sig zane summer sale

sig zane is kicking off a two day summer sale today which is a rare chance to save 25% off everything in your shopping bag (including the recently featured kai palaoa collection)!

big island peeps are invited to stop by the hilo shop for the in-store sale experience.

fyi - the online inventory usually sells like hotcakes so hele over asap for the best selection.

• when: today @ 9a hst to sat, jul 26th - 4p hst
• where: 122 kamehameha avenue, hilo

shivhon rug collection

lawai

hawaiian style rugs are not known for pushing the design envelope and seem to be content to stick to a more traditional mosaic of patterns stuck in a time warp of 80s pastels and garden variety borders. so let's just say it was a good day when i happened upon shivhon's lovely tibetan rugs with its delightful mix of updated tropical goodness.

the eponymous collection belongs to haleiwa interior designer shirley shivhon who, frustrated with the lack of contemporary designs for her projects, jumped into the world of rug making after meeting a small community of tibetan weavers during a trip to nepal. those same artisans now practice their craft to create shivhon's rugs which employ tibet's traditional and labor intensive hand-knotting technique.

the result: designs that retain the feel of being translated straight from the sketchbook nixing absolute perfection to embrace a more wabi-sabi aesthetic. i am loving shivhon's understated designs, from island abstracts to painterly motifs, any of which would make the perfect backdrop in a modern island style home. and, since each rug is made to order, you have the chance to guide the design process and configure the shape and colorway to best compliment your space.

ulu

kapa

 hopu

paradise blossom

the heirloom quality rugs start at $1500 and go up from there depending on the fiber (silk or wool) and size, and have an estimated turnaround time of 8 to 12 weeks depending on the complexity of the design and dimensions (custom sizes up to 20x20 are available).

love what you see? hele over to the bella pietra showroom in honolulu and kailua-kona to take a peek at the collection.

wings hawaii summer 2008

the lazy days of summer are just perfect for all the pretty things made by wings hawaii. the loop terry hoodie is a cute lightweight coverup for early mornings at the beach and to keep the chill off when the sun sets.

alas, it appear to be sold out online but a stock check with designer samantha howard revealed that the shop has hoodies in the following colorways - brown/mermaid print & white/fern print. contact the shop to inquire about size availability. (running shorts & tank are available online)

and, a wings show and tell would not be complete without a peek of the latest handcrafted accessories:

1 - the sunwing belt is already on my wishlist and features wing's signature design on the brass buckle. belts are made to order so send along your pant size for a perfect fit.

2 - wing's lucky line of island amulets will be an instant hit with all your friends waiting for a wish to come true.

3 - puka teardrop earrings put a tropical twist on a classic design.

4 - make like a mermaid and adorn yourself with the simple yet stunning sunrise shell bangle.

shop online or when on maui take a trip upcountry and hit the wings showroom:

• where: 375 west kuiaha road, haiku
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat/sun, 9a to 1p

{update | may 2011: wings moved its flagship shop to lovely little paia town last year and can now be found at 71 baldwin avenue}

the luxe life

bird of paradise

tina from joie studio just buzzed me with news that LUXE letterpress is finally ready to make its official debut! LUXE is tina's brand new line devoted to announcing your big day in style with a gorgeous mix of designs featuring romantic flourishes, chic asian elements, and vintage island illustrations printed in modern designer colorways that make the details of each impression pop (custom colors are also available).

seville

bonsai

the semi-custom invites are printed on tree-free cardstock and coordinating cards can also be ordered to round out your nuptial arsenal of paper goods. turnaround time is about 4 to 6 weeks once the proofs have been approved.

to celebrate the opening of LUXE letterpress, tina is offering h|h readers 20% off all letterpress invitation orders!

• secret code: goLUXEaloha
• expires: fri, aug 15th

native guide hawaii

[the past few days have been a whirlwind so please forgive my very tardy saturday weekend travel post]

when most of us think of taking a tour around the islands, those big buses packed with tourists are probably the first thing that comes to mind. if the thought of hitting the highlights with 100-plus strangers makes you cringe, the next time you are big island bound remember to click over to native guide hawaii which offers small eco-tours exploring the volcano, coast and everything in between.

warren costa, the hilo-born proprietor, shares the inside scoop on his island the way only someone who has been both a former park ranger and schoolteacher can. (he also has a background in archeology & naturalism, natch). tours are described as an educational journey giving you the 411 on island history and local legends with a dash of science and native habitat identification thrown in.

daylong tours start at $300 for up to two people (extra fee per additional person; six people max) and include transportation, lunch, walking sticks & daypacks. custom, off the beaten path adventures can also be organized (contact warren for more details).

take a peek at the faq before you book.