arkotec design lab

 manatee lab

if you haven't stopped into [area] lately, you may have missed one of the most promising design lines homegrown in hawaii of late. arkotec founder christian hastings recently returned home to the islands to pursue his lifelong dream of opening up a multidisciplinary design house via a fusion of old school production ways and modern meets sustainable design concepts.

in a world where far too much is outsourced to faraway lands, the big island-born designer (who currently calls honolulu home) is happily reviving the cottage industry one product at a time. first by producing a tee collection with thought provoking graphics and most recently with the introduction of arkotec's products for people line (sewn by christian's talented wife shandra).

take a peek at arkotec's latest offerings . . . delightfully green pillows, handbags and plush toys handmade with fabric reclaimed from the thrift shop mixed with new textiles for a totally one-of-a-kind look:

quasi

currently, the arkotec line is exclusively stocked at [area], the fab mid-century modern showroom in chinatown, with plans to open up an online shop of its own later this year (off-island readers are welcome to email christian to place an order).

click over to the arkotec website to learn more!

{update | feb 2010: arkotec recently opened up an online shop stocked with all of the featured designs shown above!}

happy hale*days 08: kitchen edition

this will be short and sweet since thanksgiving plans have begun to distract me (on the menu: kalua turkey, garlic whipped potatoes, artichoke parmesan soudough stuffing & pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream). since i am still gathering edible ideas, enjoy this abbreviated roundup of fun foodie finds for the kitchen!

1 - if you giggled with me at the popular sumo match salt & pepper shakers featured last year, you will be delighted with its 2008 successor - the adorable hawaiian kiss s&p set.

2 - grab the icing and bake up a united 50th state with a copper hawaii cookie cutter.

3 - add a bit of handmade style to tabletop offerings with ceramist marissa domanski's gorgeous swirl bowl (available at maui hands).

4 - edible hawaiian islands offers up page after page of behind-the-scenes peeks of hawaii's culinary community.

5 - delight your favorite paddler with wooden napkin rings carved in the shape of canoes and paddles from soha.

6 - the kcc culinary arts team puts a healthy twist on island style favorites with a dash of aloha cookbook.

wishing everyone a very happy thanksgiving filled with good eats made with love!

p.s. my inbox has been flooded with black friday sales news so check in tomorrow for the full scoop.

{update | nov 27th: whoops! number order has been corrected}

kukui candles kokua

hawaiian body products, the big island company behind ola, is joining efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer this month and donating a portion of october sales of its recently introduced kukui candles line to the kapiolani women's center.

each candle is hand poured in an illuminating blend of coconut wax, locally harvested hawaiian beeswax & kukui nut oil scented in four of the company's signature island-inspired fragrances (think passion fruit citrus or coconut lemongrass) and packaged in either a handy travel tin or a recycled glass jar.

click over to the online shop to order or take a peek at the stockist list to find your nearest retailer.

shivhon rug collection

lawai

hawaiian style rugs are not known for pushing the design envelope and seem to be content to stick to a more traditional mosaic of patterns stuck in a time warp of 80s pastels and garden variety borders. so let's just say it was a good day when i happened upon shivhon's lovely tibetan rugs with its delightful mix of updated tropical goodness.

the eponymous collection belongs to haleiwa interior designer shirley shivhon who, frustrated with the lack of contemporary designs for her projects, jumped into the world of rug making after meeting a small community of tibetan weavers during a trip to nepal. those same artisans now practice their craft to create shivhon's rugs which employ tibet's traditional and labor intensive hand-knotting technique.

the result: designs that retain the feel of being translated straight from the sketchbook nixing absolute perfection to embrace a more wabi-sabi aesthetic. i am loving shivhon's understated designs, from island abstracts to painterly motifs, any of which would make the perfect backdrop in a modern island style home. and, since each rug is made to order, you have the chance to guide the design process and configure the shape and colorway to best compliment your space.

ulu

kapa

 hopu

paradise blossom

the heirloom quality rugs start at $1500 and go up from there depending on the fiber (silk or wool) and size, and have an estimated turnaround time of 8 to 12 weeks depending on the complexity of the design and dimensions (custom sizes up to 20x20 are available).

love what you see? hele over to the bella pietra showroom in honolulu and kailua-kona to take a peek at the collection.

sig zane summer 2008

2008 has been declared the international year of the reef and one way you can do your part to help save hawaii's coral reefs is to scoop up sig zane's limited edition kai palaoa design. the ancient hawaiian art form of 'ohe kapala (traditional bamboo stamps used to create tapa) inspired the bold pattern which celebrates both the creation of the reefs and the way of life the reefs sustain for all the creatures who call the ocean home (or consider the waves their home away from home).

a portion of sales from the collection will be donated to support the educational programs of the national oceanic & atmospheric association's national marine sanctuaries hawaii division.

be sure to take some time to click around the online shop which is stocked with lots of new goodies from pretty pillows to stylish leather goods and adorable keiki wear (how cute is that l'il dress!).

or stop by sz's hilo or wailuku outposts:

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

• maui: 53 north market street, wailuku
• shop hours: mon - fri, 10a to 5p & sat, 10a to 3p