morning crush: pupu platter

look what i spied while browsing through re-nest's list o' etsy favorites this morning! how fun would these plyboo cutting boards of the hawaiian islands be at your next soirée? kaho'olawe appears to be missing, but still a darling pupu display for a luau, wedding, or weekend gathering.

made by brooklyn's aheirloom who is happy to customize the placement of a little heart to mark your hometown or favorite island spot.

$40 online.

p.s. mainland states also offered.

sweet nothings 2011 - take three

because sometimes the sweetest thing is a locally made, sugary confection . . .

1 - between its gorgeous bars, 'ono flavor profiles, and committment to fair trade & locally produced chocolate, my sweet tooth is already swooning over madre chocolate. no online shop yet but follow madre on twitter for the 411 on valentine flash sales happening around oahu this week! or find at sweet paradise chocolatier's kailua & lahaina outposts. {via honolulu magazine}

2 -  the order deadline for bliss! cake pops is just hours away (6p hst) if you hope to play cupid and share the chocolate or red velvet mini dipped delights with your favorite work mates on valentine's day. {$27/dozen with a two dozen minimum order. $20 delivery fee or free pickup.}

3 - cupcake love maui bakes up petite treats from tiramisu to carrot cake with the most delightfully decorated flourish. {$36/dozen with a one dozen minimum order. $10 delivery fee or find at maui ocean grill in kahului.}

4 - the hamakua fudge company in honoka'a mixes in local fixings like coconut, kona coffee, mango and lilikoi for their sinfully layered gourmet fudge. {$9.95 with a one pound minimum for online orders. complimentary shipping over $50.}

p.s. today is the deadline to order the always 'ono and exquisitely packaged boxed treats from big island candies for valentine's day delivery!

kung hee fat choy!

with the arrival of chinese new year, all the rabbits reading this, especially metal rabbits, will be delighted to peek sig zane's mama tu tees just issued for 2011.

$20 (keiki) to $28 (mama & papa). in-store & online.

p.s. if you follow the stars, here's the forecast for the year of the rabbit.

happy hale*days 2010: budget edition

because in the last minute holiday frenzy, it can be easy to forget that a good gift does not have to make your bank account shudder:

1 - big island peeps will delight in penning notes to friends and 'ohana on sig zane's hilo one greeting cards. ($15/set; shop online or in-store at the hilo boutique)

2 - joie studio's limited edition 2011 exotic calendar is letterpressed with love on bamboo paper. ($20; online only)

3 - spend $15 to gift an organik SMARTdeal and your favorite someone can scoop up $30 worth of eco-friendly style. (purchase online by fri, dec 24th, spend in-store by mar 31st)

4 - charm homesick jetsetters with a vintage hawaiian passport holder made by mu'umu'u heaven. ($12; available at the kailua flagship)

isle style: designs by lo

boutique week seems so long ago but tahiti from green with envi continues to make me swoon with her beautifully photographed shop updates. one of my recent favorites are the upcycled leather clutches handcrafted by kamuela designer laurie edwards who hunts local rummage sales and consignment shops for material to remake into charming leather accessories.

everything from no longer loved leather jackets to discarded upholstery are fair game while the addition of rock-n-roll studs salvaged from cast aside belts transform the bits and pieces into crushworthy carryalls. and, since secondhand discoveries are reworked into new-to-you loveliness, no worries on crossing paths with the dreaded design dopplegänger!

clutches vary in style and color but are all priced at $60.

big island readers can scout designs by lo's recycled leather offerings at green with envi's waimea shop while off island friends are welcome to contact laurie via email to order direct. (fyi: leather earrings and cuffs are also available and priced from $36 and up).

{photo credit: 1+3/tahiti huetter}