aloha friday scoop

if you are on the hunt for a fresh start in the new year, fishcake is on the lookout for a sales/marketing manager and maui rose needs a january intern.

buy 2, get 1 free at the butik is happy news for last minute holiday shoppers on budget.

p.s. off islands friends can save 15% in the online shop (stocked with fighting eel and wishing bridge jewelry) with secret code butikmas.

• when: now to sat, dec 24th
• where: 1067 kapiolani blvd, suite a-3

family sunday at the academy of arts celebrates the holidays with snow globe making, xmas jingles, and a visit from santa!

p.s. be a food bank elf and bring a few yummies to donate to the canned food drive.

• when: sun, dec 18th - 11a to 5p
• where: 900 south beretania street
• tix: free! (donations welcome)

lily lotus will treat you to a $20 in-store gift card for every $100 of yoga loveliness in your shopping basket.

• when: now to sun, dec 18th
• where: 609 kailua road, kailua

Click to read more ...

happy hale*days 2011: sparkle edition

with santa's sleigh due to arrive in just 37 days, it's time to officially kick off the 2011 gifting guides filled with gorgeous kama'aina finds! the beauty of handmade sparkle never fails to woo so, since time is of the essence, gather round to peek a few lovely suggestions for your gift list.

and, delightful news from me to you: this year a few designers kindly offered exclusive shopping deals just for the h|h 'ohana! please read the fine print for more details including secret codes, shop rules, and holiday order deadlines.

1 - romantics will adore the the delicate layered confections by de la mer, the new collection by jojo faber (of jo.jah.jae) inspired by the french seaside. {exclusively stocked at olive in kailua.}

2 - the new year will be even more fetching with energy bars by modern philosophy which promise to balance body and soul and perhaps inspire that certain someone to become the master of her own fate. {$58; receive complimentary shipping with secret code hapahale. spend $300 and a MP surprise will be included with your order. offer expires sat, dec 31st.}

3 - a glistening white agate druzy stone is even more beguiling when set in misa jewelry's shima ring. {$375; save 20% off white druzy rings in gold & silver with secret code hapahale11. offer expires wed, nov 23rd.}

4 - fossilized seashells from 400 million years ago are kissed with druzies by one stone and emerge with the most captivating sparkle. {$135; mention hapahale in the convo field at checkout to receive 10% off the featured design. offer expires mon, dec 19th.}

more to adore after the jump!

5 - city girls will crush over nina kuna designs' polished cowrie shell pendant, a chic reminder of paradise. {$55; enjoy 20% off with secret code hapahale. offer expires sat, dec 31st. code blackout dates: nov 25th to 28th. order by dec 9th for xmas delivery.}

6 - the charming loops found in the custom name bangle expertly crafted by wishing bridge will make her smile. {$44; email to order.}

7 - ocean swells will always be nearby when your favorite surfer girl rocks the handmade wave hoops by cabin no. 7. {$89; save 15% off in the etsy shop with secret code hapaholidays + orders to hawai'i mailboxes receive complimentary shipping. offer expires wed, nov 30th (also the order deadline for xmas delivery).}

8 - maui designer kira ferrer evokes a hint of the pacific when an ocean colored apatite gem meets a puka shell setting. {$92}

9 - adorn your favorite animal lover with a fetching coral & topaz necklace by padma & pickles who always donates 20% of the purchase price to care for abandoned pets. {$97; save 20% off in p&p's etsy shop with secret code hapahale + enjoy complimentary shipping on your order. offer ends sun, nov 20th @ 12p hst.}

10 - rockabella jewels mingles pyrite stones with a cascade of petite golden shells for instant glamour. {$80; save 20% in the online shop with secret code hapaholidays. offer ends sat, dec 31st. order by mon, dec 5th for usps delivery by xmas.}

which one would you whisper into santa's ear in hopes of finding in your stocking on xmas morning?

misa jewelry azteca collection

bar

my day always becomes a little brighter upon receiving a sweet note from la-based jewelry designer misa hamamoto who recently wrote to share the happy news of the launch of her azteca collection. longtime readers know my appreciation for misa jewelry goes back to the very first collection, and misa continues to look to cultures near to her heart before refining her current inspiration into shimmering beauties.

for azteca, misa balances two design moments: the breathtaking symmetry of the ancient aztecs and the glamorous elegance of art deco. the discovery of misa's influences allows you to notice the collection's references to stacked pyramids and grand skyscrapers with every long ago flourish thoughtfully reduced for modern lovelies who prefer to wrap themselves in more minimal ornamentation.

the simplicity of the azteca bar reminds me of a delightful secret shared by only the most observant design enthusiasts while the striking translation of the azteca arrow is an edgy possibility for style archeologists. i also love the parallel of the aztecs' reverence for craftsmanship with misa's small jewelry atelier handmaking adornment sparked by its source.

meet me after the jump for more peeks and details!

large pyramid

small pyramid

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if you share my swoon, azteca's price tag starts at $120 and the nine-piece collection can be peeked on the official website where you can also fill your cart with your favorite designs. and, while the burnished glow of gold captures my fancy, just know most pieces can also be yours in sterling silver.

