oh so kawaii

baby butterflies

if you adore all things kawaii, you will fall in love with berrysprite's etsy shop which is overflowing with handmade cuteness. one look at the little crocheted menagerie, mystery fruits, and wee pouches and you would think that holly, berrysprite's crafty owner, had been creating all this goodness for years.

not so. she is, surprisingly, a crochet newbie and an inspiring example of what is possible if you have a passion for your craft. two of the whimsical items that originally caught my eye (the fish bag, below, which would be perfect for boy's/girl's day & the little japanese girl which reminds me of four words that gave me the heebie-jeebies during small kid time: pitter patter pitter patter) were snapped up in the wee hours, however holly is always happy to recreate pieces that have already found a home and also accepts custom orders.

fish bag

little japanese girl

you best get your orders in while holly still has time to get crafty since grad school is calling her name at summer's end. and don't forget to take a peek at holly's blog to discover what's percolating in berrysprite's honolulu craft lab.

downtown general store

cheap

if you grew up in the islands, the general store probably evokes memories of time spent wandering the cramped aisles of arakawas back in the day. instead of palaka shirts, the modern day downtown general store trades in tees with a clever take on cute minimalist icons that will definitely start a few conversations.

the mom & pop business started 25 years ago as a creative outlet for owners penny & les and, with the help of their sons, the tee collection has been expanding beyond their very popular katakana collection with fresh designs like this hippo tee (a fun reminder of happy days spent at the honolulu zoo during small kid time).

slow poke

hungry hungry hippo

all the tees are priced right at $14 which means you can snap up all your favorite designs without breaking the bank. and, keep in mind, there is no brick & mortar outpost since the downtown general store is strictly online only with the exception of a few appearances sprinkled throughout the year at local craft shows (the next one will be in august at the made in hawaii festival).

the old church house

i may wax on and on about modern but i have a soft spot for rustic when it's done right. at first glance, the old church house in upcountry maui appears to have been lovingly restored, but the reality is that it was really built from the ground up not quite as long ago as the dwelling's architecture would have you believe.

the one bedroom has a charming cottage style which is difficult to find in the islands (as previously noted dated thrift store tropical seems to be the favored style of most vacation rental owners). details like wood floors, exposed beams, an antique chest transformed into the kitchen sink, and an ocean view porch make it seem like this island getaway belongs in the pages of a pottery barn catalog (but with 21st century touches like wi-fi, an ipod ready stereo & stainless steel appliances).

the picturesque property is between makawao and haiku and located off a private road with an expansive lawn to loll about complete with larry the horse and a family of happy little ducks in residence.

rates start at $185 with a minimum of 3 nights.

tahiti imports

canoe pa'u

it seems like pretty prints are everywhere this season which reminded me of the fabulously swingy pa'u hula skirts from tahiti imports. this is the place to go if you are ready to take one of the most traditional styles of the pacific to the streets this summer. in addition to ready to wear skirts, pieces can be custom made from the shop's vast selection of fabric (many of which are exclusive to ti) used to make their popular pareos.

if you prefer something even more bold in design take a peek at this tatau inspired tiki pattern pa'u in the very au courant black & white colorway.

and, here's a juicy pop culture connection: don severson, who along with his wife betty lou owns tahiti imports, is credited with introducing the tahitian style bikini to the islands back in the 60's when stopping by the shop during its halcyon days at the international marketplace was a must for everyone from supermodel veruschka to jackie o.

hula girl tee + monstera poho bag

the honolulu shop is a favorite resource of local quilters who love the graphic punch the fabrics bring to their projects. the website is constantly updated with new designs and, of course, stocks everything from tahiti imports' famous pareos, pa'u skirts & monoi soap straight from the south pacific to fabric by the yard for you crafty types.

cheers to good health

you usually have two decisions at breakfast time: good for you or good tasting. oatmeal may be the best thing for your heart but sometimes the siren song of a loco moco is just too hard to resist. on those mornings when you opt to start your day virtuously, an akamai oatcake may be just what the doctor ordered while still making your tastebuds happy.

the oatcakes have been described as similar to a scone or muffin top and flavors like banana chocolate chip and mango pecan have made it a favorite breakfast bite for island & visiting foodies. creator sharon kobayashi, of latitude 22 fame, emphasizes healthy and local ingredients (like flaxseed and hawaiian honey to add a little sweetness) in all of akamai's baked goods and nixes anything artificial & highly processed.

in addition to ready to eat oatcakes, wine biscotti, chutney, an antioxidant rich goji berry fruitcake, and, by popular demand, dry mixes for those who prefer to enjoy their oatcakes fresh from the oven are available at akamai's booth at the saturday kcc farmer's market and in their online shop.

get a few ideas on how to eat them here.