kai nui * kai po'i * kai malo'o

offline distractions have kept me away for longer than anticipated but the chance to send you happy thanksgiving wishes along with a pretty island discovery offered by anthropologie prompted me to log-in and say hello!

i happened across these gorgeous limited edition paddleboards last week and immediately fell in love with their bohemian patterns which remind me of stepping inside doris duke's dreamy diamond head estate shangri la. the hawai'i connection comes by way of saffron james (better known as the indie fragrance house founded by big island lovely kate growney) which had the fabulous idea of stylizing a handful of boards with custom textiles evocative of a faraway land.

function + beauty . . . how stunning would one of these look displayed on the wall in between SUP sessions?

more peeks and details after the jump!

as you can see, the set includes a matching paddle along with a coordinating zip bag designed to hold your leash and other ocean accessories.

certainly a fancy splurge and, alas, not shippable to the islands, but now 25% off 'til sun, nov 25th for mainlanders with generous shopping budgets. (fyi: add to cart to peek the sale price.)

do click back next week for more delightful finds to gift to your favorite peeps. and may your holiday table be filled with an 'ono feast and an abundance of happy times!

one of my favorite designers to follow (since 2007 . . . my, how time flies!) has been shannon hiramoto of machinemachine, and i am so delighted to share the happy news that the doors of her very own studio will be opening tomorrow night on kaua'i. the former auto bay tucked away in the hanapepe arts district has been reimagined as workshop, a space for making all the upcycled pretties adored by island lovelies and devoted fans across the pacific.

in addition to creating a dedicated sewing studio, a small plantation-style storefront will be stocked with machinemachine merch along with vintage finds and keiki goods and paintings made by friends forever little, the wren collection, and artist mary bethany.

shannon kindly sent along a few sneak peeks to share with you . . . after the jump!

the wren collection

handstitched hats * forever little

customers are also invited to trade in machinemachine clothing from their closets for store credit via a newly launched buyback program, and shannon will also be offering a service to restyle mm garments that are still loved but are yearning for a new look.

future plans include hosting pop-up shops for local designers along with food/craft/sewing/art workshops by kaua'i makers. designers interested in joining the workshop 'ohana are welcome to contact shannon for more details.

• workshop opening: fri, oct 12th - 5p to 9p
• where: 3800 hanapepe road, kaua'i (look for the auto repair shop)
• shop hours: tue to sat, 11a to 5p + fri, 5p to 9p
• fyi: click over to the official fb for shop updates

happy congratulations shannon!

even the smallest and most utilitarian objects deserve some design love.

today's case study: leather popper keychains handmade by love kauai which elevates an often overlooked everyday companion with a few exquisite loops.

effortlessly modern yet still a little bohemian. and i love that a portion of every purchase is donated to beach cleanups & land restorations on the garden isle.

$9 online. 

p.s. save 25% on orders sent to hawai'i mailboxes with secret code lovelocal.

the cuteness that is shop toast's newly launched hula kokeshi makes for a sweet peek on this beautiful aloha friday. the petite wooden heart stump containers are the canvas for delightful details - tiny grass skirts, flower lei, and a ribbon haku - for happy smiles all around.

and, the wee noggins open up to hide a small present for your lucky recipient.

available in boy and girl editions for a limited time online & in-store:

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, suite 3, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

p.s. scoop one up during tonight's kickoff of third fridays kaimuki (6p to 9p) when neighborhood merchants (including shop toast, drift, town, and so many more) welcome you with art, music, food and one night shop specials.

while flipping through my notes searching for something exceptionally crushworthy, i re-spotted these gorgeous gold dipped wood rings by rockabella jewels. the juxtaposition of warm wood with molten metal dripping down the sides is unexpectedly glam, no?

the one of a kind designs, inspired by the rivulets of water left behind when ocean waves crash onto rocky shorelines, are offered in a mix of woods, shapes, and occasionally an extra glimmer of sparkle.

