island hopping with machine machine

pa'u long shorts

time to check in with machine machine designer shannon hiramoto who just happens to rock one of the more unique points of view in hawaii's cozy style scene. when we first stepped into machine machine's world last year, shannon was whipping up her handmade creations back home on kaua'i, however after taking the summer off to wander around europe and bali, love with a local boy (whom she met during her journey) lured her back to oahu.

what has always intrigued me about shannon's work is how many of her designs retain hints of her stream of consciousness sewing style even though, as any project runway fan knows, garments typically take shape on the sketchpad and dress form before needle and thread get down to business.

this time around shannon continues to play with silhouettes and has embraced an "aloha-infused" aesthetic as evidenced by machine machine's current crop of garments rocking a pa'u waistband. denim is also getting reworked via sublime stitching which has transformed standard issue fare with a more modern and youthful twist made for city living.

mini muumuu

trouser skirt

one of the best things about supporting an indie designer is that most styles can be made to order so drop shannon a note if you need a different size or to inquire about custom work.

take a peek at the current collection over in the machine machine etsy shop.

flaunt it maternity

lovely hula girl

during her first pregnancy, jodi kaopuiki encountered the familiar wardrobe dilemma of having nothing to wear. frustrated by the standard pregnancy options of billowy tops and empire waistlines and the lack of stylish yet comfy tees that were her pre-baby staples, jodi decided a maternity collection of cute tees designed for island moms-to-be was long overdue.

flaunt it launched late last year with a debut collection filled with tees made to show off growing bellies. an hour glass cut hugs your baby bump while an extended length keeps you covered in all the right places. whimsical designs printed in lovely colorways complete the look which will get you through the earliest stages of motherhood looking pretty but without sacrificing comfort.

flower child

babe on board

and, if you want to shower your favorite mom-to-be with something sassy, take a peek at flaunt it's noveltee line which is filled with playful baby announcements like i'm not a genie bottle.

shopping options include the official flaunt it website, an etsy shop, and kahala kids.

bunny love

after dying eggs with my cousins in my aunty's kitchen, chocolate bunnies were, hands down, my favorite part of the holiday so enjoy this impromptu roundup of easter finds for both little ones and the young at heart:

1 - hokulani bakeshop's iced animal cookies are almost too cute to eat.

2 - scoop up handcrafted sweetness like this felt bunny pin in berrysprite's etsy shop.

3 - your keiki will love gathering up eggs in a peter cotton tail bucket. you will secretly enjoy the accompanying chocolate dipped treats from big island candies (i won't tell if you won't tell).

4 - these adorable not a chocolate easter bunny toys from kailua dollmaker denise mollison have proved to be a popular pick this easter season. the last batch of bunnies are on hold so drop denise a note to add yourself to the waitlist.

springing up at manuheali'i

monstera dress + onipa'a pullover

manuheali'i can always be counted on for mixing modern cuts with new interpretations of traditional alohawear patterns. here's a peek at the latest looks painted with pretty springtime colors that have been popping up recently in the online shop.

jet setters may want to take note of the lovely canvas travel tote which shows off your hawaiian style when you take your show on the road. the latest addition to manuheali'i's accessory line features a roomy inner compartment to hold all the necessities and exterior pockets for added organization. the design is in limited supply and available in three two colorways (all the red totes have been snapped up by savvy fans).

'awapuhi travel tote

and, since styles and sizes have a way of selling out quickly online, manuheali'i now offers a courtesy call service that will notify you when that special something you were coveting is back in stock.

shop online or at manuheali'i's two outposts on oahu.

pau hana clicks

this is something i've been meaning to do since, well, i started h|h two years ago but somehow never got around to it. now that the writers strike is finally over and my fella has gone back to work, the computer is all mine so there's no time like the present to finally cross this off my "to do" list.

anyhoo, be sure to stop by on friday afternoons for a little roundup of posts from hawaii bloggers and assorted stories and fun that may have skipped your radar during the week (plus a few timeless links mixed in from the past year or so).

• if you fancied berrysprite's adorable fish bag featured last year, click over to holly's blog for a step-by-step photo tutorial.

• molokai wrestles with the la'au development and teaches the rest of us a lesson in the process. {via airspace workshop}

• ossipoff's iconic ibm building may be demolished to make way for ward's proposed mixed use complex.

• foodie alert: a kcc culinary institute is in the works!

• just for giggles - snl spoofs the fierceness that is project runway winner christian siriano.

have a happy weekend!