hapa | hale

the missing wink

word is that purchases of little indulgences are, at least for now, recession-proof as people seek comfort in fancy chocolates, lip gloss, and other affordable treats. if your peepers have been yearning for a pretty pick me up then you may want to investigate the latest product launch from maleana cosmetics.

biolash promises lush lashes with a blend of 100% natural algae complex, plant-based phytohormones, and bio-informed ginger root extract infused in an olive oil and jojoba oil base while being free of parabens and synthetic hormones. at $59, this lash wonder may be considered an indulgent splurge unless your one and only wish whenever blowing on an eyelash is for an abundance of flirty lashes without the assistance of mascara or falsies.

in other news, the honolulu-based beauty parlor has gone web 2.0 and is now offering destination brides complimentary skype consultations so you no longer have to hop on a plane and hit the streets to book your makeup match.

you can pick up a tube of biolash and shop maleana's spring/summer 2009 color collection at the line's studio in kaimuki (phone/email orders are also welcome):

• where: 3405 waialae avenue, suite 203
• studio hours: mon to fri, 9a to 6p

weekly sales sheet

fashionista's market kick's off this weekend's divas doing good shopping event with a savings bump on the standard issue 20% discount. scoop up a pass and save 40% off regular priced styles and 25% off designer denim during tonight's sale.

• when: fri, mar 27th - 5p to 9p
• where: the wedding café, ward warehouse
• tix: $5 (on sale at twc)
• fyi: proceeds from sales of the boutique pass will be donated to the tap project.

stop by soha living and save 30% off all pillows and bed linens during the design shop's annual pillow sale (in-store only).

• when: now to sun, mar 29th
• where: soha, kahala mall
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 9p & sun, 10a to 5p

hele over to the ocean expo and step into the surfers closet sample sale to scoop up surf & skate labels from the islands and beyond for below cost.

• when: sat, mar 28th & sun, mar 29th
• where: blaisdell center exhibition hall

on sunday, island brides get ready to rumble during the wedding café's inaugural bride wars. rock your cake eating - bouquet tossing - table decorating skills for a chance to go home with a $250 gift certificate from one of 40-plus island wedding vendors.

• when: sun, mar 29th - 12p to 2p
• where: center stage, ward warehouse
• fyi: pre-registration takes place at twc between 10a and 12p

lanikai bath and body makes spring cleaning more pleasant with 15% savings off all home items. shop in-store and online.

• where: 600 kailua road, suite 119, kailua
• shop hours: m-f, 10a to 6p / sat, 10a to 4p /
  sun, 10a to 3p
• secret code: spring
• expires: sun, apr 5th

online, save $15 on malie kaua'i's supersized mango butter bun and enjoy a pampering springtime soak without the spa price tag.

• secret code: mango
• expires: wed, apr 15th

have a happy weekend!

and the winner is . . .

katherine of houston who will be adding the lovely naupaka to her bookshelf soon!

many mahalos to all who entered . . . it seems caren's lovely block prints have found fans from all over. you can scoop up a copy of naupaka at island bookshops and online at amazon.

congratulations, katherine!

p.s. clf's gorgeous artwork can be found in her etsy shop.

[mahalo caren!]

fishcake: one night sale

hele over to fishcake tonight and save 25% off everything* in-store (with the exception of art and consignment goods) including the divine ceramics from mud australia.

• when: thu, mar 26th - 6p to 8p
• where: 307c kamani street, honolulu

sweet baby snaps

today's etsy find is the adorable snappables, a homegrown keiki line launched earlier this month by local girl sheila rich who began crafting the sweet felt snaplets as a way to add some handmade love to her baby daughter's wardrobe.

the result: a capsule collection of onesies and mini tees stylishly upgraded with a little felted flair that can be switched out with a quick snap. the genius part is that your little one's favorite snaplets can grow with her from onesie to lap tee to toddler togs. the thoughtful design deserves extra credit for both its versatility and because a set of interchangeable snappables is a winning solution for families living with limited drawer space.

