Planning a trip to O‘ahu? (Or just planning a trip to the “other side” of O‘ahu?)  Ordinarily, the first locale that comes to mind as a hot destination might not be a furniture store. But one particular furniture store has indeed become “the” not-to-be-missed experience on the windward side of the Island.
   
The whimsically named Bali Boo—one of Hawai’i’s most compelling shopping experiences—is located off the Pali on Kapa’a Quarry Road in Kailua, not far from the Kawainui Nature Reserve. Here, everything required to furnish an entire home can be found under one roof. The massive 15,000 square foot warehouse showcase contains countless handcrafted, one of a kind Indonesian creations that are imported exclusively from the Bali region. These include rich hardwood furnishings crafted from Teak, Mango, Suar and Tamarin as well as pieces made from reclaimed Teak, which has a more rustic look, and promote conservation. Also gracing the showroom floor are murals, sofas, outdoor furniture, accent pieces, wall hangings and delicious paintings (including original acrylics and oils), early 20th Century Northern European and Dutch antiques, as well as intricate sculptures and wood carved artifacts and accessories for both home and garden.
   
Launched in 2003, Bali Boo is the most recent addition to the King & Zelko Hawaiian Woodworks family. The parent company, itself founded in 2001, originally designed and built custom cabinetry and furniture only, using local woods such as Koa, which carries a high price tag due to its rarity. (A four-poster bed crafted from Koa can run anywhere from $14,000 to $20,000 dollars.) Once shoppers got over the sticker shock of a Koa bed equaling the price of a small car, they would then inquire if the store had more reasonably priced furniture. Thus, “Bali Boo” was borne out of this growing demand. Susan King, who handles sales and marketing for the company, owned by Paul King and Tom Zelko, explains: “We’re so proud that we’re able to provide a unique and cost-effective solution in which someone could actually come in and furnish their entire home, including the decorative items like paintings and carvings, if they needed to. There was definitely a demand for a solid wood product that was also priced reasonably, given that our Koa product line is so expensive—gorgeous, but expensive. After doing our homework and thoroughly researching the market, we found a great product coming out of Bali, Indonesia—so we started importing basic bedroom pieces and dining tables made out of teak and other exotic woods. Because we’ve done our research, customers can come in to the store and feel comfortable buying our furniture because it’s solid wood and it’s handmade.” 
   
King emphasizes that, “Everything from Bali Boo is going to last for a long time. It’s not pressboard or particleboard, which doesn’t have the longevity due to the high moisture content in the Island atmosphere. A little teak oil every so often is all that is needed to maintain the furnitures’ beautiful look.”
   
Some of the store’s first furnishings included luxurious four-poster beds with intricate hand-carvings on the posts, finnials, and headboards. Positive word of mouth led to increasing demand, so Bali Boo eventually expanded its product line, as well as expanding into a second story mezzanine and then to a third level in the warehouse.
   
Although the upscale cabinet and custom furniture showrooms remain busy, the Bali Boo showcase is an Islander’s dream come true for many. The Kings personally select the furnishings during their frequent buying trips to Bali. 
   
“It’s important to make the trek over,” Paul King is quick to point out, “to check out the manufacturer and the merchandise, to see and understand their operations and to evaluate the grade of teak that they are using. You can get average teak or you can get the teak with a myriad of grains, designs and colors that is of a higher end, which is what we concentrate on importing to our showroom.”
    What sets Bali Boo apart from other furniture importers is the ability to give their customers a true “treasure hunt” experience. With product lines ranging from Nautical to Classical, pieces are interspersed throughout the store, so it’s definitely a fun “seek and find” mission. However, with friendly and knowledgeable sales staff on hand at all times, the look is never very time-consuming. The biggest obstacle encountered is usually the distraction of a newfound treasure en route to the item for which a customer originally entered the store. 
   
As people like to mix and match their decors, Bali Boo made the decision to not sectionalize the store, allowing shoppers’ creativity to flow. The other draw for repeat customers is knowing that when they shop in Bali Boo’s open and friendly warehouse environment, they aren’t paying for additional bells and whistles that a typical showroom has.
Bali Boo’s personalized service, online presence, and ability to absorb shipping costs have also played an important role in the company’s success.  Local interior designers and larger design houses come to them frequently when looking for unique pieces for clients or for home stagings.  Plus, the singular inventory combined with cost-conscious pricing and the unavailability of these items on the Mainland also creates a desirable purchasing situation for tourists who buy in bulk from Bali Boo and ship in bulk back to their homes in the Continental U.S.
   
All in all, Bali Boo has filled a significant need in Hawai‘i.  As Susan King states, “Regardless of personal decorating taste or budget, everyone will be able to come into Bali Boo and find something that they like.” After all, who wouldn’t like paradise on a budget?