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.

2009 canstruction challenge

poi pounder : fung associates

nothing this cool ever seems to be happening at pearlridge whenever i find myself wandering around phase one uptown. the honolulu chapter of the american institute of architects recently hosted the fourth annual canstruction competition at the mall filled with spectacular recreations of iconic island objects like spam musubi, shaka signs, and shave ice from the humble canned good.

teams were judged on criteria ranging from use of labels (winner: aloha shirt, below) to structural ingenuity with the overall juror's pick being the fabulous poi pounder (shown above).

big aloha shirt : watg

shave ice : insynergy engineering

hele over to pearlridge before sunday morning to check it out before the official de-canstruction takes place and thousands upon thousands of canned goods make their way to the shelves at the hawaii food bank.

and, for every can you donate by saturday, you get one vote for the people's choice which will be revealed on sunday!

• when: now to sat, aug 29th
• where: center court, pearlridge
• fyi: de-canstruction begins at 11a on sun, aug 30th

p.s. click over to the aia photo gallery to take a peek behind-the-scenes.

{via the hawaii independent}

and the winner is . . .

andy from vancouver, bc! is it wrong to envy that toast's adorable woodland creatures heart stumps will be calling lovely british columbia home soon?

many mahalos to everyone who dropped their name into the proverbial hat. all four limited edition favor designs can be found in toast's online shop as well as at their kaimuki studio:

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

congratulations, andy!

{mahalo jeremy & michelle for spoiling the h|h 'ohana with your fabulous designs!}

design date: kapa mua

sand dollar

two summers have gone by since the gorgeous quilted designs of kapa mua were featured on h|h and oahu readers finally have a chance to take a peek at the elegant island inspired blankets.

simply find your way to place, the nu'uanu atelier of interior designer & author kaui philpotts, which is hosting a summer exhibit featuring kapa mua quilts plus artwork from studio kaea and decorative island finds during its pacific interpretations show.

niho mano + feather cape

longtime readers may recall how san francisco designer michael pechinski distills traditional hawaiiana motifs and objects from the sea into kapa mua's modern bedding crafted with bold contemporary graphics with a delightful nod to the tropics. definitely crushworthy, no?

• where: place, 40 south school street, suite 100
• shop hours: mon to fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 10a to 4p

{mahalo amy!}

woodland creatures giveaway

it may only be the opening week of august but the sound of school bells can already be heard around the islands. enter toast who has a sweet & savory way to make the transition back to school a bit more pleasant with their adorable woodland creatures heart stump favors.

a complete limited edition set featuring all four cuddly creatures will delight one lucky reader, but only if you follow the scoop on how to enter:

• email your name & current hometown to: aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by thu, aug 6th
• please put woodland creatures giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household

click back on friday to find out if you are the lucky winner!

{update: winner list has been posted}