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.

the scent of green papaya

if the holidays are all about gifting those you love with something they would never buy for themselves, i present to you fresh papayas shipped direct from hawaii's volcano isle fruit company. this is such a wonderful last minute gift idea since orders will arrive on the mainland in 2-3 days (of course, it's best to double check the current holiday turnaround to guarantee xmas delivery).

mainland dwellers know that papayas grown in other parts of the world are not nearly as ono as ones from the islands and when a hawaiian papaya can be found at the market prepare yourself for sticker shock. thanks to the wonders of fedex, two jacksons (no, not tito or rebe . . . think along the lines of the u.s. mint) will get a 10 lb box of either sun red or rainbow varieties or a papaya mix from the big island straight to the door of your favorite foodie.

on another note, it may be the busiest day of the year but i have to dash to the post office to drop off a few packages to hawaii (thank goodness for online postage) but check back later today for more holiday inspirations for all the procrastinators (you know who you are!).

wrap it up

 whimsy super lucky + s&g fronds

i'm gearing up for the holidays and have been searching for xmas cards and gift wrap ideas that are stylish &/or irreverent. my favorite gift wrap so far is this adorable super lucky pattern from whimsy press. it's not every day you find a lucky cat protecting your gift and i think it may bode well for the new year.

next up, a more minimal design from snow & graham. the taupe & white fronds design could double as abstract snowflakes and would look particularly elegant under the tree. even better, both designs are suitable all year long so you won't have to store oodles of gift wrap for different occasions.

iomoi palm beach tree + rsp palm tree

i am always on the hunt for pretty stationary and last year scored a good deal on pre-printed xmas cards from iomoi. this year, customization is king and iomoi has a nice selection of tropical designs for those with the budget to splurge on personalized holiday wishes. just remember that turnaround time is currently 7 business days so get your order in soon so you have enough time to get your cards in the post.

last but not least, i am loving the palm tree holiday card from rock scissor paper. they always have the coolest retro style designs and this card will definitely stand out amongst all the others that arrive in the mail.

now that i've exhausted all the modern resources, i'll be hunting for more traditional island style holiday ideas. check back in a few days for the scoop!

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.

diy wine

. . . well, kind of. thanks to punahou grad shannon ball, tending to the vines & expensive fermentation equipment are no longer a requirement for aspiring vintners. test your winemaking skills at his shop, wine the experience, where you can blend your own wine from over 50 varietals and a few months later your wine will be ready to be bottled.

slap on some custom labels and you have a one-of-a kind gift for birthdays, weddings & the holidays. if you don't drink it all first.