shop toast hula kokeshi

the cuteness that is shop toast's newly launched hula kokeshi makes for a sweet peek on this beautiful aloha friday. the petite wooden heart stump containers are the canvas for delightful details - tiny grass skirts, flower lei, and a ribbon haku - for happy smiles all around.

and, the wee noggins open up to hide a small present for your lucky recipient.

available in boy and girl editions for a limited time online & in-store:

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

p.s. scoop one up during tonight's kickoff of third fridays kaimuki (6p to 9p) when neighborhood merchants (including shop toast, drift, town, and so many more) welcome you with art, music, food and one night shop specials.

new peeks: kealopiko makahiki 2011

naulu

makahiki season would certainly pass most of us by if not for the kealopiko 'ohana. in ancient times, when winter solstice neared native hawaiian life slowed down to celebrate happy times with 'ohana, feast on the bounty provided by the 'aina, and revel in delightful diversions from hula to surfing.

and so, makahiki has arrived and with it a welcome reminder for modern day kama'aina to breathe in the beauty of hawai'i and embrace all you love about island life.

happy congratulations ane, hina & jamie on five years of gorgeous handprinted goods inspired by hawai'i nei!

the makahiki celebration (+ weekend market details) begins after the jump!

kahuli * naulu

kahuli * aku

ferns pareu * puka square * eke scrap

aiea * kaka

if you have your heart set on the brand new eke scrap bag (love that they are reversible and crafted from remnant fabrics - hooray for one-of-a-kind style!), just know they are selling out within moments of arriving online, but you might have better luck at this weekend's holiday markets:

{na makua xmas gift fair}

• when: fri, dec 2nd - 5p to 9p & sat, dec 3rd - 9a to 5p
• where: afook-chinen civic auditorium, 799 piilani street, hilo

{makahiki market}

• when: sun, dec 4th - 9:30a to 4:30p
• where: town, 3435 waialae avenue, kaimuki
• fyi: wear a style from kealopiko's debut collection & receive 5% off your purchase

p.s. kealopiko's makahiki lookbook was photographed through the exquisite lens of jyoti mau.

final boarding: sig zane x ito

. . . pop-up by interisland terminal . . .

hopefully, you are one of the lucky locals who met the sig zane 'ohana during their weeklong waikiki appearance talking story about how art, design, travel and the islands combine to influence the family of makers. if you call oahu home, the interisland travelwrights pop-up shop closes on sunday and with it your chance to scoop up limited edition offerings and other goodness (hello kites!) by the hilo label.

although distance is keeping me away (alas!), the story behind the ponoholo print debuting at ito makes me hopeful that it will become a permanent part of the collection. the starry skies that guided the native hawaiians during their navigations across the pacific are intertwined with a woven motif representing the ties that bind . . . from the canoes on which those long ago journeys were made to the connection of the zane 'ohana to their hometown.

happily, the interweb is filled with ito peeks so i gathered up a few to tempt you down to waikiki this weekend!

ito tee

hilo one duffle

ponoholo printing process

i love how screenprinting transforms a plain piece of fabric, and was delighted to discover interisland terminal posted a fascinating peek of the made in hawaii production process.

tonight, find out what sparked the creation of kuhao's art installation (6p to 8p), and remember a portion of sales from the ponoholo design benefit interisland terminal!

• when: now to sun, jun 12th
• where: waikiki parc hotel, 2233 helumoa road
• pop-up shop hours: daily, 11a to 7p
• fyi: free validated parking at hotel (valet only)

{photo credit: 1/2 - sig zane + 3/interisland terminal}

beach read: moloka'i

growing up, my understanding of kalaupapa was limited to the occasional classroom mention and wandering past father damien's statue at the state capitol. then i borrowed moloka'i from my mom which turned out to be a beautifully written tale of how the dreaded epidemic upended the life of a seven-year-old girl.

the fictional story transports you to old honolulu and its inquisition-like investigations of the whispered about ma'i pake before journeying across the kaiwi channel where the inflicted were expected to embrace life on a forsaken slice of 'aina. and while tear-stained pages are inevitable, little rachel kalama stubbornly proves that happiness, even if fleeting, is possible in small moments of freedom be it secret surf sessions, teenage escapades, and unexpected friendships that blossom during an almost lifelong colony existence.

if you adore a good story, this is a must for your summer beach reads list!

p.s. there are plenty of copies waiting to be discovered on the shelves of your local library.

fashion forward: alfred shaheen

the hawaiiana fashion house alfred shaheen has been enjoying a bit of a revival over the past few years with reissues of their vintage textiles making the home decor rounds. isla from soh inspired! recently shared the news that indoor and outdoor spaces wistfully waiting for lovely yet resilient island style can now be prettified with patterns from the designer's surf 'n sand label. duralee welcomed more alfred shaheen goodness last month with the introduction of the copacabana collection (loving the sophisticated motifs which remain quite modern!), and i spied a few tropical delights hiding in the abbey road and big sur offerings.

while admiring the fabric swatches, i noticed that the archives have also been opened to seascape lamps where you can illuminate your nest with a selection of shaheen shades. do have a peek if your home loves a retro luau look! since not everyone is well versed in mid-century aloha wear, i whipped up a fun diversion to capture the essence of the iconic honolulu label with a vintage outfit vs. modern design goods faceoff!

peek a few of my favorite fashion and design twins after the jump.

mini mum garden

the three tier mini mum garden ($290) meets its a-line doppleganger in this strapless lovely ($300).

kona tapa

love the handdrawn nature of the kona tapa design ($210). and the graphic sensibility of this darling surf 'n sand playsuit ($105) remains au courant with rompers all the rage these days.

regina asian blossoms

jackpot! i discovered the ladylike regina asian blossoms lamp ($210) has a deadringer in this très jolie cocktail dress ($69.95).

hooray for etsy where i truly lucked out sourcing coordinating vintage looks. the prices some styles are fetching are certainly incentive to go hunting through the closets of your fashionable mamas and aunties!

and, stay on the lookout for hawaii's alfred shaheen: fabric to fashion, a traveling retrospective which the star-advertiser reported is expected to stop in maui this fall.

p.s. surf & sand fabric sources include johnny mango at the gentry design center and housefabric.com which woos with discounted yardage (but beware high shipping charges to the islands).

{update: hancock's of paducah seems to be a better bet for online orders to hawaii. although a smaller selection of surf 'n sand patterns is offered, half yard orders can be placed & shipping via usps is an option.}