new peeks: kealopiko makahiki 2011

naulu

makahiki season would certainly pass most of us by if not for the kealopiko 'ohana. in ancient times, when winter solstice neared native hawaiian life slowed down to celebrate happy times with 'ohana, feast on the bounty provided by the 'aina, and revel in delightful diversions from hula to surfing.

and so, makahiki has arrived and with it a welcome reminder for modern day kama'aina to breathe in the beauty of hawai'i and embrace all you love about island life.

happy congratulations ane, hina & jamie on five years of gorgeous handprinted goods inspired by hawai'i nei!

the makahiki celebration (+ weekend market details) begins after the jump!

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final boarding: sig zane x ito

. . . pop-up by interisland terminal . . .

hopefully, you are one of the lucky locals who met the sig zane 'ohana during their weeklong waikiki appearance talking story about how art, design, travel and the islands combine to influence the family of makers. if you call oahu home, the interisland travelwrights pop-up shop closes on sunday and with it your chance to scoop up limited edition offerings and other goodness (hello kites!) by the hilo label.

although distance is keeping me away (alas!), the story behind the ponoholo print debuting at ito makes me hopeful that it will become a permanent part of the collection. the starry skies that guided the native hawaiians during their navigations across the pacific are intertwined with a woven motif representing the ties that bind . . . from the canoes on which those long ago journeys were made to the connection of the zane 'ohana to their hometown.

happily, the interweb is filled with ito peeks so i gathered up a few to tempt you down to waikiki this weekend!

ito tee

hilo one duffle

ponoholo printing process

i love how screenprinting transforms a plain piece of fabric, and was delighted to discover interisland terminal posted a fascinating peek of the made in hawaii production process.

tonight, find out what sparked the creation of kuhao's art installation (6p to 8p), and remember a portion of sales from the ponoholo design benefit interisland terminal!

• when: now to sun, jun 12th
• where: waikiki parc hotel, 2233 helumoa road
• pop-up shop hours: daily, 11a to 7p
• fyi: free validated parking at hotel (valet only)

{photo credit: 1/2 - sig zane + 3/interisland terminal}

beach read: moloka'i

growing up, my understanding of kalaupapa was limited to the occasional classroom mention and wandering past father damien's statue at the state capitol. then i borrowed moloka'i from my mom which turned out to be a beautifully written tale of how the dreaded epidemic upended the life of a seven-year-old girl.

the fictional story transports you to old honolulu and its inquisition-like investigations of the whispered about ma'i pake before journeying across the kaiwi channel where the inflicted were expected to embrace life on a forsaken slice of 'aina. and while tear-stained pages are inevitable, little rachel kalama stubbornly proves that happiness, even if fleeting, is possible in small moments of freedom be it secret surf sessions, teenage escapades, and unexpected friendships that blossom during an almost lifelong colony existence.

if you adore a good story, this is a must for your summer beach reads list!

p.s. there are plenty of copies waiting to be discovered on the shelves of your local library.

fashion forward: alfred shaheen

the hawaiiana fashion house alfred shaheen has been enjoying a bit of a revival over the past few years with reissues of their vintage textiles making the home decor rounds. isla from soh inspired! recently shared the news that indoor and outdoor spaces wistfully waiting for lovely yet resilient island style can now be prettified with patterns from the designer's surf 'n sand label. duralee welcomed more alfred shaheen goodness last month with the introduction of the copacabana collection (loving the sophisticated motifs which remain quite modern!), and i spied a few tropical delights hiding in the abbey road and big sur offerings.

while admiring the fabric swatches, i noticed that the archives have also been opened to seascape lamps where you can illuminate your nest with a selection of shaheen shades. do have a peek if your home loves a retro luau look! since not everyone is well versed in mid-century aloha wear, i whipped up a fun diversion to capture the essence of the iconic honolulu label with a vintage outfit vs. modern design goods faceoff!

peek a few of my favorite fashion and design twins after the jump.

mini mum garden

the three tier mini mum garden ($290) meets its a-line doppleganger in this strapless lovely ($300).

kona tapa

love the handdrawn nature of the kona tapa design ($210). and the graphic sensibility of this darling surf 'n sand playsuit ($105) remains au courant with rompers all the rage these days.

regina asian blossoms

jackpot! i discovered the ladylike regina asian blossoms lamp ($210) has a deadringer in this très jolie cocktail dress ($69.95).

hooray for etsy where i truly lucked out sourcing coordinating vintage looks. the prices some styles are fetching are certainly incentive to go hunting through the closets of your fashionable mamas and aunties!

and, stay on the lookout for hawaii's alfred shaheen: fabric to fashion, a traveling retrospective which the star-advertiser reported is expected to stop in maui this fall.

p.s. surf & sand fabric sources include johnny mango at the gentry design center and housefabric.com which woos with discounted yardage (but beware high shipping charges to the islands).