. . . tote bag . . .

each snappable includes your choice of two snaplets with additional felt delights priced just right for pinched pocketbooks. in addition to pint-sized wearables (newborn to 18 months), headbands and tote bags are also in the mix with organic onesies on the way. custom orders are also welcome if you require something extra special.

hele over to the snappables etsy shop to take a peek at the entire line!

p.s. sheila and her 'ohana are currently touring the mainland so orders will not ship out until early april.

new peeks: kinohi designs

. . . tropical tryst . . .

the iffy economy is putting a squeeze on many budgets including pricey wedding celebrations for both island and destination brides & grooms. as someone who planned every single detail of my big day without a hired gun by my side, i know firsthand that it is possible to throw a lovely bash complete with fancy gown, hard to book photographers, and gourmet eats for a fraction of the cost, and, most important, without going into debt so long as you know how to allocate your funds wisely.

if invites are the area where you choose to scrimp, you will want to take note of the latest offerings from kinohi designs. since partnering with wedding paper divas and its sister company tiny prints, honolulu designer jennifer tanabe's contemporary paper goods line continues to mark life's happy moments sans the boutique price tag.

many designs hint of kinohi's island home to the delight of modern tropical style connoissiers, however my current favorite is certain to be frowned upon by the etiquette set - the cheeky blank you design with its playful twist on the traditional thank you note which is sure to be the saving grace for anyone who forgets to acknowledge gifts in a timely manner.

. . . blank you . . .

. . . summer style . . .

. . . hello baby . . .

and, while the stylish stationery has been perfected for weddings, birthdays, and other big announcements, savvy shoppers can put their own spin on many designs with a few quick clicks.

take a peek at kinohi designs' entire lovely lineup over at tiny prints and wedding paper divas.

nina kuna designs: spring 2009

look at the gorgeous new looks straight from the maui studio of nina kuna designs. nina found inspiration down by the sea and the ocean finds were the perfect partner for the designer's recent exploration of casting jewelry by hand.

the result is a new direction for springtime turning what initially appears to be a humble find from mother nature into delicate sterling silver translations of limu fronds, skeleton shells, and other little bits left behind in the sand.

your best bet to scoop up the new designs is over in the online shop, however nkd's spring offerings should be arriving in stores soon.

p.s. remember the lyrical paisley necklace nina generously bestowed upon a lucky h|h reader last year? take a peek at the elegant exuberance of the design when it has been professionally styled - so pretty!

naupaka book giveaway

big island artist caren loebel-fried kindly sent along a review copy of her new book, naupaka, penned by the late aunty nona beamer and i finally had a chance sit down and savor page after beautiful page.

it's a beautiful retelling of a hawaiian folk story describing why the naupaka flower blooms in perfect halves despite different growing conditions down by the sea and up in the mountains. the illustrations are gorgeous bringing old hawaii to life with the technicolor beauty of caren's block prints which complement the bittersweet tale of two star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of the ahupua'a kept apart by their different ranks in life.

one lucky reader has a chance to score a copy for storytime and introduce her/his little one(s) to the world of hawaiian mythology. the book is told in both english and hawaiian and includes an audio cd narrated by aunty nona with music by her son, keola beamer.

here's the scoop on how to enter:

• email your name & current hometown to:
  aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by thu, mar 26th
• please put naupaka giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household

click back on friday to find out if you are the lucky winner.

[update: winner list posted]

p.s. email subscribers - simply hit reply and follow the instructions above for a chance to win.

weekly sales sheet

fighting eel takes a road trip to the north shore for the honolulu label's annual sample sale!

• when: sat, mar 21st - 12p to 4p
• where: 59-754 kam hwy, haleiwa
• fyi: cash only

adore celebrates its one year anniversary with appearances by midori jewelry who is introducing an exclusive collection for the shop and petite guru allison izu who will be offering 25% off her denim line. enjoy sweets by hokulani bake shop and giveaways on the hour.

• when: sat, mar 21st - 12p to 5p
• where: adore, kahala mall
• fyi: download the mall's one day e-pass to save 20% off one regular priced item at participating shops (including adore)

the leeward side finally scores some design love with the opening of pacific home's new outpost at kapolei commons! to celebrate, save 15% at both the kapolei and ward showrooms all weekend long.

• when: sat, mar 21st & sun, mar 22nd
• where: 4450 kapolei parkway, kapolei (adjacent to target)
  & 420 ward avenue, honolulu
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 7p & sun, 10a to 5p

scoop up organic keiki threads for 25% off during the little sprouts so lucky to have you sale.

• when: now to sun, mar 22nd
• where: 629a kailua road, suite 111, kailua
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 12p to 5p

one week left to purchase a boutique pass to support divas doing good's latest charitable deed - bringing clean water to children around the world via the tap project. simply flash your pass next weekend to score 20% off at participating shops (including the butik, pualani, toast & many more).

• shop dates: fri, mar 27th & sat, mar 28th
• tix: $5
• fyi: on sale now at the wedding café at ward warehouse

also, kuni island fabrics has a call out for unloved fabric stashes to supply volunteers who are doing a little kokua quilting. notions, sewing equipment, monetary donations, and your crafty time are also welcome [via honolulu advertiser].

