Ohuhu Honolulu Alcohol Markers — An honest pro & con review

If you’ve been browsing marker sets lately, you’ve probably seen the Ohuhu Honolulu series pop up everywhere — influencer demos, big sets at bargain prices, and a brand that’s clearly pivoting from “cheap markers” to “legit marker options for hobbyists and pros.

Ohuhu Honolulu Alcohol Markers — An honest pro & con review

I spent time testing these, reading other reviews, and digging into spec sheets so you don’t have to.

Below is an in-depth, balanced look at what the Honolulu markers actually deliver: the good, the meh, and the things to watch out for before you click Buy.

Quick takeaway (TL;DR)

The Ohuhu Honolulu markers are a high-value, versatile alcohol-marker line aimed at hobbyists, students, illustrators, and even pros on a budget.

They come in many set sizes (from small 6–24 packs up to very large 216–320 color collections) and offer dual tips (brush + chisel or brush + fine) with alcohol-based ink.

For the price they’re excellent — great color range and bendability — but don’t expect perfect nib longevity or absolute color accuracy across every kit. If you’re building a marker collection without breaking the bank, Honolulu is absolutely worth consideration.

What’s in the Honolulu line — sizes, tips, and price ranges

Ohuhu has positioned the Honolulu series as their flagship alcohol marker family, and they’ve released a bewildering array of set sizes and special packs: 6, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 168, 216 and even a 320-color “new version,” plus themed kits (skin tones, pastels, grays, and portrait packs).

Sets usually include a colorless blender and are sold with either brush+chisel or brush+fine tip combos depending on the SKU. Prices scale predictably — small starter sets in the ~$25–$40 range, mid-sized sets $60–$140, and the very large 216–320 kits in the low hundreds.

If you want spare parts, replacement brush nibs and blenders are sold separately. Ohuhu+1

First impression: feel, build quality, and design

Out of the box the Honolulu markers look and feel solid for their price.

The barrels have a rounded ergonomic design that’s comfortable to hold for long sessions, and the caps are color coded — which is a small but meaningful time-saver.

The dual-tip feature (flex brush on one end, chisel or fine on the other) is the classic, workhorse combination that suits illustrations, fashion flats, lettering, and general coloring.

The markers are lightweight but not flimsy, and the caps fit snugly — an important detail for preventing drying. These are clearly designed to compete with mid-range marker lines rather than super-cheap classroom markers.

Ink, color range, and blending performance

This is where Honolulu shines.

The alcohol-based ink dries quickly, blends smoothly, and layers well for gradients and shading. Large sets give you subtle intermediate hues that make skin tones, fabrics, and gradients much easier compared to small 12–24 color packs.

The color coding on caps makes searching for a desired hue fast (and the larger sets feel like having an analog “color picker” at your fingertips). If you plan to work in portraits, comic art, or product sketches, the broader palettes in the 72+ sets are especially useful.

Official marketing emphasizes “vibrant colors + superior bendability,” and in practice that claim is supported — the markers blend predictably and produce bright, saturated colors.

Nibs: brush flexibility and chisel/fine control

Most reviewers and hands-on testers praise the brush nib for being soft and flexible — capable of calligraphic strokes and filling irregular shapes.

The chisel or fine ends are suitably rigid for precise edges and block fills. That said, nib quality and longevity are not uniformly perfect.

Several hands-on reviews note that brush tips can fray after heavy use, and a small portion of users report inconsistency across batches (a few markers in a large set might feel stiffer or drier than others).

If you’re a heavy marker user who expects industrial-level nib durability (think: professional designers using markers daily), you’ll want to budget for occasional replacement brush nibs.

Durability, lightfastness, and permanence

A couple of practical points to keep in mind:

• The ink is alcohol-based: it blends and performs like other alcohol markers but is not waterproof once applied and is solvent-based, so it can reactivate or lift with certain solvents.

• Lightfastness: Ohuhu does list ASTM D-4236 conformity on some pages, but long-term archival/lightfast ratings are not always provided on every product page. Expect that, like most non-artist-premium markers, extreme light exposure over many years will fade colors more than top-tier, lightfast artist markers. If you’re creating work intended for gallery sale and long-term color stability, consider scanning/fixing your work or investing in higher-rated brands for the pieces you intend to keep forever.

Pros — what I liked

Outstanding value for money. You can get broad color coverage at prices far below many “pro” marker brands. For students, hobbyists, and illustrators building palettes, that’s a huge win.

