old school holiday ideas

three graces

as promised, here are few more traditional ways to add some island style to celebrate the holidays. xmas cards from pacific island art cards spread the aloha spirit around the world with an eloquent holiday greeting translated in hawaiian. take a peek at their entire line of holiday cards and remember all orders over $25 receive free shipping.

island heritage has got you covered in the gift wrap department so you can have plenty of choices when you finally lock yourself away from the rest of the world for that marathon wrapping session. i'm loving the faux lauhala wrap. and if you want to give your gifts that extra special touch be sure to stock up on mele kalikimaka printed ribbon.

of course, nothing says hawaii like a lauhala box and the best source online is ailana kai which has a good selection of box sizes plus lauhala totes and wine bags. the woven boxes are also an earth-friendly option for gift giving since they can be regifted next year or reused to stash stuff for a clutter-free home.

cozy island style for cool nights

wouldn't this merino wool hoodie from neve designs be just the thing for that hard to shop for person on your gift list? i imagine this hibiscus print sweater being worn by a friend who has a lot of spark or an aunty who loves to garden.

fyi - athleta has a cute pullover version while sierra trading post has a few island style designs on clearance for those who prefer a more minimlist look.

oaks hawaii holiday trunk show

oaks hawaii is celebrating the holidays in style this weekend with two events scheduled on oahu. on saturday, grab your pals and head up to sunset beach elementary school to pick up fresh flowers, juicy fruits, handcrafted jewelry, and, of course, goodies from oaks (booth 65) at the annual christmas craft fair.

• sat hours: 9a to 3p
• map it!

then on sunday afternoon get yourself to the windward side for a holiday trunk show at global village in kailua. you'll have a chance to dish with the designer and score 20% off the fall/winter 2006 collection.

• sun hours: 2p to 5p
• map it!

30% off meleana bags

nui loa

meleana, the design mind behind the eponymous line of hawaiian handbags, just kicked off a 30% sale at her online boutique. if you happen to be jetting to hawaii for the holidays, take a peek at the nui loa which will keep all the essentials you need during the flight handy. and, even if hawaii is not on your itinerary, at least your new meleana bag will comfort you with a much needed dose of island style wherever you spend the winter.

the holiday shipping deadline (dec 15th) is fast approaching so hele over asap to score that sweet bag that has been lingering on your wishlist.

• secret code: holiday (enter at checkout)
• expires: dec 31st

clear blue hawaii

molokini kayak

okay, i'm not the most sporty girl but i love to kayak. most anyone can do it and you can explore areas untouched by land locked humans like a calm lagoon or enjoy an ocean ride without a surfboard. the only downside is that you never really get to see what's going on down below unless a dolphin swims by or a flying fish jumps in front of you.

then clear blue hawaii introduced their molokini kayak which has racked up kudos for its innovative transparent design. yep, now you can peek beneath the ocean waves at the underwater world beneath you without jumping in the water. the molokini is built for two and you can even add an outrigger system if you prefer a smooth ride.

blue sun solar backpack

clear blue hawaii also makes inflatable & folding kayaks plus neat travel gear that utilize solar power. the blue sun solar backpack would be super handy when you're on the road and need to keep your cell phone, lap top, ipod, etc. charged no matter where life takes you.

most of their gear is available at clear blue hawaii's website, via hammacher schlemmer, or if you're the touchy-feely type click here to find a dealer near you.