springtime at maui thing

aloha da

gather 'round for a peek at the freshly stocked springtime designs in maui thing's online shop!

to honor the annual whale migration to the islands, maui thing designed this happy whale tee (keiki style shown below, m's here) which reminds me of approaching monstro the whale's spooky opening that swallows up riders whole during pinocchio's daring journey at disneyland . . . albeit in a much friendlier package!

save the whales

doodle + flower tree

in other news, reservations are now available to host your very own maui thing party. it's another twist on the home party made famous by tupperware with the maui designed clothing collective bringing their goods to you along with light pupus for a private showing of their latest styles. and, because maui thing is all about doing good, 10% of sales will be donated to the non-profit organization of your choice.

click rewind to learn more about maui thing!

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.

prep school resort

since the announcement of j.crew's resort collection popped into my inbox last week, i've been going back and forth on whether to post the new designs which were obviously influenced by hawaii. a conspiracy theorist might think that the island inspired looks were created to coincide with the recent opening of the ala moana shop, but, having been a j.crew girl since my college days, i know better and can tell you that j.crew resort has always offered up a modern, if preppy, take on tropical style.

the oahu tee seems to be the 2008 followup to last year's big island design (up next: kaho'olawe!) and then there is the curiously named nanakuli button up in this year's mix (oh, how i wish i was a fly on the wall to hear that discussion).

alas, my new shopper's manifesto* means i am sitting this one out in an attempt to ween myself off my j.crew habit since more of my shopping dollars are being devoted to products that are made in the usa, fair trade, &/or organic (if i ever find all three in one product i will have hit the trifecta!).

of course, my guess is that h|h readers probably have not limited themselves in such a way so off you go to enjoy the latest looks before they sell out. and, while some may find it odd that a resort collection designed far from the islands sells like hotcakes, consider this a cue for local designers that there definitely is a market outside hawaii for retro island style designed for the modern girl.

*[just trying to be a better world citizen by being a more conscious consumer because i do believe that after voting our best hope to transform this capitalist economy of ours into one that is more sustainable is from
the ground up at checkout. my new motto compliments of ghandi - be the change you wish to see in the world!]

red pineapple roundup

red pineapple proprietor nalani mclaughlin holliday scored a little mention in dailycandy yesterday for her eponymous cookie creations. with mother's day fast approaching, time to gather 'round for a show and tell of whimsical gift ideas stocked at nalani's ward centre boutique:

1 - for the green thumb: garden-in-a-bag creates instant blooms

2 - for the fashionista: a stiletto door stop makes for a flirty homage to her choos

3 - for the sweet tooth: pretty packaging conceals nalani's famous cookies

4 - for the wave warrior: a stylish swim tote complete with waterproof liner

missing the gifting gene? take a rain check on that panic attack and let the red pineapple 'ohana whip up the perfect mother's day basket for you. minimum order is a budget friendly $11 plus red pineapple offers delivery and shipping direct to your mom's door.

indah spring 2008

justice

a peek of indah's spring 08 collection is just the thing to shake off the morning doldrums! kaua'i girl libby de santis (now based in bali) continues to design flirty confections with spot on mix-ins be it a dash of print, a sweet springtime hue, or the occasional poetic flourish.

bell

oceana

plus, a little something for the bride-to-be!

alas, with no official online shop, you will have to make friends with your neighborhood stockist to track down the design that makes your heart go a-flutter.

click rewind to learn more about indah.