island crush: aloha sea bags

summer may be slipping away but year-round adventures cannot help but adore becca beach's newest arrival. the aloha totes by sea bags are constructed of sturdy recycled sailcloth and made especially for the kahala boutique by the maine label who first introduced stylish carryalls crafted from retired sails to the states.

i see beach dates, island hops, and quite a few trips to the farmers market in its future.

available in disco fabulous metallic leather (gold or silver) and carefree sailcloth (pink or navy) letters.

$210 to $231 in-store (phone & email orders welcome).

kahala goes organic

the renaissance of kahala has been well documented since its relaunch last year with much of the credit being given to the return of creative director dale hope, former company man slash aloha shirt connoisseur. the old school aloha wear label's design team certainly found their muse when peeking into kahala's
vast archives when presented with the chance to rework the line's classic beach boy looks.

many of the patterns embrace the best of vintage hawaiiana design but with a welcome eco update. yep, kama'ainas patiently waiting to rock some sustainable style on aloha friday finally have a source of organic aloha shirts with the introduction of kahala's eco-friendly collection.

even better, acquiring kahala wear is now thoroughly modern with the recent opening of its online shop where you can stock up on aloha shirts, board shorts, and keiki clothing.

or, skip the shipping charges altogether and hele over to ala moana to shop at the label's flagship store.

kahala spring 2008 collection

miro

while visiting my mom earlier this year, i happened upon a story on the rebirth of the kahala sportswear line (which became part of tori richard a few years ago). the design that caught my eye was kahala's homage to mid-century style (shown above) perfect for hipsters seeking to revisit the cocktail culture of the rat pack. my curiosity was piqued so enjoy this little show and tell of the venerable alohawear brand!

say goodbye to the tired reverse print seen on every other island "suit" and visitor industry worker bees and hello to a spring collection that has recaptured the line's iconic look from back in the day with a renewed focus on pattern and design.

native

nuku hiva

surf spots

an ala moana shop is in the works and set to open in the new nordy's wing this month, however, if you can't make it to the flagship store, the best online selection seems to be stocked at zappos and aloha shirt shop.

soha living

 

i became quite fond of these dermond peterson pillows when i spotted them at soha the last time i was home. you never know what you will find while browsing around soha which is packed with tropical accessories discovered during the proprietors' treks to southeast asia. lucky for local design junkies, soha opened up their little global bazaar a few years ago which has become the place to go to add some unexpected visual interest to island style surroundings. 

and here's good news for furniture hunters on the neighbor islands: complimentary shipping is yours for the taking if your decor order rings up to $3000 (offer available until may 31st). no need to pout if you live on oahu since you can score free furniture delivery on april orders with a $2000 tab. click here for more details.

fyi - online shopping is not available so if you spot something you like do give the shop a ring to place your order via phone.

map it!

{update | jan 2010: soha has relocated to kahala mall}

he'e nalu sterling style

one of the questions i get asked a lot is just how do i find all this stuff? well, more often than not much of the good stuff is discovered after spending endless hours online and bookmarking things for that ever elusive red letter day.

so i am always thrilled when someone pops me an email to say hello which reminds me to dig up that bookmark and get a post ready to go. such is the case with the he'e nalu jewelry line created by riches hawaii owner lo kaimuloa which has been hiding in my bookmarks for far too long.

the sterling silver collection has a minimal design and the message is simple: to embody the principles of the hawaiian culture. each he'e nalu piece is engraved with a hawaiian word like makoa (courage), hanohano (honor), kuleana (purpose), etc. which serves as a touchstone for the code we all should live by but is oftentimes forgotten in modern life. and no worries if your hawaiian is sketchy since the english translation is also inscribed on the back.

if you are searching for something sweet for valentine's day, you may want to take a peek at he'e nalu's heart shaped aloha pendant. the online inventory is low but you can always drop by riches hawaii's kiosk at kahala mall to check out the complete collection.