Inside Maui Mood Swing & Mad Kimono: Wailuku’s Must-Visit Vintage Stores for Fashion, Art & Community

The Maui Mood Swing x Mad Kimono palace. // Matias Ezcurra Photography

In the heart of Wailuku, Maui, there’s a vintage store that’s not just a store—it’s a full-blown mood. And its story starts with exactly that.

Founder and style icon Alison Nagatani has always had an eye for vintage, but even more than that, she’s had a passion for feeling. When she was a teen, whenever she was having a hard day, she’d duck into the local thrift store—and like clockwork, any bad mood would lift.

“It was like an instant mood swing,” she says. “In a positive way.”

A day in the life at Maui Mood Swing. // Matias Ezcurra Photography

That spark turned into Maui Mood Swing, a secondhand vintage and antique marketplace with serious soul. It’s a colorful, electric playpen packed with one-of-a-kind treasures—from clothing and accessories to housewares, furniture, art, and design. But more than its curated collections and funky aesthetic, what really sets Mood Swing apart is its culture.

Ali didn’t just want to build a store—she wanted to create a movement. A space for artists, misfits, dreamers, and the wildly creative to connect, express themselves, and feel celebrated. And she did just that.

The creative staff and energy behind Maui Mood Swing (aka the “Mood Swingers'“). // Matias Ezcurra Photography

Maui Mood Swing’s mission? To reimagine the antique mall experience, ditch mass culture consumption, and instead weave culture, commerce, and consciousness into a living, breathing community. One that’s inclusive, electric, and way more fun than any mall you’ve ever been to.

The staff? Hilarious, helpful, and as unique as the wares. Walking in feels like joining a family you didn’t know you needed—a fun, welcoming crew that sees you exactly as you are... and amplifies you. No surprise that the store has become a vibrant ally and hub for Maui’s LGBTQ+ community. Pride in who you are is the energy here, and they live it daily.

Want to breakdance in a vintage silk jumpsuit? Or go to yoga before you thrift? Or attend a fashion show, a graffiti workshop, or a late-night dance-a-thon? It’s all happening here. Maui Mood Swing isn’t just a place to shop, it’s a place to find more of yourself. And you better be subscribed to their events calendar (unless you love FOMO).

Ali inside Mad Kimono. // Matias Ezcurra Photography

And then there’s Mad Kimono, Maui Mood Swing’s new, wilder, higher-end sister store. Alison describes it as “a closet where a wild child, a geisha, and a punk gathered for a tea party.” Walking inside feels like being in an edgy, radical dollhouse with luxe vintage garments, statement kimonos, and rare pieces that blur the line between fashion and art.

Together, these two spaces form a world where fashion is fearless, community is sacred, and everyone’s invited to come play. All we can say is: Maui is so lucky to have them.

Ali and the Mood Swingers in front of Maui Mood Swing in Wailuku, HI. Mural by Matt Agcolicol (pictured far left). // Matias Ezcurra Photography