whale season

it's almost time for the whales to swim back north so with a little cut and paste and, voilà!, a show and tell of all the finds inspired by the planet's largest inhabitant collected over the past year. enjoy!

1 - teach your keiki all her abc's with strawberry luna's w is for whale print.

2 - the cheerful graphics of sirena con jersey's whale tote perk up a standard issue book bag.

3 - two trick pony's handscreened print takes your wall on a fanciful whale ride.

4 - elegantly designed magnetic whale tongs are a dinner party conversation starter.

5 - sterling silver is coaxed into a charming whale pendant.

6 - add a little whimsy to your entry with this playful whale tail door knocker.

7 - jot down notes on this cute whale chalkboard complete with blowhole chalk holder (also stocked at three potato four).

8 - show your gratitude with fugu fugu's 100% recycled big thanks note card.

9 - craft your own whale goodness with nikoart's handcrafted rubber stamp.

10 - announce your house number to the neighborhood with this fun-loving ode to moby.

11 - delight tiny sea explorers with eco-friendly little whales wallpaper by pottok prints.

malia mills swim 2009

pucker strawberry fields

whether your beach body issue is coverage or curves, ny-based swimwear architect malia mills (who may be the first hawaii-born designer to be inducted into the cfda) has a suit designed to flatter no matter your shape or size. the new collection recently hit the online shop with looks ranging from urban sophisticate with a minimum of fuss to pinup glamour complete with flirty shirring and cinches.

since malia was last featured, the eponymous label has expanded its seasonless offerings with a swoon-worthy selection of frocks for readers who covet city girl coverups. plus, a girls swim line also made its debut with the option to rock a matching mother & daughter set (phone order only).

more peeks below . . .

pleated flirt & majorette

dreamboat

diana * marais * tie me up

in happy news, the coconut wire sent along word that malia mills is returning to los angeles this week with the opening of an outpost at the brentwood country mart. 'tis the closest shop to the islands, so next time you find yourself in lala-land, hele over for a personalized fitting and the chance to scoop up jewelry from bliss lau, yet another local girl designer based back east.

• where: 225 26th street, santa monica
• shop hours: mon to sun, 11a to 6p

you can, of course, shop online or click over to the stockist list to locate a brick and mortar shop near you.

p.s. the bittersweet brown colorway is being retired so if you splurge on a new suit you can score one in b.brown for 50% off. click here for more details.

{update | feb 13th: the malia mills 'ohana sent over an exclusive $50 coupon just for h|h readers. enjoy the extra savings by mon, aug 31st.}

roberta oaks spring/swim 2009

kahala

oahu designer roberta oaks shares a glimpse of what to expect when the weather warms up with her pre-spring 09 collection. fans will be happy to find updates on the label's signature silhouettes while hand screened details and sustainable textiles (organic cotton and bamboo jersey are favorites) make their mark on the latest offerings.

the new year also brings a splashy dip into the world of swimwear with a debut collection filled with mix and match sets designed with a flair for the unexpected. bold solids mingle with animal prints and vintage florals
for a bohemian look styled on flirty halters and ooh-la-la brazilian cuts.

moana + quaint

click over to the official website to shop the entire collection or to find your neighborhood stockist.

p.s. the fall & winter 08 collections are now on sale (up to 60% off) in the online shop.

arkotec design lab

 manatee lab

if you haven't stopped into [area] lately, you may have missed one of the most promising design lines homegrown in hawaii of late. arkotec founder christian hastings recently returned home to the islands to pursue his lifelong dream of opening up a multidisciplinary design house via a fusion of old school production ways and modern meets sustainable design concepts.

in a world where far too much is outsourced to faraway lands, the big island-born designer (who currently calls honolulu home) is happily reviving the cottage industry one product at a time. first by producing a tee collection with thought provoking graphics and most recently with the introduction of arkotec's products for people line (sewn by christian's talented wife shandra).

take a peek at arkotec's latest offerings . . . delightfully green pillows, handbags and plush toys handmade with fabric reclaimed from the thrift shop mixed with new textiles for a totally one-of-a-kind look:

quasi

currently, the arkotec line is exclusively stocked at [area], the fab mid-century modern showroom in chinatown, with plans to open up an online shop of its own later this year (off-island readers are welcome to email christian to place an order).

click over to the arkotec website to learn more!

{update | feb 2010: arkotec recently opened up an online shop stocked with all of the featured designs shown above!}

fighting eel spring 2009

ryder

while the world dishes on the first lady's inaugural fashion picks, fighting eel recently posted peeks of their upcoming spring 09 collection.

honolulu designers lan chung & rona bennett were the first to put modern hawaii style on the fashion map with their label's oh-so-simple yet still head turning silhouettes thoughtfully constructed for island living. this time around the fe team found inspiration in the a-line styles made famous during the pop art era (fitting considering the collection was shot on the gorgeous grounds of the contemporary museum) to the flowing gowns of spring goddesses.

hemlines for spring 09 go from abbreviated to ankle skimming while colorways range from bright splashes of citrus to warm neutrals for everyday. breezy silhouettes continue to dominate while color blocked bodices are new for the season. fe's collection of separates continues to expand with new mix and match pieces including a figure flattering pencil skirt and the return of the bodysuit.

karma

ocean

twist

carly

a spring fashion show is in the works and will be open to the public complete with trunk show (the line won't arrive in the fe showroom until april) and an exclusive peek of the summer 09 collection!

• when: sun, feb 8th - 3p
• where: the butik, 1067 kapiolani blvd, suite a-3

click over to the stockist list to find out where to scoop up fe's spring 09 styles locally or stop by the fe showroom when in chinatown.

• where: 47 north hotel street
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 5p

p.s. the spring & fall 08 collections are currently on sale in fe's online shop.