last minute valentine's ideas

as promised earlier today, my tardy last minute valentine's round up. these delicate pink pearl filigree earrings from jools are understated but oh so pretty (fyi - take a peek at the freshly stocked sale section if you want to shower your valentine with gifts).

or, perhaps a potted striped phalaenopsis orchid plant from akatsuka orchid gardens (which is one of the few flower farms in the islands with a very user-friendly website).

secret admirers, is there any better day than valentine's to reveal yourself? ring petals & beans and order up their sweet bee mine gift basket filled with island style snacks (delivery on oahu only).

and for the true romantics, why not woo your sweetie with a very retro singing valentine. hire one of the barbershop quartets on oahu (the ladies of na leo lani or the gentleman of sounds of aloha) to serenade your steady with a romantic melody.

technicolor blooms

uliuli pono loa

well, at this point all that's left is express which is the best bet for dilly-dallyers who are soon to be diagnosed with a holiday panic attack. you may think flowers are a last resort but the reality is most folks never buy themselves fresh flowers and would appreciate a pop of tropical color to warm up their home during winter (40 degrees tonight in so/cal. brrr!).

flowers are always sent by either 2-day or overnight shipping to ensure the freshest blooms arrive at their destination which means you have one final day left to place an order which is sure to impress someone this weekend.

take a peak at the bouquets from hilo's ali'i tropical which feature everything from anthuriums & red ginger to orchids & proteas. if you really want to wow them, you can even throw in macadamia nut biscotti & kona coffee to make you the best gift giver ever. and wannabe floral designers can also stock up on individual blooms to create their very own centerpiece for those upcoming holiday shindigs.

12 days of christmas

today i'm kicking off a new feature putting a kokua spin on the 12 days of christmas theme. if we can afford to shop 'til we drop then there most certainly must be a little monetary love somewhere (in the bank/coin jar/pay pal account) waiting for its chance to support all the good work of the non-profits that keep the aloha spirit alive in the 21st century.

first up is one of my favorites, hoa'aina o makaha which transformed abandoned land on the westside of oahu 20 years ago into an educational farm where island keiki are taught how to garden and be good stewards of the land.

the kids aren't just growing lettuce, mind you. nope, they are also learning about the uses of traditional hawaiian plants, make honey at the on-site apiary, operate their very own store (from stocking shelves to bookkeeping), and even learn how to monitor water quality. the demonstration farm also produces goodies from the land that is sold to the public to help support hoa'aina's many programs.

click here to learn how you can make a difference!

island style holiday

protea mini wreath + teardrop garland

now that the holiday season is officially upon us it's time to transform your home into a winter wonderland. don't let the fact that snow can only be found on the peaks of mauna kea stop your merrymaking plans. go with what you've got and work the tropical angle by ditching the evergreens and picking up a festive protea wreath from danielle's tropical flowers.

proteas may look a bit prehistoric but the nice thing is they can last for quite some time so you get a bit more bang for your buck. danielle creates her lovely garland swags and the adorable mini wreath (shown above) in her upcountry maui workshop, and since maui just happens to be the hot spot for protea farms you know that you will be receiving flowers fresh from the fields.

hawaiian lei company

tuberose + firecracker + money leis

graduation day check list:

• cap & gown . . . check.
• camera . . . check.
• tuberose leis for your bff . . . check.
• candy leis for your other friends (the ones you'll never see after you flee the stadium) . . . check.
• money leis for you . . . wishful thinking, kid.

if your favorite grad is far from the lei stands of hawaii then it's time to hit the internet and check out the selection at the hawaiian lei company. the lei designs are some of the prettiest online (loving the firecracker with kukui nut lei shown above) and their prices are pretty reasonable.

now you can continue that island tradition of piling on the leis (the more, the better) until the graduate can barely see the sign with her name waving around in the parking lot.