Kaimuki costumery Ask Kaimuki neighbors where the house is that goes all out for Halloween and they'll point you to Kharolina's, a home-turned-costume shop at the corner of Pahoa and 10th avenues.
rents holiday escapism
A resident's home is a Halloween
showcase of fantasy and funBy Lisa Asato
lasato@starbulletin.comThis time of year, Kharolina's home is almost unrecognizable as a living space. Towering racks of rental costumes, walls of handmade masks and boxes of wigs, shoes and hats make their way out of a back room and are spread -- everywhere.
"I'm just amazed," said Bryan Levin, a Saturday shopper who was eyeing a purple velvet king's costume for a party that night. "I thought maybe it would be her kitchen and another room. She's converted her whole house into a shop."
"My stuff's unique," said Kharolina, who goes by one name. "I have all one-of-a-kind. There's no two of anything."
Kharolina has run the loosely named Kharolina's Costumes at 1004 10th Avenue for 15 years.
"I never stopped playing dress-up," she said. "I started making my own costumes and masks, then people started asking, 'Do that for me.' (The business) just kinda grew and grew. It's taken on a life of its own."
"I travel all over the world and I look for stuff wherever I go, things that are authentic to that country," Kharolina said, referring to her collection of showgirl outfits from the Lido in Paris and Mardi Gras get-ups from antique stores in New Orleans.While her inventory of more than 1,200 costumes is mostly fantasy-oriented, in the style of knights and fair maidens, staples such as Wonder Woman, Uncle Sam and Austin Powers also can be had.
"Hey, it's a cat suit!" Bessie Pineda said to her friend, Tori Jackson, who was circling the racks.
A waitress at Scruples Beach Club, Jackson had aptly tried on a barmaid's outfit to wear to work. But the bustier kept falling down, and she was still on the hunt.
"It would just go 'boompf,'" she said, motioning with her hands, "and Scruples is not that kind of establishment."
Although Pineda's and Jackson's determination had lured them to the shop at least three times on Saturday, their Halloween spirit is not shared by everyone this year.
Tumultuous world events have affected business in ways "not even the recession" had, Kharolina said, adding that even she's having trouble getting pumped about the holiday that falls on her father's birthday.
"Life changed as we know it," she said. "And everybody wants to keep living and not letting it get them down on one hand, but on the other hand everybody's feeling it. ...
"It shows because the people who come in want to do something fantasy to get out of themselves, but they don't know what. It's a little aimless this year ... it's just a different mood."
Still, her customers' enthusiasm can be infectious.
"When they're into it I get more into it, and then they get better costumes," she said.
Kharolina's Costumes will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Halloween. Most costumes rent for $25 to $100 plus dry cleaning, and many costumes come with accessories.
After Halloween, the year-round shop may be visited by calling 732-3423 for an appointment.