'oiwi ocean gear: friends & family sale

i was about to wait until week's end to share 'oiwi ocean gear's f&f sale then realized faraway friends would miss out on having your order delivered for free!

we can't have that now, can we?

'oiwi's modern spin on ocean inspired designs continues to make me smile (my mister's pueo tee from years ago is still in constant rotation . . . hooray!) so i suspect the only trouble you will encounter finding something to wear or share is narrowing down your wishlist. will it be the simple beauty of the hoe hawai'i paddles or the most melodic swells wooing you this year?

anyhoo, whether you are part of the 'oiwi 'ohana or just know the right girl, everything is now 20% off at the kailua flagship and in the online shop (secret code: earlybird)!

sale details after the jump!

Click to read more ...

island crush: tree hugger sparkle

the first day of fall has officially arrived which is happy news if you happen to be a scorpio who adores cozy cardigans, endless mugs of hot chocolate, and the technicolor show starring the changing of the leaves (if only from afar).

which makes me just a little sweet for the tree hugger design by lily lotus. i especially love the tiny heart hidden amongst the sparkle.

a lovely reminder to set aside a moment to find your balance as we settle into autumn.

$54 online + in-store.

boutique week: kai

boutique week is wrapping up and i hope you have discovered a few new brick and mortar gems so far! today, we have been invited to enjoy a sneak preview of kai which officially opens its doors in lovely kailua town this weekend. the vibe is all about effortless yet chic island style with an edited offering of jersey separates, flirty resortwear, and handcrafted jewelry from local designers to complete the look. 

the shelves are also stocked with eco-friendly beauty goods to perfect your tropical glow and gorgeous whimsy from the roost design collective to outfit your home.

if you shudder at the thought of shopping for a new outfit or are short on time, the additional services offered in-store will be much appreciated. shop proprietors bev binney and shannon schubert are happy to pull looks just for you and offer styling advice so your shopping bag is only filled with purchases you absolutely adore.

in addition to local finds from alora ambiance, hinu jewelry, [ki-ele] and letarte, kai offers designs from bhati beads, coolchange resortwear, poupette jewelry, rachel pally, and t los angeles plus beauty treats from coola sunscreen, glo minerals & pure fiji.

say hello to the kai 'ohana during saturday's grand opening and enjoy 10% off storewide along with pupus, wine and dj spins while you shop.

• where: 776 kailua road, kailua (above kimo's surf hut)
• grand opening: sat, aug 14th - 6p to 9p
• shop hours: mon to sat, 11a to 5p

 p.s. more peeks can be found over on kai's facebook.

{update | may 2011: kai has shuttered its kailua road location with plans to re-open nearby later this summer.}

{update | sep 2011: the new location has opened its doors and kai can now be found at 319 hahani plaza}

new peeks: mu'umu'u heaven

bean bag & bear

by now i should know that posting during a visit home is like a magic 8-ball prediction - very doubtful. between bouncing between two families, a wedding, playing tour guide with out-of-town pals, and island hopping (aloha conn & john!), the days this time around flew by in a snap with half my to do list remaining untouched.

i did manage to take a peek inside mu'umu'u heaven's expanded space which now includes a home section filled with charming eco-friendly goods. two of mu'umu'u heaven's newest additions to catch my eye were the cheery bean bags ($80; cover only) and bird mobiles crafted from scraps of fabric left over from the production process of transforming no longer loved mu'umu'us into the reinvented styles stocked across the way in the boutique.

the mister and i also couldn't help stopping to admire a piece made by honolulu designer mark chai who upcycled a 55 gallon plastic barrel into a comfy lounge chair ($1500). and, the shop walls are currently filled with heather brown prints and other goodies including the brand new organic green with aloha totes which had just hit the shop floor the day of my visit.

more peeks below . . .

delightful birdie mobile

barrel chair by mark chai

alas, none of these pieces are available in the online shop so you will have to hele over to mu'umu'u heaven's kailua outpost which also happens to employ some of the nicest shopgirls on the island:

• where: 767 kailua road, kailua
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 11a to 4p

little sprouts style

hello again! i have been in between computers for the past few weeks making posting a bit of a challenge, however fedex finally knocked on my door with a long awaited package from apple yesterday so h|h can finally resume filling your lives with more fabulous island finds!

if you have little ones to dress and want to make a statement other than the ubiquitous got rice? found at every craft show, hele over to the little sprouts shop in kailua which has its own in-house line of keiki goods featuring screen printed bon mots sure to tickle islanders big and small.

little sprouts proprietor melanie decker koehl has taken everyday catchphrases and oft-heard mottos and added a charming keiki spin much to the delight of customers who have turned the homegrown line into one of the shop's biggest sellers.

the organic togs are available in infant and toddler sizes (up to 4T) and are printed in honolulu with environmentally-safe inks. word is the collection should be stocked in the online shop by year's end so until then make your way to kailua to stock up on the latest tiny eco offerings including bpa-free bottles, green toys (made from recycled milk jugs) and cloth diapering essentials.

• where: 629a kailua road, suite 111, kailua
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 12p to 5p

p.s. stay posted on all the new arrivals over at the little sprouts' shop blog.

{update | feb 2010: please note little sprouts has relocated its storefront to 600 kailua road, suite 106 near lanikai juice}

manuheali'i on the go

citrus travel tote * shopper * cosmetic clutch

between summer's sky high oil prices and the current economic rollercoaster, it seems most everyone i know has put their travel plans on hold. that said, you may be inspired to hit the road after seeing the latest accessory collection from manuheali'i if only to tote your gear in the new fall patterns which seem to be lifted straight from a sketchbook filled with watercolor impressions.

if you worry about someone making off with your bag at the airport, take a peek at the updated large canvas travel tote rocking a juicy jolt of color that makes it easy to spot in a crowd. the prints also add a tropical punch to manuheali'i's new shopping tote and small clutches which, for readers who are already gearing up for the holidays, easily double as an eco-friendly way to "wrap" gifts.

price point for the new collection ranges from $9 to $68 and can be scooped up in the online shop or at manuheali'i's punahou & kailua outposts.

mu'umu'u heaven update

aloha onesie + l/s tee

the other day i happened across sweet little onesies perked up with recycled fabric appliqués made by mu'umu'u heaven and realized that it had been far too long since the last update. alas, the wee togs are sold out at the kailua boutique but if you simply must have one for your keiki click over to online stockist equita.

for grownups, mu'umu'u heaven continues to translate the little black dress in bamboo jersey with their signature island style which will certainly delight those with a more minimal aesthetic.

honey * bamboo sunrise * luana

heavenly home

pretty flower pens

and, you may recall that earlier this year designer deb mascia launched her heavenly home collection as a way for customers, who swooned over the shop's beach chic meets reclaimed design upon its opening, to decorate their own space with the one of a kind look found inside the boutique.

eric of mu'umu'u heaven (deb's husband, business partner & right hand man) kindly sent along a peek of a few pieces from the collection which closes the green loop by transforming thrift shop bound furniture with a few fixes along with a fresh coat of paint and updated upholstery.

accent pillows made from vintage aloha shirt fabric are also available to brighten up your space and can be found at the shop and pacific home.

finally, one of my favorite things about mh is that every thursday they welcome w.i.n.g.s., a group that works with windward teens and young adults who have autism, into the shop for an afternoon of project making. members have created these cheerful flower pens made with scraps of fabric saved from mu'umu'u heaven's sewing room and are available at the shop for $6 (proceeds help support w.i.n.g.s. activities and additional craft supplies).

• where: 767 kailua road
• shop hours: mon - sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 11a to 4p