really good the place was very inviting the people where really nice and good prices 💯🤙👌

Great location, all the Hawaiiana books you can think of. Could spend all day in here. I did notice a sitting area outside. Grab a cup of java, or smoothie, buy a good book from here, then sit outside. Nice.

Beautiful store with a large selection of Hawaii-specific books - non-fiction, fiction, and childrens books. Also other fun things that would make good gifts, like Tarot cards, crystals, soaps and lotion, tea towels, maps, posters, etc.

Great place for souvenirs. Also making copies, jewelery, unique umbrellas and tons of books!

Amazing collection of Hawaiian books and books about Hawaii.

Real nice bookstore something for all ages.

Small but good selection, especially on Hawaii history and culture

Great for the latest best sellers, locally and nationally. They have guest speakers, published authors, poets...great events!

Being certified bookworms - the name attracted us...We came in looking for books. What we found was more of a gift shop with some books about Hawaii.

Great find.

It is a nice mix of books, crafts, gifts, calendars, decorations etc. Would like to it has an awesome collection of popular reads and a cool kids selection. I will be back.

Great if youre looking for books on Hawaiian history

Such cool Hawaiian made products!

I love independent book stores, and this may be one of the coziest and best stocked Ive ever been to...if youre looking for any work on any topic dealing with any aspect of Hawaiiana, these folks probably have it or could point you to someone who does! Incredible variety of maps, fun knickknacks/things, and a friendly staff should really make this a must for any bibliophile in or passing through Hilo.

Huge variety of books on Hawaii and its Culture and Geology. Has great Murals on the outside.

Loved your great selection of puppets!

Huge selection of books and more! Great place to get reasonably priced gifts.

One of Hilos gems that makes this town so special! They have a great selection of books by local authors, as well as books you cant find anywhere else.Im originally from Cape Cod and one day browsing the shelves saw a book about a glass factory in Cape Cod! They really have an amazing selection. Plus the staff is always helpful.I really appreciate that the owners hold author talks on a regular basis and Ive been to several events featuring a variety of writers.Basically Books is also a great place to get quality locally made items, not junky stuff found at Walmart. When I want to send a nice authentic Hawaiian gift to friends/family on the mainland, I go to Basically Books.

Many books, soft and hardback. Hawaiiana books for every age and interest, history, agriculture, floraculture, cosmological, chicken skin, travel and royalty. Nice selection of toys, (games, stuffed animals, plastic figures). Souvenirs from local artists and craft makers. Souvenirs a person would otherwise have to make many stops to find are all here. Basically Books shares space with Petroglyph Press.👍

Love this little store!Great selection of local HI books & maps.

Best unique gifts for friends and family near n far

One of the best!

A child assisted me when I Shoped it was wonderful

Books, gifts, give them a try. They do a great job.

We were looking for something specific, went in, asked, and walked out with what we wanted a couple minutes later.

Beautiful view, great menu and wonderful speedy service.

Whatever your needs this place has what you want. Top notch service.

Excellent bookstore with helpful staff and a very good collection of local authors and Hawaiiana.

A good place for Hawaiian books

This lovely mom and pop bookshop owned by Christine and David Reed is one of the only bookshops in town that is on the main bayfront strip. They offer a variety of books but also local gifts and souvenirs from local artist and venders. The Reeds have run this shop for many decades, know a lot of the local history and even hold musical events during Merrie Monarch and invite local Authors to come and talk in the store. You can place orders for new books and this is one of the only shops that offer USGS Maps and nautical maps for sailing.

Nice little niche, relaxed atmosphere, great selection and variety...lots to look at n a great place to find that special gift to take home...

Great place to find interesting and unique gifts!

Find something for everybody to learn new and interesting things at this local shop. A vast selection of Hawaiian language books are available along with history of the island culture and energy fields.

Friendly staff

Excellent selection of books, posters, maps, and gifts.

Fantastic book store and more!

Great folks, and varity

Great gifts too

Read ing is great#

Good place for used books

All the hawaiian books you will ever need is here

More books if the Hawaiian Island and its culture. Look cook books and story.

Wouldnt accept new returns unless the owner was in. Went elsewhere.

I enjoy going to the book store and getting lost in a book.

Hawaiiana, Food, Culture & Children Books Etc

Nice joint!

Always a friendly culturally-rich place

Very wide cross references

Knowledgeable staff.

Specializes in Hawaiian books, maps

Cuz

Convenient.

Great!