{update: hancock's of paducah seems to be a better bet for online orders to hawaii. although a smaller selection of surf 'n sand patterns is offered, half yard orders can be placed & shipping via usps is an option.}

introducing manaomakani

it's an unfortunate fact that styles for the lads are few and far between in h|h's dressing room, so i was quite happy to find a note from manaomakani designer jamie makani aldaya in my inbox. a precursory peek at the handful of designs in the newly launched collection was a delightful discovery since the label mixes screenprinted and embroidered native hawaiian motifs on 100% certified organic cotton tees and jackets.

the socially responsible line is made in the usa which altogether is the practically elusive, almost impossible shopping triumph in our household. a win-win-win for the hubby's 808 tee collection, i say!

the design process is a bit more intricate since jamie, who was raised in the bay area and started manaomakani after a 30 year style career, looks to his native hawaiian ancestors for both inspiration and permission. the latter entails returning to the islands to offer chants and a pule (prayer) to the gods and then waiting for a sign before proceeding with each collection. he sought out windswept ka'ena point for the 2010 collection which honors native plants like koa and ohia lehua for their cultural value to the hawaiian people.

koa embellished tee

ohia embellished tee

organic french terry jackets

designs are screenprinted with water-based inks and the embroidered details add an eloquent flourish. price tag ranges from $44 for a tee to $110 for a hoodie (organic french terry = happiness!). for those used to fast fashion prices, it may sound a bit high for basics but remember there is a hidden cost of cheap, throwaway fashion from underpaid labor to a garment's environmental footprint (especially not cool when other countries' citizens must deal with the consequences to quench america's neverending desire for a closetful of disposable bargains).

manaomakani is also committed to the 1% for the planet philosophy and donates 1% of purchases to kahea, the hawaiian-environmental alliance.

a w's line is in the works and, fyi island shopkeepers, jamie is currently on the lookout for local retailers. the full line-up can be shopped online (knock 15% off with the secret code below) while sf readers can scoop up styles at aloha warehouse in japantown.

• secret code: HAPA15
• expires: sun, oct 31st

{mahalo jamie!}

new peeks: sig zane

lihiwai * mikioi

goodness, it's been quite some time since the last sig zane roundup and so many new designs have arrived in the past year that i had a difficult time editing down all the sz goodness.

here's a quick recap - eco style is now available with the addition of bamboo fabric aloha shirts and the introduction of the w's organic mohala tee. m's board shorts are now offered in more patterns and the collaboration with the waikiki aquarium is now online. you can style up your kitchen with quilted mikioi hot pads while hawaiian style minimalists will want to take a peek at the new lihiwai canvas bag with a cheery solid exterior lined in the big island designer's lovely fabric.

one of my favorite new patterns is the hilo one which interprets the town map into a wearable design. definitely a great find for anyone whose heart remains on the big island.

and, reiko from the sz 'ohana posted peeks of fujitsu's limited edition aloha express netbook rocking sig's 'ulu pattern. it is, alas, available exclusively in japan but the gorgeous design makes me wish sz offered a macbook skin. lucky japan!

hilo one * welo * waiuli

w's organic mohala tees

aloha express in 'uluwehi keaukaha

select styles are available in the online shop or hele over to the sz flagship in downtown hilo:

• where: 122 kamehameha avenue, hilo
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9:30a to 5p & sat, 9a to 4p

new peeks: kealopiko ku collection

ke aloha aina

the lovely ladies behind kealopiko are definitely to be admired for their dedication in sharing the hawaiian culture with the modern world and their commitment to good design. i like to think of the descriptions that accompany all of their designs as continuing education . . . little histories which help folks (re)connect with their ancestry while clueing in kama'aina and others who may not have been immersed in all things hawaiian learn more about hawaii's native culture. more knowledge is always a good thing!

happily, kealopiko recently introduced their ku collection for spring 2010 and are showing more love for our 'aina by expanding the number of designs printed on organic cotton and eco-friendly fibers. one of the most striking designs is the ke aloha aina tee which mixes a variety of typefaces and serves as a printed reminder of the wearer's "deep love of the land":

"aloha aina is a very old concept . . . although it may change and adapt, it is a part of us that will never go away. we remain kupa‘a in our love for our place, which is challenged all the time by things that are not in the interest of the land or the people. more than a century of occupation may have produced a lot of confusion, but it can never break our aloha aina. so no matter what our different political persuasions might be, wherever we are on our journeys of learning, or wherever we find ourselves in the struggle, we must never forget our common bond of aloha aina."

in addition to tees and tops, pretty strapless dresses are now being offered which i suspect will be very popular this summertime. and, the kealopiko 'ohana also kindly shared a few of the custom looks created for one of the lucky wedding parties who have walked down the aisle wearing some of the most gorgeous designs for an island wedding.

aeo

lehua makanoe * lau amau & palai a kamapuaa

are you sharing my swoon over these lovely wedding looks from lauren and mason's wedding? the muted colorways are so pretty and this is certainly one of the most stylish ways to share the aloha spirit on such a happy day.

if you would love to order a custom design, be advised that kealopiko suggests a minimum of 8 weeks notice to conjure up something made just for you.

the ku collection is currently stocked in the online shop and you can find select styles at boutiques around the islands. oahu readers can also say hello to the kealopiko 'ohana during this weekend's e malama i ke kai festival:

• when: sat, may 15th - 10a to 3p
• where: kapiolani park bandstand, waikiki

{photo credit | lauren & mason's wedding: joanna tano photography}