outdoor makeover

the eco-chic showroom of 1st look exteriors was one of my favorite discoveries on this last trip home. the design center is devoted to all things green and when my fella and i finally stepped through the doors, well, it was a bit like getting a golden ticket to wonkaland if you love modern style that also happens to be good for the earth.

owners greg & terri lee opened their waipio showroom to offer more environmentally friendly furniture options to their landscaping clientele, and, after chatting with greg about everything from green roofs and solar/led lighting to la's ca boom design show, it was apparent they know their stuff. even better, greg & terri are making a concerted effort to bring in lines previously unavailable in the islands with an emphasis on green materials like sustainable woods and recycled plastic to transform hawaii's outdoor spaces.

soda pop bottle transformed

if flipping through design glossies is one of your hobbies du jour, all you need to know is that this is the place to go for in person peeks at the collections of modern outdoor, pie, and loll designs (picket chair shown above). in addition to furniture, the showroom offers accessories like this spectacular pendant lamp cobbled together from empty silk cocoon pods (an innovative use of "trash" and, more importantly, the light filters through the pods with a gorgeous, ethereal glow).

get your eco design fix every tue to sat (mon by appointment only).

tabletop luau

a quick roundup of fun design finds which will add a little tropical spark to your thanksgiving table.

1/6 - floral and tiki summer melamine plates from target keep disposable serveware out of the trash and can be used season after season.

2 - napastyle's pig bowl is made of reclaimed wood for a one of a kind luau centerpiece.

3 -  italian ceramic hibiscus bowls add a pop of color for condiments and crudités.

4 - vessel's rechargeable luau lamp lets you take the party wherever you please.

5 - no worries about guests losing track of their drink with these reusable tropicalia clinqs.

surfer chic

file this under inspired by an island lifestyle. maku furniture, which is based in san diego (once my home away from home), recently launched an outdoor furniture line that would make any surfer meets design junkie's heart go aflutter. in fact, the idea for the company was born during a surf trip to indonesia when the owners realized there was a big void in stylish yet casual, modern yet accessible furniture designed with adventure seekers (or dreamers) in mind.

and they were right. if you have ever shopped for outdoor furniture suitable for a modernist home, chances are good you followed in my steps during what seemed to be a never-ending scouting expedition stopping at every mall/patio/big box/modern design shop (and then back to the beginning) only to encounter an endless array of ornate ironwork, shoddy construction, or not in this lifetime prices. add a co-decider to the mix, and it was practically impossible to find something we could both agree on without looting the rainy day fund.

perhaps it would have been a different story had maku's teak lanai furniture been a reality way back when. the collection comes to life in the company's california hq and is then crafted by local artisans in indonesia which also happens to be home to the teak plantations where maku sustainably harvests all the wood used in their furniture.

maku also mixes elements from old school longboards (see entry doors below) and old world craftsmanship (take a peek at the limited edition lounge chair which features a carved frangipani design reminiscent of the hefty koa chairs found in many island homes back in the day) in many of their designs.

the price point is appealing considering dove tail joinery and kiln dried hardwood are part of the deal. maku also participates in 1% for the planet so you can lounge around on your new furniture knowing that your socially conscious purchase is helping to make the earth a better place for all its inhabitants.

alas, no local shops stock maku in the islands yet (hint, hint), however the company's california warehouse is happy to ship to hawaii (just drop them a note to confirm shipping rates before ordering). mainland dwellers have many choices on the stockist list, or if online ordering is your thing click over to design public to score free shipping (caveat: offer is restricted to the 48 states).

learn more about maku's mission via an interview with co-founder johnny west over at hatch.

may day flower show

bamboo protea basket * orchid sprays

the excitement of may day festivities may be somewhat faded especially if those kodak moments of little ones performing in the annual island ritual are but a faint memory (or yet to happen). nonetheless, there is no better day than today to gather inspiration for big spring events like mother's day and graduation.

the prehistoric loveliness of protea flowers may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you dream of the lushness that is the tropics, however their longevity cannot be beat when shipping across an ocean is your only option. take a peek at the abundant arrangements from hana flowers (shown above) and anuhea flowers which grow proteas on their own farms.

make the other moms on the block jealous by celebrating the one who made you chicken noodle soup when you had the sniffles with a shower of delicate orchid sprays from hawaii flower lei.

micronesian ginger * cigar crown * orchid christina

graduation leis are a hawaii tradition that may have made its way to the mainland but, unless a leimaker lives nearby, your favorite graduate will be lost in a crowd of single strand orchid leis. make your graduate's walk across the stage even more memorable with a fragrant maile/orchid twist from with our aloha.

the lei stands of hawaii are legendary and the most exquisite selection of leis online can be found at the hawaiian lei company (shown above). the craftsmanship is breathtaking (over 600 orchid petals combine to create the floral equivalent of featherwork in the christina lei) and are sure to put a smile on the face of moms and graduates alike.

{update | may 2008: photo removed per with our aloha's request}

green honolulu

unless you are planning a wedding, finding flowers with a fresh, modern composition in the islands can be a bit of a challenge so i was quite excited when i learned about green honolulu last year and happily added the site to my bookmarks. or so i thought. with valentine's day approaching, it was time to gather up a few romantic picks for h|h, however, to my dismay, the bookmark along with the company's name had simply vanished from both my computer and my memory.

poof.

then last month a reader sent me a tip and i rediscovered green honolulu who just happens to be co-owned by one of the proprietors of soha. in addition to event and floral design for weddings and soirées, gh designers avery solmssen and brooke israel also welcome orders for one of their artful arrangements for those times when a bouquet from costco simply won't do.

and no worries about the blooms going to waste post-bash since green honolulu is happy to help you donate flowers to a local charity or hospital so they can continue to brighten someone else's day.

{mahalo lori!}