if you prefer to shop local, hit the stockist list or save yourself the click and find selections from azteca at bungalow 9 on kaua'i and riches hawaii at kahala mall.

aloha friday scoop

as mentioned in my earlier post, h|h will be quiet tomorrow in honor of the blogger's day of silence hosted by for japan with love who shared the very cool shelterbox, a brilliant collection of essentials for those displaced by the earthquake and tsunami. with my windfall of hours (yep, the scoop requires endless clicks scouting out deal news and exhaustive post editing), part of my reclaimed time will be spent tending to the details of my 'ohana's donation to help japan.

hifi's highly anticipated pop-up shop opens tomorrow with ten days of island style featuring indie trunkshows, designer workshops, craft stations and more!

• when: fri, mar 18th to sun, mar 27th
• where: ala moana center, level one, makai (by old navy)
• fyi: volunteers still needed to staff the pop-up; sign-up for a 4-hour shifts here

save your appetite for slow art friday when local artists and eateries unite for empty bowl hawaii 2011. scoop up a handmade bowl & enjoy a serving of gourmet goodness by alan wong's, town, and 18 more island restaurants. proceeds benefit hawaii meals on wheels and river of life mission.
{via firebird photography}

• when: fri, mar 18th - 6:30p to 8:30p
• where: the arts at marks garage, 1159 nu'uanu avenue, chinatown

the fighting eel flagship is donating all profits from its emblem and fish totes (featured in january) to the japan red cross through the end of march.

• when: now to thu, mar 31st
• where: 1133 bethel street, chinatown
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p

Click to read more ...

misa jewelry lauhala collection

statement

the debut of a new misa jewelry collection is always a happy day. designer misa hamamoto's modern approach to crafting gorgeous adornment is one of my constant crushes so i am delighted to welcome the lovely lauhala collection and its instantly recognizable woven construction.

from delicate coral under the sea to faraway shimmer in the starry skies above, misa is an expert at editing out the unneccesary details so your eye goes straight to the essence of the design without any distractions. this time around misa found inspiration in a simple lauhala gift box but stripped away the heaviness that often results when transforming the traditional weaving style into a piece of jewelry.

the result is an airy, open weave that almost seems to float while the addition of tiny chainlink and mixed metals retain a hint of modern day armor.

disc

chain

the lauhala looks are priced from $205 to $295 and are offered in a handful of variations in gold vermeil, sterling silver, and a mingling of the two metals.

take a peek at the entire collection in the online shop or, if you call the islands, los angeles or guam home, click over to the stockist list and locate your neighborhood boutique.

p.s. i will be offline for the next few days but check in after your thanksgiving feast for a roundup of black friday sales from our favorite local designers and shops. wishing you & your 'ohana a lovely holiday!

new peeks: misa journey collection

steps

as soon as i caught a glimpse of misa jewelry's recently debuted journey collection, i was instantly transported to the worldly adventures to thai jungles and african grasslands that inspired this modern update of global glam. despite a personal connection to her newest offerings, misa intended journey to be free of pre-scripted storylines allowing interpretations of each piece's origin to shift from wearer to wearer who are delighted to make a design connection based on her own faraway wanderings.

even those of us who have yet to enjoy travels to exotic locales must agree that the stunning steps pendant has a gorgeous tribal glow about it. and the simply knotted leather wrap, which intermingles with burnished metal links, seems ideal for globetrotting holidays and restricted luggage requirements by doubling as either a minimalist strand or layered around your wrist for unexpected sparkle.

leather wrap bracelet & necklace

oval ring

rope

all designs are available in sterling silver or 14k gold vermeil and are priced from $130 to $285.

no online shop yet so click over to the stockist list or simply get in touch with misa to order. the lovely mini shima featured up in the banner was customized just for me so i know firsthand that misa is an absolute delight to work with.

so, dear readers, which piece is calling your name?

new peeks: misa vega collection

asteroid pendants

i happened to spy pieces from l.a.-based jewelry designer misa hamamoto's new vega collection when we met up at edwin ushiro's opening reception last month and they are, quite simply, spectacular in person. for fall/winter 2009, the starry skies provided unlimited inspiration for misa who retreated to her studio to turn constellations and other far away celestial elements into modern treasures that seem to have been scavenged from galaxies far far away.

the petite asteroids featured throughout the collection are a quick study into the intricate molds misa meticulously casts by hand to create gorgeous, abstract orbs that you can imagine wandering straight from the night sky to adorn us here on earth. and, while sterling silver and matte gold vermeil quietly shimmer like the heavens, the two metals occasionally find themselves grounded with geological stones imbued with healing properties for vega's assortment of edgy rings.

more peeks below . . .

marquis ring + plain stacking bands

rays bangle

asteroid ring

the vega collection is priced from $30 to $245 and can be ordered via email until misa's online shop makes its debut. you can also find neighborhood boutiques located from los angeles to guam on the stockist list.

p.s. the best bet for oahu readers swooning for vega is riches kahala which recently received its first shipment of styles.