$120 online.

p.s. rockabella fans who call oahu home have a chance to spy and save 15% off the maui made collection when designer kristel bandisch hops over for a trunk show this weekend!

• when: sat, sep 22nd - 11a to 4p
• where: cottage by the sea, ward warehouse

liliha * napoleon

while catching up with the summer arrivals by hour of nine, the letterpress studio of nyc-based designer lehua chong, a trio of new notecard collections was waiting to charm me. this time around the pretty patterns are distilled from wooden tiki carvings, a circle island tour of oahu's sunny beaches, and the cheeky cult flick heathers.

how very!

{and so so timely since there are whispers of my most beloved and watched movie during high school possibly getting a reboot on bravo next year . . . shudder.}

shall we have a peek?

surfrider collection

westerburg . . . the fabulous heathers homage!

how clever is that badminton design?

all in all, there are nine designs to find in hour of nine's summer offerings. all cards stocked in the online shop can be ordered in singles or sets in either your top design or premixed in a batch of notes from each collection.

$3 each or $18 a set.

it should come as no surprise that so many mainland-bound kama'aina settle in san diego when making a new home across the pacific. after spending my college years and early grownup life in america's finest city, i am happy to confirm that the transition to mainland living is a little less jarring when surrounded by sd's gorgeous coastline, (mostly) balmy weather, sizable islander population, and mom & pop spots dishing up plate lunches to satisfy cravings in between trips home.

although the mister and i make the trip down the freeway a few times a year to visit friends we left behind and get our fix of homestyle mexican food (woefully lacking the farther one finds herself from the border), a chance to venture to north park to pop into aloha sunday supply co. has yet to present itself. however, online peeks of its collection of modern day goods made for land and sea have proved to be quite intriguing . . . particularly the jfk-inspired swim collection which i suspect will be a welcome change for those weary of slipping on the same boardshorts as little groms.

the hawaii connection comes by way of co-owner kahana kalama, the fashion forward pro surfer from kailua with a passion for making life better for new friends encountered while surfing faraway shores. the shop and its line of in-house goods is an evolution of the islands' end-of-week celebration moved up five days to encourage customers to begin their week with the same enthusiasm when greeting the weekend.

isn't that the most lovely idea?

arnaz * parker * parkman * manitou

boards & bags

in addition to aloha sunday's lineup of tees (handscreened behind the shop) and boardshorts (produced in california), you can expect to find stylish collaborations with indie design friends stocked alongside handpicked selections by kahana and fellow proprietor billy wickens, vintage finds curated by the missus, a handful of loveliness for the ladies, and made-just-for-them boards in both the brick and mortar & online shop.

• where: 3118 university avenue, north park (near balboa park for those who have visited but are unfamiliar with san diego's collection of neighborhoods)
• shop hours: tue to sat, 11a to 7p + sun, 12p to 5p

p.s. discover new arrivals along with fascinating brand stories and surf adventures on the shop blog.

since it has been eons since the last scoop, i am keeping it light today while i decide whether it is a keeper, needs a shakeup, or if early retirement is calling its name as the time required to gather up scoop-worthy items has become quite daunting.

sooo . . . if you have missed the scoop, please click away, comment, like & share to show your love.

{first friday highlights}

• jewelry by justine stops by owens & company to show off her latest handmade sparkle. {6p to 9p; 1152 nu'uanu avenue}

• scooping up posh pua bikinis for a steal scores you a 10% off storewide discount at florencia arias.{5p to 10p; 1161 nu'uanu avenue}

• save 50% on photo sessions ($150 for one night only) when you say hello to photographer rita coury during her annual mahalo showcase. {5:30p to 8p; plaza club, 900 fort street mall, 21st floor}

• sing along with the lovely sabrina when the local singer/songwriter returns home to join a lineup of past and present na hoku nominees for a free alt.rock concert celebrating the hawaii theatre's 90th anniversary. {7:30p; 1130 bethel street}

if your weekend plans include the 10th annual hawaii woman expo, shop goods from indie island designers at hifi then pop into malie's booth and save 50-to-80% off the gorgeous, eco-friendly style line from kaua'i.

