banner days

words cannot express how much i fancy my new banner so i will simply let the image speak for itself. one of the nicest compliments i have received over the past few months has been for the design of h|h but the retired banner (which was hacked together in an all night photoshop session) wasn't quite right and so began the search for a more worthy replacement.

i hope you love the new look as much as i do. it reminds me of my favorite beach in hawaii and makes me as happy as can be.

{mahalo steve!}

be back in the morning with more ideas for valentine's . . .

tamara catz resort collection

 

if you are lucky enough to be spending your winter holiday in hawaii, then you have to take a peek at the latest from maui designer tamara catz. the 2007 resort collection features tamara's trademark beachy bohemian vibe that can go from sightseeing around the island to lounging on your lanai.

her designs have been featured in vogue, in style, and have even made the pages of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue yet curiously she has received relatively little press in the islands and only a handful of local boutiques stock the collection. that doesn't seem to matter to those in the know who adore the hand done embellishments that are tamara's signature.

this more cosmopolitan tropical style may not be typical of hawaii and can be traced to tamara's stops around the world on her way to maui. she grew up in buenos aires and later moved to nyc to train at the fashion institute of technology in nyc (alumni include calvin klein, carolina herrera & michael kors). one day she moved to the islands, found love, and established her business in upcountry maui.

to see more stop by the online shop, use the store locator to find the stockist near you, or hit the eponymous boutique in paia when you are on maui.

island nomad

luana spa retreat

a few years ago i read a very evocative story in the newspaper about living in a yurt (the article is long gone but you can read this one to get a sense of what it is like). the coziness of the round structure and the thought of gazing at the stars through the skylight completely captured my imagination. sigh.

lucky me, it turns out there are a handful of yurt vacation rentals around the islands! the luana spa retreat in hana has a yurt located on its property with a panoramic view of hana bay. it sounds like a romantic getaway especially when you consider that there is a separate bath house (complete with outdoor shower) and that you can indulge in a massage at the spa which is just steps from your hideaway.

click here to read the reviews on tripadvisor before you go.

there is also this fabulous yurt nestled on the grounds of the kona kine coffee farm on the big island. it is luxed out with all the modern amenities you could want and features a wraparound deck with views of the pacific and nature as far as the eye can see. take a peek at the photo gallery for a little tour.

kona yurt

there is a three night minimum so do double check your dates on the availability calendar, but that just means you will have more time to lounge on the deck and soak up the view while you enjoy the complimentary organic coffee grown by the yurt's owner.

mauna loa kisses

my bff sent up a bag of mauna loa macadamia nut hershey kisses for xmas which i have been patiently hoarding until valentine's day. the kisses are wrapped in mauna loa's signature blue foil with "aloha" printed on the paper plume. too cute and oh so yummy.

milk chocolate kisses are exclusive to the islands however there is one entrepreneurial soul selling them on ebay (with a markup, of course). if you are not in hawaii, your best bet is to add them to your wish list for the next care package or start hunting for the special dark chocolate kisses (a double whammy of omega 3's) which are only sold on the mainland.

mauna loa also has a limited edition gift tin on their website which seems to be the only way to buy them online.

he'e nalu sterling style

one of the questions i get asked a lot is just how do i find all this stuff? well, more often than not much of the good stuff is discovered after spending endless hours online and bookmarking things for that ever elusive red letter day.

so i am always thrilled when someone pops me an email to say hello which reminds me to dig up that bookmark and get a post ready to go. such is the case with the he'e nalu jewelry line created by riches hawaii owner lo kaimuloa which has been hiding in my bookmarks for far too long.

the sterling silver collection has a minimal design and the message is simple: to embody the principles of the hawaiian culture. each he'e nalu piece is engraved with a hawaiian word like makoa (courage), hanohano (honor), kuleana (purpose), etc. which serves as a touchstone for the code we all should live by but is oftentimes forgotten in modern life. and no worries if your hawaiian is sketchy since the english translation is also inscribed on the back.

if you are searching for something sweet for valentine's day, you may want to take a peek at he'e nalu's heart shaped aloha pendant. the online inventory is low but you can always drop by riches hawaii's kiosk at kahala mall to check out the complete collection.