This New Hidden Botanical Shop in Kaka‘ako Is Brimming with Cool Plants

Photo: Credit David Carman

The petite 300-square-foot space that Plant Bar occupies in Kaka‘ako is a far cry from the scale of its first iteration. But that’s very much by design. Owners David and Krystal Carman originally opened the shop in Arizona, where it thrived for several years thanks in part to its expansive event-focused space used for large-scale workshops. Then, of course, COVID brought public gatherings to a screeching halt, which spurred a move to O‘ahu to be closer to Krystal’s family.

This January, the Carmans reopened Plant Bar in the storefront adjacent to Fishcake. Taking advantage of David’s extensive botanical knowledge (he’s been in the landscaping industry for 20-plus years), they’ve stocked the shop with an exciting assortment. “We consistently have air plants, from all over the world, that you won’t find anywhere else on island, including nice xerographicas and red abditas,” David says. “We have succulents, like different types of peperomias and anacampseros, including the California Sunrise, which has pink in it—it’s a cool plant.”

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Photo: Credit David Carman

They carry a variety of popular tropical plants, such as philodendron, anthuriums and variegated Thai Constellation monstera. David’s even cultivated a small selection of his personal favorite—hoya. “They’re a flowering indoor plant with clusters of flowers, really pretty with a sturdy waxy leaf,” he says. Plus, since the shop can only hold so much, additional stock is also available online with free delivery of plants on O‘ahu.

Supplies-wise, you’ll find a small range of planters, terrariums and plant care items. Help from the Plant Bar staff isn’t contingent on a purchase though. “People can bring a pot, they can bring a plant, and we’ll help them plant it out at the bar for free, by appointment and up to a certain size,” David says. “That’s what the plant bar is for—to get your hands dirty and do it there.”

The same is encouraged via Plant Bar’s workshops. Topics range from kokedama, succulents and terrariums to houseplants 101. And David is planning a mounted staghorn fern class that’ll be up next. “We hope it’s a space where people can get information about the plants that they have,” David says. “And answers for questions about plants here in Hawai‘i—what’s available here and what works here versus elsewhere.”

307c Kamani St., (808) 399-7562, plantbarofficial.com, @plantbarofficial

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