• when: fri, sep 7th - 5p to 9p & sat, sep 8th - 10a to 6p & sun, sep 9th - 10a to 5p
• where: blaisdell center, 777 ward avenue
• tix: $3 ($1 coupon in the longs ad; free admission for keiki under 7 and military & their 'ohana)

on maui, gather up your besties and head upcountry for acacia swimwear's 50% off end of summer trunk show.

p.s. please kokua & help acacia designer naomi newirth raise funds for her brother jamil who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

• when: sun, sep 9th - 10a to 12:30p
• where: 1294 haiku road, haiku
• fyi: cash only & all sales final

& celebrate drift's two year anniversary with the debut of the kaimuki boutique's online shop filled with island-made goods for you & your nest. congratulations ale & laura!

have a lovely weekend!

the humble puka shell has become an iconic souvenir for waves and waves of tourists wishing to remember their hawaiian holiday. over the past few years, local designers have shaken off the simple strand and mixed the tiny treasures in charming and intriguing ways with a delicate shell dangling on a bangle becoming a favorite accessory of island lovelies.

over the summer, hula hoops unveiled a pretty new entry into this crowded category offering a subtle yet beguiling design featuring a row of mini pukas interspersed with matching metal discs. picturing the slight shimmy this must make with every step delights me to no end.

handhammered in 14k gold or sterling silver in three sizes to woo you.

starting at $50 online.

even with a shiny new camera, capturing delicious dishes to share with you remains an ever elusive goal. shyness combined with forgetfulness means i tend to hesitate about disturbing other diners to document a meal or space out and dig in before realizing that a before picture would be much more photogenic than an untidy plate.

luckily, let them eat cupcakes still had just enough dobash and guava baked treats on display for a quick snapshot during my first visit earlier this year. whipping up cupcake editions of these bake shop classics have been on my "to do" list for far too long so when the chance popped up to wander about chinatown on a wednesday when LTEC offers two of my favorite desserts in petite portions, i coaxed my cupcake-resistant mister inside with promises of a sweet surprise.

with so many rave reviews since the cupcakerie's opening (plan b for the founders when the honolulu advertiser stopped the presses last year), i am happy to report that the dobash and guava cupcakes which beckoned me were definitely worth the wait. both flavors were nicely balanced combining a moist crumb, just enough sweetness, and a dollop of decadent dobash frosting and a filling of guava goodness which transported us back to small kid time. we somehow resisted placing a second order but let them eat cupcakes officially wins my vote for most 'ono cupcake on the island.

since the space is quite cozy, i asked permission to photograph the interior so you could spy the menu board (which has since been redesigned) and the complimentary sprinkles bar.

a handful of flavors are offered everyday with a rotation of LTEC favorites and one-of-a-kind creations sprinkled in throughout the week (other flavors which may tempt you include red velvet, maple bacon & li hing mango). and, if you have a moment, a few tables tucked inside the pleasant storefront invite you to savor your selections which are are cheerily served on pretty china.

since the cupcakes are baked in small batches, do pop in as early as possible to avoid the disappointment of finding a closed sign hanging on the door as the shop is known to close early once the last cupcake has sold. you are also welcome to ring ahead and place an order for pickup.

and a tip for parents: keiki cakes party packages can also be booked if you are on the lookout for a delightful hands-on diversion to entertain the little ones.

peek the daily menu before you make your way to chinatown:

• where: 35 south beretania street, chinatown (just around the corner from j.j. dolan's)
• shop hours: tue to fri, 8a to 4p & sat, 10a to 2p
• fyi: custom & mini cupcakes are available by request

p.s. let them eat cupcakes bakes up first friday-only flavors when they keep the doors open 'til 9p. click over to the official facebook page for a sneak peek.