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!

Click to read more ...

aloha friday scoop

give hipstamatic a holiday and save $100 on a vintage family portrait snapped by firebird photograpy.

• expires: mon, oct 31st

discover hawaii's next design star during fishcake's annual kagu+akari show which introduces emerging uh furniture makers and illuminates its showroom with electrified delights by local artists including mark chai and melissa rivera.

• when: now to sat, nov 5th
• where: 307c kamani street, kaka'ako

because la brea bakery reintroduced americans to good bread and pizzeria mozza is delish, meet chef nancy silverton (in town for the first ever hawaii food & wine festival) when she stops by the ala moana farmers market to sign her new cookbook*.

• when: sat, oct 1st - 9a to 11a
• where: ala moana farmers market (near sears)

Click to read more ...

happy hale*days 2010: mele edition

the interweb crashed on me earlier today so it's nice to finally be back online to kick off the first gifting edition! of all the guides, the mele roundup is the one i look forward to most since it gives me an excuse to wander my favorite design haunts in search of festive holiday happiness. it's also my rare fix of xmas delight until i walk into the winter wonderland that is my mom's home.

here's the scoop on my current holiday crushes:

1 - three cheers for the bold contemporary graphics of mozaic papers' charming i'iwi greeting cards! ($11/6 cards or $14/box)

2 - kinohi designs whips up playful photo cards for a modern family portrait. (fyi: i am a tinyprint affiliate so my piggy bank will be filled if you shop via this link)

3 - la belle vie's hula girl silhouette may be made in texas but it will definitely brighten up mailboxes near and far from the the islands. ($18/box)

more festive finds after the jump!

4 - tiny tags from shop toast share the sweetest sentiment with simple perfection. ($2/set)

5 - lei chartru's mele mele kalikimaka tags offers up a modern monstera pattern for a pop of xmas happiness. ($7.50/set)

6 - anthropologie's darling iced whale ornament has already sold out online, but check your neighborhood outpost for a possible xmas score. ($16)

7 - blushing pearl's pearly shell gift tags letterpressed in seaspray blue will live on in the new year as a pretty reminder/bookmark. ($10/set)

8 - treat your tree to a handmade candy cane ornament by honolulu glass artist jessica landau. ($25)

9 - only lucky readers who shop kealopiko's holiday market (details in tomorrow's scoop) will have a chance to purchase the gorgeous screenprinted wrap featuring local motifs.

10 - the ukulele monkey gift wrap from sf's hello lucky! just may be too cute for keiki to tear off their presents on xmas morning. ($5.75/roll)

11 - gussy up some kraft paper with japanese washi paper tape imported by cute tape. ($16/set)

12 - gift surprises big or small in a kealopiko pareu which doubles as lovely furoshiki wrapping cloth. ($35; akoakoa pattern shown)

did you discover anything new to love amongst these twelve things for xmas?

p.s. click back to the past for more ideas on sharing a little modern island cheer this xmas.

kealopiko x hinu holiday

your favorite kama'aina elf has been busy curating her virtual stacks for the island style gifting guides that will be launching later today, but this lovely new collaboration by kealopiko and hinu jewelry deserves its own separate shoutout.

two of my favorite designers decided to whip up a pupu hinuhinu gift set inspired by the shells found on hawaii's shores. the pupu ala organic scoop tee screenprinted by kealopiko coordinates perfectly with hinu's sterling silver leho necklace. definitely a wishlist keeper if only to help out those clueless sweeties who lack the gifting gene.

the limited edition set is priced at $100 with tees available in sizes small to xxl. enter the code below at checkout and save 10% off your order!

• secret code: hawaii nei

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}

merrie monarch market

if you plan to explore hilo town while attending merrie monarch festivities this week, be sure to find your way to the kuikawa boutique which will be stocking a handpicked selection of goods from local designers.

kudos to akemi from paradisus who coordinated this wonderful pop-up shop! in addition to paradisus (including kumu hula sonny ching's collection), you will be able to stock up on h|h favorites like indigenous soap, kealopiko (who will also be in-store), meleana, saffron james, sleep under stars (discovered on h|h!) & kuleana.

even better, a portion of sales will be donated to the nawahi hawaiian immersion program.

• shop hours: wed, apr 7th to sun, apr 11th - 9a to 5p
• where: 160 kamehameha avenue, hilo

p.s. click over to kfve which will be live streaming all the hula performances during merrie monarch week!

new peeks: kealopiko

ahole banded tank

it's been far too long since the lovely designs of kealopiko made an appearance, and a quick click revealed a number of new looks plus the welcome addition of organic styles to the mix. kealopiko continues to educate wearers via hand screened tees which always offer up a lesson into hawaii's past and present by honoring all of its many inhabitants.

no matter how long you have called the islands home, there is always something new to learn and i love reading the descriptions of how each kealopiko design came to be. now wisdom once passed down from generation to generation can be found thoughtfully splashed across a simple t-shirt be it a closer examination of the history of a popular surf break to a quick study in island botany.

more peeks below . . .

moon phase dress * lanikuuwaa * ke'elikolani

manu o ku * kalehuawehe * moi

find all the featured styles over in the online shop (be sure to take a peek at the sale section for discontinued designs) or support your neighborhood stockist which now includes whole foods in kahala mall, na mea hawaii / native books at ward warehouse, and the imiloa astronomy center on the big island.