HONOLULU (KITV4) -- The global collectibles market was $412 billion in 2021 and is forecasted to reach $692.4 billion by 2032. In its latest report, Market Decipher says the fastest growing sectors include sports memorabilia, non-fungible tokes (NFT), and toy collectibles.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the popularity of collectibles has skyrocketed, including here in Hawaii.
Harrison Maisel just got off the plane from Ventura California. The first thing the 17-year old did was come to HiCollectors to buy two Godzilla Collectibles.
"I’ve been collecting last three years. I just really like it because I like having all this stuff in my room, it brings me happiness and joy and first thing when I wake up and see all this stuff around me," Maisel said.
Charles ItLiong and his family run HiCollector, a collectibles store in Honolulu. Collecting has been his passion since he was 15 years old.
“That’s what collecting is all about. It’s not about the investing, it’s about the passion. It’s about wanting something because you have an affinity or relationship with an item. The monetary part comes secondary,” ItLiong said.
Allan McNeal is an avid die cast car collector who fell in love with hot wheels when he received his first Volkswagen beetle in 1975.
“Then my passion grew as I got older and I started collecting. One became 20 and 20 became 100, and 100 became 5,000. Now I have over 10,000 Hot Wheels and probably more than that right now,” McNeal said.
McNeal bought a 1901 fire truck, six years ago, for $40. Today, that truck is worth $4,000. But, he says he has no plans to auction off the truck.
“I know some people collect because they want to just have stuff and they like it, and the other half just want to make money off of it. But those kind of people, it’s not profitable if there’s no passion in it,” said Bryson Kurata, a Godzilla collector and creator.
But this is more than about collectors looking to cash in on this burst of nostalgia. Many are obsessed with these mementos of their youth, like Pokemon cards, which can sell for thousands of dollars.
Chris Chur is a Pokemon collector.
"Personally, I have a first edition Charizard, vintage Pikachus, PSA 10 (a card in mint condition), umbreons, gold stars, shiny Pokemon. People who know the hobby, when they see it they know what it is. They know its value. Some of these cards are $20,000," Chur said.
“It’s not about the value of the item, it’s about the relationship you have with the item," ItLiong said.
Although some of these collectors own NFT, many say they want to feel and admire their collectibles in person.
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Cynthia is an award-winning journalist who returned to Hawaii as an Anchor/Reporter/MMJ from Houston. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with a B.A. and M.B.A. DM her on IG @CynthiaYipTV to share stories.
