posh pua spring/summer 2010

hinahina

a year has zipped by since posh pua was first introduced on h|h and the maui label's spring/summer 2010 collection is a bit overdue for a peek. julie from posh pua sent word about the new lineup while i was deep undercover finishing up h|h's makeover and i finally had a chance to click over to the website and found the new convertible hinahina bikini top too cute not to share. with some simple remanuevering, hinahina can go from strapless to a halter style and offers a sweet surprise around the back with its darling knotted tie.

all in all, there are quite a few new additions to the swim line with five mix-and-match styles on offer this season. while swimwear production has moved off maui to keep up with demand, julie continues to make the everyday staples sewn with eco-friendly textiles including new additions like racerback tanks and bamboo/organic cotton leggings to pair with your favorite tunics and dresses all year round.

lola

metallic racerback tunic * bamboo leggings

the lovely patterned textiles found in the swim collection are limited edition and gone for good once they sell out (aloha sweet hearts pattern!). your best bet is to check in with julie prior to ordering and inquire about the current selection which typically includes three solids and three patterns.

you can scoop up all the featured styles via posh pua's etsy shop as well as the official online shop where the hard-to-fit can order up a bikini with custom measurements. or support your neighborhood stockists and make your way to wings hawaii in paia and guava shop in haleiwa.

heather brown summer 2010

heather brown for rip curl girl

since kaua'i artist heather brown was first featured two years ago, the artwork that makes so many of us swoon has taken her across the pacific to establish a gallery of her own in japan and, more recently, inspired a collaboration with rip curl. yep, you can now hit the surf wrapped in those gorgeous glassy waves that have become one of heather's delightful motifs. proof that following your heart and doing what you love can only lead to good things.

the summer 2010 collection is part of the surf label's "artist of the search" series in europe which means, alas, only select styles are available here in the states. continuing on with yesterday's eco theme, many of the looks are made of organic cotton (or "coton bio" as described on the european website . . . ooh la la!) with the swimwear made of a recycled poly blend. in addition to dresses, tops and hoodies, our lucky friends in europe also get to take their pick of a range of accessories and petite tees for little wahines.

word is that more of the collection should be arriving stateside this winter so, until then, let's console ourselves with a few peeks so you can jot down your favorites on your xmas wish list.

your best bet to scoop up the handful of styles available outside of europe is at hic and surf 'n sea in haleiwa as well as mainland stockists. you may also want to try your luck online where i managed to track down the organic tee (here) as well as the bikinis and slippers (here) that round out the collection.

{mahalo chelsea & spencer!}

{photo credit: ted grambeau for rip curl}

pop star

hope everyone enjoyed a lovely weekend filled with the sweet scent of springtime blossoms and may day festivities! with spring in bloom, it seems the perfect time to share a little eye candy from oahu illustrator kat reeder who has created an enchanting world of candy colored vintage pop starring hula girls and island lovelies.

at first glance, you can almost hear a hint of skirts swaying and beachy 'dos being swept aside by the trade winds, but dig a little deeper and you will discover layers of sketches mixing with digital brushstrokes and handpainted details to create the fresh now-meets-then charm of kat's illustrations.

happily, kat was kind enough to share a peek into her world and i discovered that her roots (born in peru and raised in miami before arriving in hawaii) add a bright, latin-influence while her love of art nouveau, tropicalia and retro packaging from bygone eras are the top notes inspiring her cosmopolitan coquettes. don't you just love all those luscious locks befitting 70's starlets and crime-fighting angels?

sally's song

hawaiian girls

2009 w's triple crown * this dream of mine

{designer notes}

how has living in hawaii influenced your work?
i've lived many places, but my senses have never been aroused like in hawai'i. i am bombarded by natural beauty and color. the skies are the bluest blues. the flowers are unapologetic in their vibrance. the intensity in my work palette is richer since moving here. i can't help it. i'm surrounded by beautiful things.

what is your definition of good design?
good design stays with you for a long time. it tickles your intellect and makes you feel something real. designers love to dissect grids, layouts, and fonts but all that means nothing to someone who's mesmerized by packaging. good design smacks you in the face. good design you keep in a shoe box, under your bed, with all your sketches.

