blue crush

big waves continue to thrill the north shore which makes today perfect for a show and tell of the latest pillow collection from honolulu designer kaypee soh. typeface designs have been popping up in home decor for quite some time now so you can imagine my delight upon discovering that the islands finally got a little font love when i happened upon kaypee's latest lumbar pillows.

the north shore and waikiki offerings reverse to a colorful listing of local beaches known for sunning and surfing while the island edition is made for readers who swoon for blooms. all are a lovely way to add a local but modern hint of your favorite surf spots whether you live just around the way or simply want to sweeten your faraway space with a little hawaiian style.

retro waikiki

island aloha

vintage north shore

in the so'mace tradition, pillows are reversible and are currently available in colorways reminiscent of glassy seasides and glowing sunsets.

the new designs ($90) await you at the so'mace studio and can also be ordered up via tel/email.

• where: 1115 young street
• shop hours: mon to fri 10a to 6p | sat 10a to 3p

double identity

vintage starfish

since i am signed up for apartment therapy's fall cure in hopes that a little hand holding will help me tidy up and refresh my home away from home, it seems only appropriate to share the gorgeous new(ish) pillow collection from honolulu designer kaypee soh today.

while swatches were previewed before the collection debuted at the made in hawaii festival, i completely spaced and forgot to feature the completed pillows which continue to reference the islands with tropical charm.

kaypee's use of cheerful turquoise never fails to make me swoon but fans of more traditional hawaiian motifs will want to check out the lovely muted kapa pattern which combines old school design with an elegant modernity. and, makeover artists will welcome the simple genius of the reversible patterns designed so that a quick flip updates your space without any additional fuss.

more peeks below . . .

kapa

elephant ear

starfish

the 100% linen pillows ($120) are constructed on oahu so your best bet is to hele over to so'mace to gather up your favorites.

• where: 1115 young street
• shop hours: mon to fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 10a to 3p

offline orders are also welcome so click for details on how to get your wish list dispatched to your door.

p.s. isla just posted a peek sharing all the fun during last sunday's shop day hosted by so'mace.

kaypee soh: pacific collection

new fern

oahu designer kaypee soh has returned with a fresh offering from his eponymous modern tropical home goods line! gather 'round and admire the lovely pacific collection which is filled with the designer's take on his island surroundings distilling the shapes of everything from plant life to rainfall into vibrant abstract pillow patterns.

pillows are made locally with the linen covers handprinted with naturally pigmented dyes. as an added bonus, the front and back panels feature coordinating colorways bringing a welcome mix of style to previously matchy matchy sofascapes.

water drop

coral

wave

an online shop is still in the works but orders can be placed via phone or email for readers who are unable to stop by so'mace (which is now the exclusive hawaii showroom for eco-friendly furniture line cisco brothers).

• where: 1115 young street, honolulu
• shop hours: mon - fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 10a to 3p

p.s. a shop blog recently made its debut filled with insider tips and staff picks.

historic honolulu architecture tour

washington place

one of my favorite walks growing up was the one that took me from my mom's bishop square boutique to the state library along the pathway sandwiched between the capitol and iolani palace. i always stopped to say hello to the queen lili'uokalani statue and fought the urge to swing from the tendrils of the many banyan trees dotting the palace's backyard.

those saturday mornings spent in town gifted me with an appreciation of the graceful buildings that take you back to an earlier time, and, while doing a little research for a reader who inquired about mid-century modern homes on oahu (which i think would make a fabulous tour just in case an architecturally savvy reader is up to it), i recently discovered that the honolulu chapter of the american institute of architects (aia) offers kama'aina and visitors a walking tour of historic honolulu from an architect's perspective.

you'll wander the streets of town from the hawaii theatre to kawaiaha'o church picking up insights and anecdotes about the buildings along the way (juicy tidbit: the ywca building was designed by julia morgan, the country's preeminent female architect who squeezed in the project while working on hearst castle).

a map and bottled water are provided (but i say byo reusable bottle) so all you need to bring are comfy shoes made for walking and an enthusiasm for design. reservations are a must or, if a saturday tour doesn't fit into your schedule, self-guided tour booklets ($5) are available at aia's office. a custom tour may also be arranged for your group with advance notice.

• when: saturdays - 9a to 11:30a
• where: aia, 119 merchant street, suite 402
• tix: $10
• fyi: minimum four people

meet one of the aia's top guides over at the star-bulletin.

a walk back in time

visits to the cemetery are a ritual in hawaii yet only the most curious ever venture beyond the gravesides of their ancestors to say hello to the neighbors. if you count yourself in the camp that considers old cemeteries to be a romantic glimpse into the past, next weekend brings a chance to take a cemetery walking tour with nanette napoleon, hawaii's very own history detective.

go beyond the ghost stories and get the 411 on the symbolism behind the centuries old tombstones and discover more about the inhabitants (a veritable who's who of hawaii history) who have made the cemeteries of the mission houses and kawaiaha'o church their final resting place.

• when: sat, jul 19th - 9a to 11a
• where: mission houses museum
• tix: $20 ($10 museum members)
• fyi: ring 808.531.0481 x 707 to reserve your spot