island crush: waikiki rainbow

it's impossible not to heart loose petals' cheery print of waikiki beach, just one of the iconic skylines featured in chicago designer karen young's delightful city series of eco prints.

the sweet curve of the postcard-perfect shoreline with kapiolani park's grassy lawn stretching below diamond head is such a cheerful reminder of sunny memories spent splashing in the pacific, watching puffy clouds leisurely drift from island to island, and the sweet scent of coconut oil.

printed on 100% recycled cardstock.

$19.99 online. (fyi: an 11x14 print is also offered for a few dollars more.)

uncle clay's house of pure aloha

hopa sunshine & coconut * strawberry & li hing

happy saturday! popping in this weekend to share the story of how uncle clay's house of pure aloha came to be which just might make your heart melt . . .

once upon a time a boy's childhood dream is to become the proprietor of his neighborhood sweet shop. fast forward four decades later when uncle clay finally acquires his coveted storefront then skip forward a few years more when, with the help of nephew bronson and crowdfunding from around the world, a makeover transforms the old timey space into the nicest shave ice shop in the islands.

the handcrafted syrups featuring locally sourced ingredients and the shop's modern decor are what tempted me and the mister to make a detour to 'aina haina after grazing our way through the kcc farmers market. and, oh my, our first hopa encounter was a very pleasant surprise. (in fact, we made two visits during our winter trip just so photos could be snapped for this post.)

the menu features all the tropical fruity favorites kama'aina love along with flavors for more adventurous palates (sweet potato or kalespin, a blend of earthy greens, anyone?). the li hing perfectly balances salty and sweet, the green tea delicate and nuanced, and the lightly sweetened coconut made a fan of your girl reporter who refuses most coconutty offerings.

extra fixings are also on the menu including tropical dreams ice cream (made in small batches on the big island & so 'ono!), homemade mochi, and ono pops li hing powder.

peek inside plus find out how you can help hopa's 1st anniversary pop-up project after the jump!

the hopa 'ohana welcomes every customer with a smile and uncle clay can best be described as an ambassador of aloha who took time to talk story and introduce us to fellow customers before eventually sending us on our way with a hug. it was truly one of the most delightful and inspiring moments during our trip home.

and, since my inner treehugger cringes every time a plastic monstrosity is whipped out upon ordering shave ice (oh for the days when a paper cone would do), hopa scores bonus points for presenting their frozen delights in biodegradable bowls accompanied by compostable spoons.

the next time you crave something sweet you simply must find your way to hopa for a cup of cheer:

• where: 'aina haina shopping center (just a few doors down from cake couture)
• shop hours: mon to thu, 11a to 6p & fri to sun, 10:30a to 8p

treats from local producers, including madre chocolate bars, can also be scooped up in the shop.

p.s. share hopa forward celebrates the shop's 1st anniversary by inviting one and all to help fund a future pop-up which hopes to gift 2,012 cups of shave ice to the community with an extra serving of pure aloha.

florencia arias summer 2012

stella * lucille

the flourishing chinatown arts district has become the neighborhood that often woos me for an afternoon of indie shopping when i hop home for a visit. during my winter holiday, i popped into florencia arias's flagship boutique and was delighted to find the softspoken argentinean designer tending to shop tasks behind the counter.

florencia was happy to share more on the making of her shop, which opened its doors last fall (lots of tlc including the most gorgeous cursive sign handmade by her architect hubby), and her design process revealing that longer hemlines were on the way in response to repeated requests by island lovelies (who, quelle surprise!, are a bit more modest than their south american counterparts).

and so, while summer 2012 continues to mix solids and patterns in a flirty yet wearable way, you can expect to find a convertible maxi skirt featured among the color-blocked dresses, pleated pops of color, and fresh editions of last summer's crush.

more to adore after the jump (including tardy spring 2012 peeks)!

daisy

dahlia * tulip

a peek inside the shop . . .

florencia remains committed to producing her label in hawaii (hooray!) so please do pop by the shop and say hello. the sun-drenched space is also stocked with local & argentina pretties from handmade jewelry to posh pua bikinis.

summer 2012 looks will be arriving next week at the flagship boutique, your neighborhood stockist, and the online shop. spring 2012 offerings are beginning to dwindle so hele over now for a peek of remaining styles.

• where: 1161 nu'uanu avenue, chinatown (just around the corner from marks garage)
• shop hours: wed to sat, 11a to 5p (open til 6p on thu & fri)

p.s. tomorrow's first friday fun (5p to 10p) includes 10-to-50% off florencia arias designs, 20% off jewelry, and an additional discount for purchases tallying over $100.

shop toast: festive flags

an island graduation is an iconic rite of passage from friends and family showering the newly minted graduate with lovely lei and party invites booking summer social calendars with carport celebrations, beach picnics, and resort receptions.

if you still have a few weeks before the big party, our friends at shop toast recently introduced candy-filled festive flag favors in school colors to cheer on your grad's scholarly accomplishments.

with cap & gown season already upon us, do hele if you hope to festoon your festivities with tiny banners since a custom design (starring your grad's photo perhaps?) requires a three week turnaround. you are welcome to send along your own artwork or hire shop toast to whip up something special to make your grad smile (for an additional fee, natch).

order online or pop by the kaimuki studio for more details.

a so'mace summer

ocean collection

our friends at so'mace have had quite a year so far between the local design house's debut at the ny int'l gift fair, welcoming pretty pacific-inspired tableware to the collection, and a spring move to a new showroom space.

if you adore designer kaypee soh's modern take on island style, the whimsical laminated linen trays and bowls will surely find a place in your home. the smallest sizes are perfect for keeping little pretties tidy while their larger mates make for carefree displays and will certainly charm guests when pressed into service.

the new rug collection caught my fancy as soon as the lovely isla (who pens the official so'mace blog) first shared sneak peeks last year. the designs are already making me sigh from afar and while preparing this post i discovered my favorite motifs (chevrons! sea urchins! fish scales!) will say hello in the summer 2012 flat-weave collection. hooray!

urchins * scales

asymmetric chevrons

be still my heart . . . and offered in the exact colorways of our future bedroom makeover. hand-knotted rugs made of wool &/or silk can also be yours (including my beloved fan coral first featured in kaypee's pillow collection) in custom colors and sizes. and, so'mace rugs score extra credit for earning goodweave certification which ensures that no child labor is involved during the production process (an exploitative practice to remember should you be wooed by bargain price tags).

say hello to the so'mace 'ohana over at kilohana square (neighbors include rainforest and south coast paperie, the paper goods boutique opened by bradley & lily) or send a love note to inquire about mail orders.

• where: 1016 kapahulu avenue, suite 100
• shop hours: mon to fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 10a to 3p