heart of the sea

we spend a lot of time out at makaha when we're home and a friend always shares the story of when he met rell sunn (aka the queen of makaha) at the beach. a few years ago, he raved about a documentary on rell called heart of the sea after it aired on independent lens on pbs. the film racked up a number of awards when it was released for its poignant take on rell's life and is a lesson in living your life with grace and how truly embodying the aloha spirit is good not only for yourself but for your community too.

unfortunately, the film is not currently on the pbs schedule (but you should still check out il which is one of my favorite programs on tv) and nowhere to be found at netflix, however the hawaii state library happens to have a vhs copy so you can put your library card to work if you still own a vcr.

dvds can be picked up at women make movies swell cinema which also has a trailer posted on their website.

fyi - rell's family has set up a non-profit which keeps the rell sunn menehune surf contest going and which also supports breast cancer research in honor of rell. click here to learn how you can help.

{update | jan 2010: dvds are now on the shelves at your local library!}

the owls are not what they seem

m's pueo tee + straw trucker hat

david from 'oiwi ocean gear sent me a sneak peek of their new designs a few months ago and i am happy to report that they are now up on their website. i love love love the pueo tee and am seriously considering making an exception to my fella's no more new t-shirts rule (he is always on the hunt for cool tees when we go home and hence the dresser drawer is about to burst).

there are also some new threads for the ladies like the kahala jersey which will add a little flower power to your paddle/surf sessions plus 'oiwi had added fresh swimwear styles like the haleiwa bikini and the pretty 'oiwi pattern which is now available in new colorways just in time for spring.

fyi - 'oiwi also does custom work so give them a buzz if your team wants to paddle in style.

map it!

glamour girl

maile fern maillot + rainbow abstract kaftan

time to dish about the newest swimwear line from the islands which made its debut at the women's closet last weekend. melia conrad mixes old hollywood glamour with modern sophistication to create a collection for those who prefer to be a bit more demure yet still turn a few heads when they hit the beach.

designer marylea conrad grew up in australia and upon arriving in the islands noticed a distinct difference on hawaii's beaches from her homeland: coverage. and so melia conrad, a collection of stylish swimwear with slightly more modest silhouettes, was born (quite literally as the line is named after her baby daughter).

there is something for everyone from flirty bikinis, pin up worthy one pieces, and glamorous cover ups that can easily go from the sand to out on the town. one of the most thoughtful features are bikini tops with removable straps which means no more tricky maneuvering to avoid the dreaded strappy tan line.

the collection is expected to arrive in april or may and will be stocked at the butik, rafael and split obsession.

learn more here and here.

olukai spring 2007

w's ama

the spring/summer 2007 collection from olukai is now posted on their website. for those who are not familiar with olukai, the premium footwear line made its debut last year and the company's focus is on constructing a super comfortable slipper (one of the founders, who was born in hawaii, previously worked at nike) without sacrificing style. even better, olukai is committed to being environmentally responsible during the manufacturing process and is keeping the kokua spirit alive by partnering with the rabbit kekai foundation.

m's kula

click here to find the nearest olukai dealer or hit zappos which usually has the best selection of olukai online (a quick check revealed that only a few of the new styles are currently available but more are scheduled to arrive in the next month or so). like many, i was a bit leery about ordering shoes online however, after placing my first zappos order last month during a desperate search for new shoes before i went home, i am officially a convert.

my experience was very pleasant since the customer reviews helped me determine if a shoe would be a good match and zappos offers free shipping on orders & returns (my package arrived the very next day). the best perk, aside from not having to trudge from store to store searching in vain for the right style/size/color, was being able to test my choices at home with my closet only a few steps away. viva zappos!

beach blanket bingo

pretty beach mats!

after spending a day wandering around honolulu furniture stores with my aunty, i can honestly say that pacific home is, hands down, my favorite design shop in hawaii. they are always mixing it up and bringing in new accessories that are really hard to find in the islands (actually it's difficult to find a brick and mortar store stocked with modern beach style like ph even here in so/cal).

there is always something cool happening like the recent meet and greet with rug designer emma gardner, the staff is friendly (hi tara!), and i am happy to report they don't shadow you around the store waiting to pounce which occurred in almost every other shop we visited that day (is it just me or does anyone else find that trying to shake a persistent sales clerk off their tail distracts from the task at hand).

oh, and they adore design*sponge too!

anyhoo, i had a difficult time resisting these oh so pretty beach mats imported into the states by one of the contestants from the amazing race, but since my willpower won out in the end now i have a good reason to stop by the next time i'm home.