aloha harvest

i hope everyone enjoyed a lovely holiday! it seems i am still playing catch up with life and emails so finds from my trip home will kick off in the new year. since this last visit home was so last minute, i realized i never got around to sharing a bit more about aloha harvest (the oahu charity that was the recipient of the donations raised during the kokua auction).

if you are the one in charge of planning parties for work or play, read on. aloha harvest puts a twist on the traditional food bank by accepting prepared fare in addition to the usual canned goods and packaged food. no matter if it's a fancy catered affair or a big potluck with your peeps chances are leftovers will abound so here's the 411 on how to prevent all that good food (and money) from going down the drain.

once your event winds down, simply give aloha harvest a ring with the details of what is remaining on the buffet (fyi - you can also schedule a pickup in advance). a driver will be sent to pick up your food donation and will then deliver it to one of the many social service agencies who have partnered with aloha harvest so all that extra prime rib (or your aunty's famous lumpia) can help feed folks who may otherwise go without.

keep aloha harvest's number handy for upcoming new year's celebrations/sugar bowl shindigs and the continuous rotation of class reunions, weddings, baby's first luaus, and office parties (let's hope their donation number is on the speed dial of every caterer, event planner, hotel, restaurant and cafeteria on oahu who may still be sending quality food to waste away in waimanalo gulch).

click here for more details.

p.s. donations are also tax deductible

sunday night supper club

the season of giving is in full swing and here's a cool way to give back to the community. the ronald mcdonald house of hawaii is always on the lookout for volunteers to host their sunday night dinner club for families who have made manoa their home away from home while their children receive medical treatment at local hospitals.

families staying at the house arrive from the neighbor islands as well as from guam, samoa, and other parts of the pacific so the weekly supper may be their only chance to enjoy a home cooked meal. round up a few family and friends and savor your time together while whipping up everyone's favorite dishes to share with the ronald mcdonald 'ohana.

you can find more details here. and, if cooking is not your thing, do take a moment to peek at the ronald mcdonald house wish list.

kokua auction tally

the kokua auction officially came to a close on monday and $190 and change was raised for aloha harvest!

thank you to everyone who participated - the bidders, winners, and, of course, all the designers, artists, and alchemists who generously donated their wares so a few lucky h|h readers could sample and share just a little of the goodness being created in the islands.

mahalo nui loa for all your kokua!

kokua auction reminder

just a quick reminder that the final three lots in the kokua auction end later today. the fighting eel lot still needs a bid, and, if you are concerned about it being xs, just know the fabric is very forgiving and should fit someone who typically wears a size small. measurements are posted on the listing so do click over and scoop up one of fe's fabulous designs (at 60% off) to ring in the new year!

remember shipping is on me if you live in the states plus there is a sweet mix of island goodies included for you to sample and share.

thanks for reading & have a lovely monday!

kokua auction - final round!

lot 3

alrighty, so there have been some serious steals during the kokua auction so far. since the all knowing magic 8 ball says there may be travel in my future, i have decided to accelerate the pace a bit and have just posted the final three auctions on ebay. yep, you read that correctly . . . thanks to the generosity of stancher at etiquette, an extra auction has been added just for the fellas!

remember, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to aloha harvest which does good work helping feed hawaii's hungry.

kokua lot no. 3 (est. retail value: $40):

• 1 state of mine t-shirt from etiquette (m's size large)
• 1 letterpress note card set (3 cards) from miemiko atelier
• 1 note card set (6 cards) from big island artist caren loebel-fried
• 1 package of pat's pineapple salsa
• 1 mango papaya soap bar from north shore soap factory
• 2 handmade gift tags (dog & tiger) from downtown general store

lot 4, part one

lot 4, part two

kokua lot no. 4 (est. retail value: $175):

• 1 sterling silver charm bracelet by he'e nalu (6" to 8" diameter)
• 1 ola hawaii coconut cane sugar scrub by hawaiian body products
• 1 letterpress note card set (3 cards) from miemiko atelier
• 1 note card set (6 cards) from big island artist caren loebel-fried
• 1 lather soap bar from bubble shack hawaii
• 2 handmade gift tags (cat & lamb) from downtown general store

lot 5

kokua lot no. 5 (est. retail value: $250):

• 1 dress love (size xs) by fighting eel
• ola hawaii lemongrass sugar scrub (1) & vanilla ginger creme lotion (1) by hawaiian body products
• 1 letterpress note card set (3 cards) & 1 note card from miemiko atelier
• 1 vanilla mint lip balm from mama coco's
• 2 handmade gift tags (bear & monkey) from downtown general store

i suspect everyone has been waiting for the final lot so bid away to your heart's content! the opening bids are a fraction of the estimated value so there are quite a few deals to be had in this final round of the kokua auction.

remember shipping is on me if you live in the states (international bidders pay a flat shipping rate of $5
usd). all auctions end on monday night so happy bidding and mahalo for your kokua!