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}

pat's island delights

gourmet hawaiian treat basket

whenever we go to the waiau zippy's, the pat's island delights shop across the way always beckons me but i never stopped in because i assumed it was just a snack shop. and since my aunty's pantry is always stocked with treats the last thing we need are more snacks in the house.

then, before the last trip home, i discovered via kat of our adventures in japan that pat's is really more of a gourmet snack shop so i finally explored their website and with a few clicks discovered volcano island honey, hawaiian kine taro chips, foodstuff from maui culinary academy & so much more stocked online.

intrigued and in need of omiyage gifts to bring back to the mainland, i paid a visit to the shop and was delighted to find all the foodie treats on my wish list in one convenient location. you could easily drop a lot of money here and it was difficult to restrain myself since everywhere i turned there was something to tempt my taste buds. this is definitely a good place to go if you need a nice hostess gift or want to shake things up and give mainland ohana something a little different.

and a nice bonus for folks outside hawaii is that instead of racking up shipping charges at various websites you can hit pat's for one stop shopping and add a few more goodies to your cart with the money you saved.

pat's is located in town (ground floor of the davies pacific center at queen street) and at the waiau shopping center in pearl city.

{update | jan 2010: pat's pc outpost has been shuttered since a fire a few years ago so find your way to the town shop to scoop up 'ono island delights}

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.

sweet heartbreaker

you can always count on big island candies to celebrate the holidays in style. the best thing about their pretty packaging are the treats your sweetheart will find inside. this year they're whipping up chocolate passion truffles & heart shaped versions of their ono chocolate dipped shortbread cookies & chocolate covered brownies just in time for valentine's day.

yes, your beloved may go into sugar shock but, if you are particularly crafty or strapped for cash, you can "give" them a box of sweets in hopes they will share a few bites with you. and if you want to test your love, break a cookie in half and see if they leave the luscious chocolate side for you or take it for his/herself.

honolulu chocolate company

chocolate truffles

hopefully, your love connection is as steadfast and true as the combination of valentine's day and a box of chocolates. if you really want to splurge, stop by the honolulu chocolate company at ward center and worship at the altar that is their chocolate filled glass case. their specialty is artisanal chocolates with everything from decadent truffles (on the last trip home, i sampled one with li hing powder) to chocolate dipped strawberries made just for valentine's to tempt your tastebuds.

if you can't get to their shop, an edited selection of goodies are available on their website however ordering is a bit old school since you have to either fax or call in your order. and remember that valentine's is the shop's second biggest day of the year so don't procrastinate if you want to treat your sweet.