honolulu gift fair

bubble shack holiday lathers

the honolulu gift fair kicked off yesterday and a few of the folks featured on h|h will be setting up shop so swing by the blaisdell this weekend to pick up some last minute xmas gifts. there will be 250 vendors, door prizes, and a very shopper-friendly touch is that you will be able to ship your gifts at the fair which will save you a trip and a very long wait at the post office.

and just because you can't be there doesn't mean you can't check out what's new with h|h favorites and still get your order in the mail in time for the holidays!

bubble shack recently introduced their holiday lathers collection (check out the swirls!) with 10 new soaps inspired by the season. the haupia nut cake sounds lovely with coconut, macadamia nut oil, and oatmeal for a bit of exfoliation. these would make great stocking stuffers and since orders over $50 accrue bubblebucks for future purchases it really is the gift that keeps on giving!

punk rock rat + rooster

nine tail fox will also be at the fair featuring their sterling silver and pearl/gemstone jewelry. and, in my quest to find a holiday connection anywhere, let me just say that their punk rock rat ring reminds me of the mean rat king in the nutcracker ballet that i sat through many times as a child. stop by the ntf etsy shop and receive free priority shipping (holiday order deadline is dec 20th)!

handy hold all

finally, the style sisters at fashionista's market are stocking their booth with the latest designs at fm prices. i have to agree that this oh so pretty handbag hanger which has been selected as fm's favorite holiday gift is a much nicer way of keeping your bags organized and sure beats banging holes in the closet wall to hang hooks (guilty as charged).

alas, you have to get yourself to the gift fair to score one of these ingenious hangers in hawaii but i did a little digging and found it online just for you.

details, details, details:

• when: thu, dec 14th - sat, dec 16th
• hours: today 2p to 9p, fri/sat 10a to 9p
• where: blaisdell center
• admission: $5* general public, $3 non-residents/active military/keiki (4-10)

(*if you subscribe to roadrunner then check out oceanic's december ohana newsletter for a $2 coupon)

cozy island style for cool nights

wouldn't this merino wool hoodie from neve designs be just the thing for that hard to shop for person on your gift list? i imagine this hibiscus print sweater being worn by a friend who has a lot of spark or an aunty who loves to garden.

fyi - athleta has a cute pullover version while sierra trading post has a few island style designs on clearance for those who prefer a more minimlist look.

oaks hawaii holiday trunk show

oaks hawaii is celebrating the holidays in style this weekend with two events scheduled on oahu. on saturday, grab your pals and head up to sunset beach elementary school to pick up fresh flowers, juicy fruits, handcrafted jewelry, and, of course, goodies from oaks (booth 65) at the annual christmas craft fair.

• sat hours: 9a to 3p
• map it!

then on sunday afternoon get yourself to the windward side for a holiday trunk show at global village in kailua. you'll have a chance to dish with the designer and score 20% off the fall/winter 2006 collection.

• sun hours: 2p to 5p
• map it!

30% off meleana bags

nui loa

meleana, the design mind behind the eponymous line of hawaiian handbags, just kicked off a 30% sale at her online boutique. if you happen to be jetting to hawaii for the holidays, take a peek at the nui loa which will keep all the essentials you need during the flight handy. and, even if hawaii is not on your itinerary, at least your new meleana bag will comfort you with a much needed dose of island style wherever you spend the winter.

the holiday shipping deadline (dec 15th) is fast approaching so hele over asap to score that sweet bag that has been lingering on your wishlist.

• secret code: holiday (enter at checkout)
• expires: dec 31st

akane clothing

as the year winds down, a lot of folks will start cleaning out their closets to gather up donations for charity. so what happens when your tax deductions hit the rack at goodwill? emerging island designer zana tsutakawa just may see potential in your discards when she's shopping at island thrift shops for threads to deconstruct for her up & coming clothing line.

you never know where you might bump into that old skirt once it has been transformed into a new piece for akane clothing. the line has become a favorite of the club crowd and island fashionistas who want to make a statement and has been flying off the rack at h|h favorite ma honolulu. each piece that is created is also numbered so you know you're getting a one of kind design for that recently edited closet.

guys also get some akane love so click here to check out the men's line.