surfer chic

file this under inspired by an island lifestyle. maku furniture, which is based in san diego (once my home away from home), recently launched an outdoor furniture line that would make any surfer meets design junkie's heart go aflutter. in fact, the idea for the company was born during a surf trip to indonesia when the owners realized there was a big void in stylish yet casual, modern yet accessible furniture designed with adventure seekers (or dreamers) in mind.

and they were right. if you have ever shopped for outdoor furniture suitable for a modernist home, chances are good you followed in my steps during what seemed to be a never-ending scouting expedition stopping at every mall/patio/big box/modern design shop (and then back to the beginning) only to encounter an endless array of ornate ironwork, shoddy construction, or not in this lifetime prices. add a co-decider to the mix, and it was practically impossible to find something we could both agree on without looting the rainy day fund.

perhaps it would have been a different story had maku's teak lanai furniture been a reality way back when. the collection comes to life in the company's california hq and is then crafted by local artisans in indonesia which also happens to be home to the teak plantations where maku sustainably harvests all the wood used in their furniture.

maku also mixes elements from old school longboards (see entry doors below) and old world craftsmanship (take a peek at the limited edition lounge chair which features a carved frangipani design reminiscent of the hefty koa chairs found in many island homes back in the day) in many of their designs.

the price point is appealing considering dove tail joinery and kiln dried hardwood are part of the deal. maku also participates in 1% for the planet so you can lounge around on your new furniture knowing that your socially conscious purchase is helping to make the earth a better place for all its inhabitants.

alas, no local shops stock maku in the islands yet (hint, hint), however the company's california warehouse is happy to ship to hawaii (just drop them a note to confirm shipping rates before ordering). mainland dwellers have many choices on the stockist list, or if online ordering is your thing click over to design public to score free shipping (caveat: offer is restricted to the 48 states).

learn more about maku's mission via an interview with co-founder johnny west over at hatch.

once upon an ipu

ipu hale

yet another traditional hawaiian art form is receiving some love in the press far beyond the ocean borders of the islands. case in point: the latest issue of craft to hit the newsstand features the big island's ipu hale which is part of a tiny community of local artists reviving an ancient hawaiian technique of decorating the humble gourd. while most of us are familiar with the curves (and beats) of the ipu, the decorative process is not well known outside the world of historians and artisans and so a quick overview to get you up to speed.

back in the day when the ni'ihau method was practiced, intricate designs were created by carving a relief into the gourd's skin which would then be filled with coffee to slowly dye the gourd from the inside out. time was allowed to take its course and, after patiently waiting for weeks or months on end, the design would eventually emerge. since the natural dye reacted differently with each specimen, a bit of alchemy occurred which resulted in the creation of a one of kind vessel.

and, with modern day artisans looking to the past for inspiration, traditional polynesian patterns à la tatau and tapa designs are making a return to elevate the ipu from a swap meet souvenir to something that reconnects us to a once forgotten art form.

elroy juan & georgia sartoris

alas, ipu hale is without a website so you will have to make your way to holualoa to admire their craftsmanship in person. while on the big island, you may also want to stop by the volcano art center and check out the work of noted gourd artists elroy juan & georgia sartoris who create hue wai pawehe (aka decorated water gourds).

learn more about this fascinating process along with a step-by-step tutorial in this excerpt from craft.

an affair to remember

haiku mill

one glimpse at the pua le'a estate and i fell in love all over again. the setting is dreamy . . . an abandoned sugar mill in haiku restored with both earthly delights and vintage finds scavenged from paris flea markets by an owner inspired by the love of his life. it's like hawaii's very own taj mahal hidden in the hills of maui.

within the sugar mill's walls, a pergola constructed of glass creates a swoony setting for dancing under the stars. also on the grounds, a shabby chic plantation style cottage filled with sparkly chandeliers, whitewashed furniture, and more vintage treasures. the cottage doubles as a changing room for wedding parties as well as a post-bash escape for newlyweds.

for more details on booking a private event, click over to white orchid weddings where you can also take a peek at the slideshow.

the hawaiian quilt reborn

tapa

recently, h|h reader erin sent over one of the best tips ever about the modern hawaiian quilts designed by a member of her hula halau in san francisco. since this has been one of the more elusive items on my wishlist, my curiosity was piqued and with one click i discovered quilts created in the tradition of old hawaii but with a truly modern sensibility.

designer michael pechinski introduced kapa mua, his island style modern bedding collection, back in 2005. his work reinterprets the traditional symbols of oceania like tapa cloth, tattoo designs, even the iconic feather cape worn by the ali'i, and distills them into fresh designs perfect for the modern day home.

pu

'ahu 'ula

if you want to wrap yourself in a kapa mua design, just know that quilts are made to order which allows you to mix and match fabrics to work with your budget and space. the end result is a piece of textile art that is both an homage to our island culture and will be treasured in your home for generations to come.

take a peek at kapa mua's ha collection here.

{mahalo erin!}

summertime show & tell

it's no surprise that summer is high time for hawaiian style as evidenced by the the many, many catalogs arriving in the post. i confess to being a former kitschy hawaiiana lover (reborn to adore all things modern, natch), still most anything vintage, or barkcloth, or, well, could be found at bailey's still catches my eye.

exhibit 1 - hidden in the soft surroundings catalog, retro fabulousness in the form of embellished south seas pillows and, to pamper man's best friend, the oh so tropical leilani dog bed.

exhibit 2 - something about the quaint floral patterns found on the cabana quilts (with matching pillow covers) at garnet hill reminds me of the lightweight blankets that were draped over my aunty's bed back in the day.

exhibit 3 - and, finally, if nosy neighbors prevent you from enjoying your outdoor space, why not create some much needed privacy with grandin road's teak window shades that harken back to a more genteel time.