queens candy shop remix

if streetwear is your thing, it's time to check out the recent arrivals (dimepiece, old baby doll, and the uk's nails did) at queens candy shop. yep, you read that right . . . our friends at the candy shop, honolulu's little indie emporium, recently remixed their name to better reflect their corner shop spot in kaka'ako.

the queens peeps have also recently introduced a kokua program which invites customer to donate 1% of their purchase to a local charity. the rotating list of non-profit picks includes honolulu habitat for humanity and the fashion programs at hcc and uh.

check out the official shop blog for the latest scoops.

{update | jan 2010: queens candy shop transformed its space into fresh café last year}

tahiti imports

canoe pa'u

it seems like pretty prints are everywhere this season which reminded me of the fabulously swingy pa'u hula skirts from tahiti imports. this is the place to go if you are ready to take one of the most traditional styles of the pacific to the streets this summer. in addition to ready to wear skirts, pieces can be custom made from the shop's vast selection of fabric (many of which are exclusive to ti) used to make their popular pareos.

if you prefer something even more bold in design take a peek at this tatau inspired tiki pattern pa'u in the very au courant black & white colorway.

and, here's a juicy pop culture connection: don severson, who along with his wife betty lou owns tahiti imports, is credited with introducing the tahitian style bikini to the islands back in the 60's when stopping by the shop during its halcyon days at the international marketplace was a must for everyone from supermodel veruschka to jackie o.

hula girl tee + monstera poho bag

the honolulu shop is a favorite resource of local quilters who love the graphic punch the fabrics bring to their projects. the website is constantly updated with new designs and, of course, stocks everything from tahiti imports' famous pareos, pa'u skirts & monoi soap straight from the south pacific to fabric by the yard for you crafty types.

c is for cookie

honolulu cookie company + good kine cookie co.

if you have been craving chocolate dipped shortbread cookies from the honolulu cookie company you will be happy to know that online ordering is now available! these were included in the goodie bags that we gave to friends who flew in from the mainland for our wedding and everybody loved them.

with ono flavors like chocolate macadamia, white chocolate kona coffee & lilikoi mango . . . who can resist? even better, if you stop by their shop at ward warehouse you can sample all the different flavors (this is either a blessing or a curse since the more cookies you try, the more you end up buying).

and, in other cookie news, the good kine cookie co. recently opened to rave reviews of their handmade iced cookies in shapes reminiscent of the islands like aloha shirts, pineapples, leis, etc. they can even personalize the cookie to celebrate a special occasion.

one of their founders is pastry chef abigail langlas who made the very yummy & very beautiful cakes for our wedding so i'm pretty sure the cookies will be just as onolicious. good kine cookie co. has a shop at restaurant row, a kiosk at ala moana, and online ordering (yay!).

now if somebody would just open up a cupcake bakery so i could savor cupcake sized portions of dobash & guava chiffon cake the next time i'm home!

{update | dec 2009: please note good kine cookie co. officially became hokulani bake shop after this was posted}