Large, useful color ranges. Skin-tone sets, pastels, mid-tones, and full rainbow packs give real practical advantage for figure work and fashion illustration.

Bendability and consistency (mostly). The ink blends well and layers for smooth transitions. If you use markers primarily for illustrations, comics, or design sketches, the Honolulu range will let you achieve professional-looking gradients.

Comfortable, ergonomic barrels and color-coded caps. Small but meaningful design choices that help during longer sessions.

Specialized nib tech (S series). Ohuhu’s “S” series with a soft chisel tip (Red Dot Design recognition claimed on some S-series listings) is an interesting innovation if you want chisel-like coverage with more control.

Cons — what I didn’t love

• Nib longevity and batch variance. Multiple community reports and reviews mention brush nibs fraying or a few markers in a set performing differently. It’s not universal, but it’s something to expect if you buy a very large set — a handful may need replacement nibs sooner than you’d like.

• Not the ultimate archival option. If you need museum-grade lightfastness, you’ll still want a premium marker brand that publishes full lightfast ratings. Honolulu is great for work that will be scanned, sold as prints, or used in everyday illustration, but less ideal for pieces you want to hang unprotected in direct sunlight.

• Color matching can be tricky. Like many marker brands, colors can look different on paper versus cap, and names/numbers aren’t standardized across brands — so pairing Honolulu with another brand for exact color matching is not seamless.

• Refillable Ink is not emphasized. Some premium brands make refills and replacement parts a core part of their ecosystem; Ohuhu sells replacement nibs but doesn’t push a refill-first philosophy as strongly (though replacement nibs and blenders are available).

Real user experiences — what other artists are saying

• Enthusiastic hobbyists praise the color range and blending; several in-depth brand posts point out that the 320 set is transformative if you want a near-complete palette in one purchase.

• On the flip side, community forums (e.g., Reddit threads) show that some users saw uneven performance after months of use — mostly nib wear or a small number of uneven markers in big sets. That kind of variability is common in high-volume, budget-sensitive manufacturing runs, so expect to check your markers and keep spare nibs if you rely on them.

Tips and best practices for using Honolulu markers

• Paper matters. Use marker paper or heavyweight, bleed-resistant paper for best blending — cheap printer paper will feather and bleed.

• Layer slowly. Alcohol inks build quickly; layer gradually to avoid muddying colors.

• Keep caps tight and store horizontally. This preserves even ink flow and nib condition.

• Replace brush nibs when frayed. Ohuhu sells replacement brush nibs for their Honolulu series; keeping a spare set is cheap insurance.

• Scan early if preserving color is important. If you want prints or digital backups, scanning soon reduces future fading concerns.

Who should buy these markers?

• Beginners and students: If you’re learning alcohol marker techniques, Honolulu sets give a huge palette and forgiving performance at an accessible price.

• Hobbyists and illustrators on a budget: You’ll get professional-style blending and color range without the pro-brand price tag.

• Fashion illustrators, comic artists, and product sketchers: The broad sets and skin-tone packs are especially useful.

• Not ideal for: Fine-art collectors who require archival, museum-grade lightfastness for original works intended to remain unscanned and unprotected for decades.

Final verdict — are Ohuhu Honolulu Alcohol Markers worth it?

Yes — with context. If you want an affordable, flexible, and fun marker system that produces excellent results for illustrations, comics, and design work, Honolulu is one of the best value options on the market right now. The biggest trade-offs are occasional nib wear and slight variability across large sets.

For everyday creative use, classroom settings, hobby projects, and even semi-professional work that will be reproduced or scanned, the Honolulu line gives you more color and blending capability per dollar than nearly any competitor.

If archival permanence and absolute, guaranteed nib durability are your non-negotiables, consider supplementing Honolulu with a premium lightfast brand for your keepers.

Quick buying checklist

• Decide on your purpose: casual coloring vs portrait work vs portfolio pieces.

• Choose set size accordingly (small for testing, medium for consistent work, 120+ for advanced color control). Ohuhu

• Buy replacement nibs/blender at purchase time if you plan heavy use. Ohuhu

• Use marker paper and store horizontally.

Closing note

Ohuhu Honolulu Alcohol Markers — An honest pro & con review are as much about workflow as they are about pigment chemistry — a great marker from a brand you like can become an extension of your hand.

Ohuhu’s Honolulu series won’t replace the very highest-end professional markers that artists swear by for gallery work, but it brings pro-like performance to a much wider audience.

If you’re experimenting, building a palette, or simply want markers that behave beautifully without serious wallet remorse — Honolulu deserves a test drive.

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