little moments of bliss that recharge your soul?
discussing art with my husband, who is also my best friend. making up funny songs about my dog lola. opening a fresh jar of nutella.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
chicken empanadas from valerio's bakery, ube roll from golden coin, and a six-pack of inka kola (peru's national soda) from the latin market on s. beretania.

pay it forward with a few words of wisdom that were passed on to you:
the best advice given to me recently was by wonderful local artist mark swanson. i was feeling insecure about hawaii embracing me as a digital artist. he told me i had to ultimately create art for myself and everything else would fall into place. he was right.

mahalo kat! (ditto on the nutella)

kat's artwork has already graced the coveted w's triple crown poster and has gained the notice of a growing list of local galleries. upcoming projects include an official calendar for 2011 but, until then, you can order up prints and more in the online shop.

p.s. personal commissions are also welcome!

hey mama!

i suspect new mamas would adore some alone time while empty nest mamas would love nothing more than some face time with her offspring, but here are a few ideas for those on the hunt for something to gift their number one fan in life.

1 - the new it bag: aloha rag's signature tote rocks the honolulu boutique's skull and monogram design ($24).

2 - mother's day brunch meet ecohashi, on-the-go reusable chopsticks ($12) accompanied by a lovely organic cotton storage bag made on the north shore. available online & at select island stockists (including red pineapple at ward).

3 - treat a leeward garden to succulent blooms from lanikai pot & plant and enjoy a complimentary notecard set when you purchase three small arrangements or one large arrangement. please email mary pat to order and arrange an appointment for local pickup. {via soh inspired!}

4 - malie mixes up an organic anti-aging elixir ($54) from hawaiian coffee fruit extract reported to repair and protect skin with its antioxidant rich formula.

5 - big island candies offers the sig zane designed lei 'ahinaahina box ($48) which hides an 'ono assortment of shortbread, biscotti, brownies and petite sweets inside its pretty package.

6 - the 'iwa birds will make mom smile but the message of 'oiwi's culture wahine jersey ($46) will be a happy reminder of why she loves to paddle.

7 - de-stress with ola hawaii's face lomi kit ($60) complete with lomi stone and guava stick for a pampering at home spa treatment.

8 - adopt-a-nene ($30+) from the friends of haleakala and help protect the 300 state birds that call the maui crater home.

reader mamas . . . what is on your wish list for mother's day?

beach peek: kikidoll

last fall, i happened across the kikidoll website which instantly intrigued me with a single photo (see below). soon after, a chat with designer kimberly "kiki" farmer uncovered that the new swimwear line would be officially launching in the new year so i patiently waited to post a show & tell until the full lineup was available for your enjoyment.

if you have been yearning for a sweet bikini for summertime, you will be delighted to discover kikidoll which offers beachwear infused with a palette of tropical pastels and darling patterns mixed with au natural trimmings (think mother of pearl, bamboo, and coconut shell).

a childhood spent splashing in the waters off waikiki combined with a lifelong love of vintage hawaiiana were the inspiration for kikidoll (a wink to the designer's keiki nickname). despite a family move to the mainland, kiki, who currently calls florida home, found herself reminiscing about the islands by sketching the very designs that would later become the gorgeous textiles featured in the debut collection.

every single style has been tested by kiki who assures me that, even in all their loveliness, her bikinis are designed for swimming and surfing in addition to sunning. pretty and functional - yay!

aqua shell balconette bikini & beachskirt

orchid bamboo beachskirt * mai tai bamboo bandeau

aloha kikidoll!

the original kikidoll sneak peek (above) - am i the only one swooning for this turquoise seashell sofa which is beach bungalow perfection? i think we may need to petition kiki to begin offering a textile line so that we can decorate our nests with her charming, ocean-inspired designs.

back on the beach, the luxury lineup features four-way stretch lycra, a hawaiian fit (described as an alternative to skimpier brazilian cuts), and are fully lined to avoid any peekaboo moments. and, happily, all the swimwear is made in the usa.

kikidoll's 2010 collection can now be scooped up in the online shop.

p.s. tying the knot? custom bikinis in bridal white and something blue can be ordered by brides planning an island honeymoon.