• when: now to tue, mar 31st - 11a to 2p
• where: 2563 south king street, honolulu

p.s. hifi has opened up vendor registration for the big island edition of its annual green style event taking place next month.

have a happy weekend!

letarte swimwear: 50% off two day sale

. . . cable twist halter : popcorn stitch tunic. . .

yoo hoo, bargainistas! couturecandy just announced a two day sale on their remaining stock of letarte's 2008 collection.

if you don't mind rocking styles from last season, you can make like a sports illustrated swimsuit model (the maui label recently made its ninth appearance in the 2009 swimsuit issue) and stash the tidy 50% savings in your rainy day account.

• secret code: 50letarte
• expires: thu, mar 19th

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.

springtime at hazelnut cottage

. . . child of my heart . . .

spring has barely sprung but hazelnut cottage creator jan avellana is busy crafting her popular jewelry line in preparation for mother's day. longtime readers know that the handstamped pieces are a sweet sentiment that can be personalized with the names of your little ones, a secret message, or whatever you please making the designs the perfect foil for tenderhearted mums.

for moms who prefer to keep their maternal instincts a bit more undercover, the recently introduced child of my heart design can be composed with one to three organically shaped circles as a little reminder of those you want to keep near your heart even when you are apart.

more springtime favorites below:

. . . berries springtime . . .

. . . he loves me . . .

take note that april 25th is the mother's day order deadline, however early birds can enjoy complimentary shipping on all orders placed through the end of the march.

click over to the etsy shop to take a peek at the entire collection.

• secret code: hapafreeship
• expires: tue, mar 31st
• fyi: wait for revised invoice before submitting payment

weekly sales sheet

stop by the toast showroom for the first ever sample sale filled with delicious deals (up to 50% off) on their fabulous favors.

• when: now 'til the stock runs out
• where: 3434 waialae avenue, kaimuki
• shop hours: m/w/f/sat - 12p to 6p

fans of allison izu's line of premium petite denim can save 50% off the fall 08 basics line during the one day secret sale.

• when: sat, mar 14th - 2p to 6p
• where: ala moana hotel (exact location tba)
• fyi: text ultimateshop jeans to 32862 to get on the list

spring brides can score 50% off their trial session when booking a maleana senior stylist for their big day.

• when: wedding dates through may 24th, 2009
• fyi: new bookings only
  

online, the spring cleaning continues with midori jewelry offering 25% off her entire collection (including the sale section) this weekend.

• secret code: spring25
• expires: sun, mar 15th

during the month of march, aloha kona coffee is offering h|h readers who order up their estate grown coffee a complimentary 5 oz. bag of beans!

• secret code: hapa
• expires: tue, mar 31st

and, mainland readers can save 10% off their easter orders over at the hawaiian lei company.

• secret code: spring09
• expires: tue, mar 31st
• fyi: complimentary shipping on all tropical arrangements

have a happy weekend!

willy-nilly waterlily

. . . blushing blooming cactus . . .

it has been cloudy and gray in my part of the world so it was off to etsy to find something cheery to brighten my day. enter the crafty fabulousness of willy-nilly waterlily, an island crafter who, in her own words, has "dedicated my life to the scientific study of cute".

the delightful offerings that leave the little lab devoted to all things cute cannot help but put a smile on your face, and it is obvious that rima, willy-nilly's creator, puts a lot of love into the sweet soft goods crafted with a mix of crochet and carefully chosen fabrics.

scroll down for more peeks:

. . . a thoughtful little owl . . .

. . . sweet apple cheeked ami bunnies . . .

. . . happy swirly cupcakes . . .

the etsy shop is currently low on inventory however custom orders are welcome so, if you have a crush on the handmade amigurumi bunnies, you best hop to it if you wish to tuck one into an easter basket.

p.s. click over to the willy-nilly waterlily blog for a glimpse behind-the-scenes.

st. paddy's ravenchase

hilary from ravenchase recently sent word that oahu readers are invited to test their skills during the st. patrick's day race taking place this weekend.

grab up to five of your best code breakers, human navigators, and treasure hunters and your team just may find a virtual pot o' gold waiting at the end of the rainbow.

