machinemachine {hearts} workshop

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!

Click to read more ...

island crush: low-key lovelies

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.

island crush: gold dipped glam

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

aloha sunday supply co.

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.

island crush: petite pukas

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.