maui girl beach peeks

maui beach sheets

maui girl & co. recently opened up an online storefront stocked with the same exclusive swimwear styles that have made the pa'ia shop a favorite of locals and visiting celebrities (gwen stefani is said to be a fan).

it's also the only place online to find the fabulous maui beach sheets, a super size cotton cloth rocking a bold polynesian print in a mix of cheery colorways. two sizes are available - the original is a pretty and packable alternative to the bulky beach towel (and at 60x90 it's just asking for a crafty transformation) while the sarong size is a sweet beach coverup.

twist + leaf tribal

beaded chevron stripe tote

the online shop is stocked with an array of swimwear from mix & match separates to maui girl's boutique line of handmade swimsuits. you can also make like a supermodel and sashay along the sandy shoreline in the very provocative beach glam bikinis custom made for the pages of the sports illustrated

swimsuit issue.

• where: 12 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: 9a to 6p everyday

{update | 2012: if you are looking to purchase maui beach sheets, please click over to tiare style to contact the designer directly.}

mu'umu'u heaven update

aloha onesie + l/s tee

the other day i happened across sweet little onesies perked up with recycled fabric appliqués made by mu'umu'u heaven and realized that it had been far too long since the last update. alas, the wee togs are sold out at the kailua boutique but if you simply must have one for your keiki click over to online stockist equita.

for grownups, mu'umu'u heaven continues to translate the little black dress in bamboo jersey with their signature island style which will certainly delight those with a more minimal aesthetic.

honey * bamboo sunrise * luana

heavenly home

pretty flower pens

and, you may recall that earlier this year designer deb mascia launched her heavenly home collection as a way for customers, who swooned over the shop's beach chic meets reclaimed design upon its opening, to decorate their own space with the one of a kind look found inside the boutique.

eric of mu'umu'u heaven (deb's husband, business partner & right hand man) kindly sent along a peek of a few pieces from the collection which closes the green loop by transforming thrift shop bound furniture with a few fixes along with a fresh coat of paint and updated upholstery.

accent pillows made from vintage aloha shirt fabric are also available to brighten up your space and can be found at the shop and pacific home.

finally, one of my favorite things about mh is that every thursday they welcome w.i.n.g.s., a group that works with windward teens and young adults who have autism, into the shop for an afternoon of project making. members have created these cheerful flower pens made with scraps of fabric saved from mu'umu'u heaven's sewing room and are available at the shop for $6 (proceeds help support w.i.n.g.s. activities and additional craft supplies).

• where: 767 kailua road
• shop hours: mon - sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 11a to 4p

martinique resort 2008

with complimentary checked luggage starting to go the way of free in-flight meals, following the lead of frequent fliers and packing a simple carry-on bag is looking ever more alluring. the trick, of course, is figuring out how to fit all you need during your holiday into such a teeny space. enter martinique, a new resort wear line created by kailua designer jodi salmonson.

jodi, who graduated from the uh fashion program, paid her dues as a pattern maker and designer for a local company before branching out on her own with karijane threads a few years ago. the idea for martinique was to create a collection that was comfy enough for everyday yet stylish enough no matter where your getaway may take you.

the pretty and packable collection features gorgeous silk chiffon prints mixed with breezy bamboo jersey, and, as the photos below show, a handful of thoughtfully designed pieces can go from the beach to a dinner date with a few simple adjustments.

alas, there are no plans for an online shop and the stockist list is still under construction, however the collection (which will be priced from $75 to $240) can be found at lilikoi grove boutique in kapa'a and pacific cabana at aloha tower when martinique arrives in stores this august.

martinique is also made in hawaii so kudos to jodi for keeping it local!

hello momo!

whenever kama'ainas go off island, be it on holiday or a move to the mainland for one of the oft-discussed trifecta of better opportunities (college/job/housing), the locales that make the destination list are predictable: las vegas, southern california, the bay area, and the pacific northwest. (the latter three choices are understandable but the first one, to be honest, has always perplexed me.)

if you happen to call seattle your home away from home or plan on hitting the emerald city on your next trip, be sure to add a side trip to japantown to your shopping list. the revitalized neighborhood, filled with noodle shops and tea houses, happens to be the home of momo, the east meets west boutique of oahu girl and seattle resident lei ann shiramizu.

the freelance writer, who grew up in moanalua, and her husband opened the doors of momo late last year to much acclaim for its mix of style and design finds from around the world. the stock list is long and intriguing including french fashion (cop.copine), finnish decor (iittalia), reclaimed leather handbags (bronsino), and vintage asian accessories gathered up at local estate sales.

visits home double as buying trips which mean you can scoop up select finds from the islands from a tin of timana tea to an aloha shirt from iolani sport. and, with father's day just around the corner, momo will be throwing a hawaiian shirt show tomorrow evening featuring styles flown in from IO sport just for the occasion plus handmade aloha shirts for your little one.

• when: thu, jun 12th - 5p to 7p
• where: 600 south jackson street, seattle
• fyi: pupus & light beverages will be served

take a peek inside momo here and here.

manuheali'i summer style

this just in - new styles from manuheali'i's popular accessory line have just been stocked in the online shop. alas, the travel tote featured earlier in the year (which promptly sold out) is nowhere to be found, however do take a peek at handbag designer meleana's signature design made just for manuheali'i which is rocking a lovely two tone colorway this season (shown above).

laua'e kathy flounce + bamboo bag

another new arrival is the silk laua'e collection featuring a comfy silk/cotton blend to keep you cool during the long hot summer (m's aloha shirt can be found here).

shop online or hele over to manuheali'i's two oahu outposts to scoop up the designs on your wish list.