• when: sat, mar 14th - 7p
• where: tba
• tix: $35 per person
• fyi: after party to follow

the write stuff

one of my favorite things about my neighborhood is the mom & pop stationery shop which kindly supports my habit, first nurtured at hopaco, of doodling with ink to determine if the advertised extra fine point tip is up to snuff. my latest fancy, prompted by a little green guilt, is a refillable writing instrument to fill the space left when the last throwaway pen leaves its final mark.

so it was happy serendipity when my fella spotted a display filled with acme pens on a recent outing. it turns out the maui-based design studio is considered the swatch of the pen world offering up a dizzying selection of whimsically styled pens sure to be mourned if it were to meet the unfortunate fate of the lost and found box.

with graduation around the corner, the pens (plus coordinating card cases and other accessories) would make a lovely gift for grads who swoon over design stars slash acme collaborators eva zeisel, karim rashid, shepard fairey & richard meier (among others).

alas, the stockist list is incomplete, however you can find a good selection of acme studio's collection over at unica home.

wings hawaii spring fling

a quick click over to wings hawaii revealed a number of new jewelry designs have arrived in the online shop. the talented wings team has been playing with puka shells turning the seaside findings into glamorous puka diamond rings, bezel set pendants, and double puka ti leaf bangles with a lovely organic shape that results when gold filled wire is wrapped around a ti leaf stalk and hand hammered to coax out its curves.

be sure to take a peek at the fabulous spinning ring design which adds a playful twist to rocking multiple bands on your digit(s).

alas, not much new to report in the wardrobe department, however a handful of hand screened styles, like the sweet angel wings hoodie (made with a blend of organic cotton and recycled poly), are marked down 25% off.

three ways to shop: online / stockists / showroom:

• where: 375 west kuiaha road, haiku
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat/sun, 9a to 1p

hawaiian hotel gets rock'd

. . . hawaiian hotel . . .

with tourism in a slump, one can only suspect the peeps over at the hvcb are none too pleased about an snl skit featuring the rock, er, dwayne johnson who offered up quite the giggle this weekend.

definitely for locals only.

weekly sales sheet

hele over to kahala mall and save 10% off your purchase at shasa emporium (local labels stocked include indah, machinemachine, meesah & more), 25% off select handbags, plus an additional 25% off existing markdowns.

• when: now to sun, mar 8th
• where: shasa emporium, kahala mall

maui readers will want to head upcountry for ali'i kula lavender's friends & family sale. your reward? 10% off your entire in-store purchase.

• when: now to sun, mar 8th
• where: 1100 waipoli road, kula
• shop hours: daily, 9a to 4p

one way to watch your pennies is to take good care of the stuff you already own. if you spent a pot of gold on a fancy handbag, pamper it with a luxe link and save 10% on orders of $35 or more during the st. patrick's day sale.

• secret code: LUCKY2009 (all caps)
• expires: tue, mar 17th
  

to celebrate her one year etsy anniversary, maui dive girl is dispatching a complimentary shell aloha wish necklace ($12) with all jewelry orders placed during the month of march. [congratulations lisa!]

• expires: tue, mar 31st

scoop up $100 worth of handcrafted tropical treats from the big island's hawaiian body products and score a complimentary passion fruit citrus kukui travel candle ($12) with your purchase.

• expires: tue, mar 31st

p.s. all march orders also receive a travel size jar of ola's passion fruit citrus salt scrub.

[update] this just in! roberta oaks is offering 10% off spring/swim 09 plus sale items from past collections over in her online shop.

• secret code: bloom
• expires: tue, mar 10th

online picture show

. . . hanalei fence | belle etoile designs . . .

one of my favorite pastimes is gazing at the array of point of views possible with a single camera click. a glance at a beautifully composed shot of something yummy or beautiful or far away always makes me happy.

whenever home, curiosity inevitably finds me in a gallery or gift shop to scout the souvenirs currently on offer only to leave disappointed at the lack of affordably priced options beyond the abundant inventory of turtles, dolphins, and wave after glassy wave.

so, for etsy day, i thought it would be fun to post a peek of how a handful of travelers to hawaii, cameras in tow, captured their island destination through a different lens . . . be it a dreamy beach scene or a high flying moment.

enjoy!

. . . maui county fair | honeytree photography . . .

. . . dancing flowers | william dohman . . .

. . . mojito sun | bueller . . .

p.s. have a favorite shot to share? drop me a note for a chance to have your photograph featured on h|h.

[update: lots of enthusiasm for the photo project, however i must kindly request that you provide a link to your website or flickr page. no attachments, please. mahalo!]

ginger13: green & simply chic

maui jewelry designer cindy yokoyama of ginger13 recently introduced a capsule collection of eco-friendlier adornment to her handcrafted repertoire. the style spotlight shines on recycled glass beads which mingle with vintage chains and eclectic findings to recreate the line's delightfully bohemian look.

another addition since ginger13 was last featured is the simply chic line comprised of pieces all priced under $40. simplicity is key with designs ranging from understated hoops to gold plated pendants all with minimal embellishment. the most playful design is the alphabet necklace (shown above) which offers the chance to mix and match letters to say whatever you please.

click over to the online shop to take a peek or enjoy a little retail therapy and support your neighborhood stockist.