manuheali'i on the go

citrus travel tote * shopper * cosmetic clutch

between summer's sky high oil prices and the current economic rollercoaster, it seems most everyone i know has put their travel plans on hold. that said, you may be inspired to hit the road after seeing the latest accessory collection from manuheali'i if only to tote your gear in the new fall patterns which seem to be lifted straight from a sketchbook filled with watercolor impressions.

if you worry about someone making off with your bag at the airport, take a peek at the updated large canvas travel tote rocking a juicy jolt of color that makes it easy to spot in a crowd. the prints also add a tropical punch to manuheali'i's new shopping tote and small clutches which, for readers who are already gearing up for the holidays, easily double as an eco-friendly way to "wrap" gifts.

price point for the new collection ranges from $9 to $68 and can be scooped up in the online shop or at manuheali'i's punahou & kailua outposts.

jools fall 2008

butterfly chain * gold-plated leaf * double branch * 24k leaves

la-based designer sybil shimazu of jools recently introduced the fall 08 collection for her handcrafted accessory line. the latest edition features a bevy of nature-inspired concoctions ranging from butterfly flourishes and gold plated leaves to simple, organic shapes for fans who heart minimal styles.

many pieces can be scooped up for under $50 but bargainistas will find plenty of deals from past seasons stocked in the sale section.

weekly sales sheet

it's a slow sales week so no reason not to tune into the presidential debates tonight! on to this weekend's highlights:

the rock shop hosted by anné au returns to thirtynine hotel saturday afternoon featuring local designers meesah & soozou. the addition of a swap shop gives you a chance to dig through your closet and trade gently worn castoffs for new-to-you styles without breaking the bank.

• when: sat, sep 27th - 12p to 4p
• where: 39 north hotel street
• fyi: free admission & complimentary cocktail/mocktail with first purchase

if you're heading to the kcc farmers market tomorrow, ali'i kula lavender will be making its monthly appearance so get there early to stock up on your favorite bath & gourmet treats fresh from akl's maui farm.

have a happy weekend!

portrait of a lady

ramona + agatha

living in an instant world can sometimes make you dizzy with its round-the-clock access of endless possibilities a mere click or twitter away. take a breather from the digital revolution and revisit a bygone era by sitting down to have your portrait painted by maui's anna feil.

anna first explored portraiture while studying at the savannah college of art & design and, quite befittingly, describes herself as being "fascinated with faces" since childhood. with a colorful expressionist style, the haiku artist captures her subjects via layers of mixed media which adds a welcome modern texture to this old school art form.

portraits first start with a photography session and, midway through the process, clients are invited to sit down and be the artist's muse before the final brush stroke is completed. off island? simply send in a favorite photograph of yourself (or special someone) and anna will take it from there.

there is a three month turnaround so consult your calendar if you plan to time the big reveal for a birthday or anniversary. prices for a custom portrait range from $500 to $2000.

take a peek at the gallery for a little inspiration.

ko'olau - a true story of kaua'i

the lovely woodblock prints by big island artist caren loebel-fried are one of my favorite things so you can imagine my excitement upon discovering that a stage production in nyc featuring her artwork made its debut last week. the story of ko'olau is being told through japanese-style puppetry created by ny-based local boy tom lee (who is also directing the show) set against projected backdrops based on caren's woodblocks.

this traditional storytelling style combines with live shadow animation and video projections to tell the story of kaluaiko'olau, a 19th century paniolo on kaua'i who resisted being deported to a leper colony and separated from his family after contracting the disease. together they fled to a remote valley where the family lived until the death of ko'olau and his son.

after the ordeal, ko'olau's wife pi'ilani recounted the family's struggles and it is her dramatic tale of love and 'ohana that the production is based on.

since most of us can't make the show, click over to the gallery to take a fascinating peek at the puppets and production design. performance details below for those lucky readers who call new york home:

• show dates: now to sun, oct 5th
• show times: fri/sat - 10p & sun - 5:30p
• where: la mama experimental theatre club, nyc
• tix: $18

let's hope ko'olau makes it way west and across the pacific one day!

p.s. prints of caren's work are available over in her etsy shop.