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HQ TRADE MAGAZINE APRIL 2016 74 “There were no glass shops on the island at the time – a lot of the locals would still smoke out of papaya stems. Even to this day, if you go into a gas station and ask for rolling papers, they look at you like you don't know what you're talking about,” Charity says. “It's hard to find solid vendors to work with, especially being located in Hawaii – some people won't even ship to Hawaii. We've found some good companies that we stick with, and when it comes to pipes, our cases are filled with seventy-five percent local glass,” Charity says. “People who live here want to buy local glass – it's a big thing to keep the money on the island, and on top of that, the tourists want to take something made locally home from their vacation.” The local glass tends to be a bit more expensive in Hawaii, mainly because of the added costs of materials, and a monopoly on oxygen needed for torches. People are willing to spend more for the pieces because, as Charity says, “what doesn't cost more in Hawaii. . . people are use to that.” There are lots of kitschy souvenirs for sale in Hawaii, but Westside Vibes only sells the quality glass pieces – some are shaped like turtles and octopuses or are decorated with the iconic Hawaiian rainbow. Frit chillums with pinched mouthpieces, made by Skullkid, are popular among locals and tourists, and are something that seems to be found more on the island than on the mainland. “The majority of things that we carry you're not going to walk in and find at other shops,” Charity says. “I keep my eyes open, and we have a lot of companies that are exclusive to us. One thing you won't find at Westside Vibes are headie glass showpieces. The most expensive piece they have is worth maybe a grand. Some of the local glassblowers make some really beautiful pieces, though, and Charity is thankful that they bring them in on commission and not worry so much how quickly they sell. “You can carry the higher-end stuff over here, but it's just going to sit on the shelf. Even though there's a lot of money to be made here in Hawaii, the cost of living is really expensive, so the locals don't have all kinds of money to spend,” Charity explains. “There are people who will drop a couple hundred dollars on a piece, but spoons in the $30 to $50 range are everyday sellers, and water pipes that flow best are around $50 to $70.” Westside Vibes takes good care of the locals. They offer a Kama'aina (translated: people of the land) discount to Hawaii residents, and also participate in the Fivestars Loyalty program, which gives customers future discounts based on the total of their purchase. Charity uses the sign-up information to alert customers via email to special sales and in-store promotional events. “There's a lot of Aloha here – it's the spirit of kindness, family and people taking care of each other. People come into the shop all the time and tell us how much they like its vibe,” Charity says. “It's really nice to be taking care of people – our customers are the best people in the world.” v Westside Vibes Lahaina, Hawaii tinyurl.com/westsidevibes Shop of the Monthcontinued