and the winner is . . .

olivia from waikiki whose halloween just arrived a bit early with the addition of four sweetly spooky companions compliments of toast!

many mahalos to everyone who entered the giveaway! the charming boo!zu boys landed at the wedding café and menehune mac a few days ago, and, of course, can be found in toast's online shop and studio for a limited time.

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

congratulations, olivia!

{mahalo to jeremy & michelle!}

toast halloween giveaway

they're back! jeremy & michelle from toast recently released the annual halloween edition of the boo!zu boys (better known to fans as jax, cross, vein & frank). originally inspired by japanese folk tales, toast's handcrafted quartet are meant to be a sweet talisman to ward off rainclouds and woo the sun's rays.

the snack-sized creatures are available individually ($6) or as a set ($20) which just happens to be toast's halloween treat for one lucky oahu reader game to venture to toast's kaimuki studio for pickup!

here's the scoop on how to enter:

• email your name & current hometown to: aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by thu, oct 8th
• please put toast halloween giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household
• fyi: oahu peeps only, please

winner will be announced on friday.

good luck!

{update: winner list posted}

introducing lovely clusters

today is usually reserved for etsy finds but instead i wanted to introduce you to lovely clusters, the recently launched, curated indie marketplace hosted by rachel of design lovely (based on maui) and vicki from simply hue. the idea for lovely clusters was the natural evolution of rachel's blog which is devoted to sharing a sweet fix of charming romantic finds (think anthropologie) discovered during her online wanderings.

as etsy and the many other online emporiums become crowded with sellers, it can be quite a time sap to click through page after page of possibilities searching for the perfect gem. luckily for those of us who swoon over pretty little things, lovely clusters edits out all the noise down to the most delightful handmade and vintage treasures. even better, you also have the option to fine tune your search by color or category which is how i found all of these lovely clusters-approved, island-inspired offerings.

designers interested in signing up will want to take a peek at the guidelines for more details. there is a limited complimentary listing plus a more expansive shop listing available for a small monthly fee. it does help to have an online shop, but if you need assistance setting one up, send a note to rachel who just happens to design websites during her day job.

p.s. be sure to click over to the design lovely etsy shop which is stocked with handmade note cards made by rachel.

willy-nilly waterlily

blushing blooming cactus

it has been cloudy and gray in my part of the world so it was off to etsy to find something cheery to brighten my day. enter the crafty fabulousness of willy-nilly waterlily, an island crafter who, in her own words, has "dedicated my life to the scientific study of cute".

the delightful offerings that leave the little lab devoted to all things cute cannot help but put a smile on your face, and it is obvious that rima, willy-nilly's creator, puts a lot of love into the sweet soft goods crafted with a mix of crochet and carefully chosen fabrics.

little owl * ami bunnies * happy cupcakes

the etsy shop is currently low on inventory however custom orders are welcome so, if you have a crush on the handmade amigurumi bunnies, you best hop to it if you wish to tuck one into an easter basket.

p.s. click over to the willy-nilly waterlily blog for a glimpse behind-the-scenes.

whale season

it's almost time for the whales to swim back north so with a little cut and paste and, voilà!, a show and tell of all the finds inspired by the planet's largest inhabitant collected over the past year. enjoy!

1 - teach your keiki all her abc's with strawberry luna's w is for whale print.

2 - the cheerful graphics of sirena con jersey's whale tote perk up a standard issue book bag.

3 - two trick pony's handscreened print takes your wall on a fanciful whale ride.

4 - elegantly designed magnetic whale tongs are a dinner party conversation starter.

5 - sterling silver is coaxed into a charming whale pendant.

6 - add a little whimsy to your entry with this playful whale tail door knocker.

7 - jot down notes on this cute whale chalkboard complete with blowhole chalk holder (also stocked at three potato four).

8 - show your gratitude with fugu fugu's 100% recycled big thanks note card.

9 - craft your own whale goodness with nikoart's handcrafted rubber stamp.

10 - announce your house number to the neighborhood with this fun-loving ode to moby.

11 - delight tiny sea explorers with eco-friendly little whales wallpaper by pottok prints.