hey mama! 2011 gifting guide

popping in to share a few last minute possibilities . . .

1 - the just launched orchid collection from malie organics will delight moms who love tending to the elegant petals. {$25 and up}

2 - hardy succulents look quite refined when potted in porcelain by lanikai pot & plant. {$32.95 at owens & co.}

3 - the kala'e wallet is one of the anticipated new arrivals to sig zane's coveted line of leather goods featuring the hilo designer's signature prints. {$175}

4 - locavores will savor a fresh brewed cup of first flush green tea harvested from the slopes of the mauna kea tea farm. {$19}

5 - vintage rope salvaged from the falls of clyde keep mana pods' handblown recycled glass terrariums aloft so the petite plantings can capture some island sunshine. {$40; also stocked at super citizen in chinatown}

6 - waimea chocolate company produces artisanal chocolate macadamia nuts from ingredients grown in hawaii with varieties ranging from milk to dark and fixings like hawaiian chili pepper and black lava salt. {$8 to $21; find at sweet paradise chocolatier in wailea}

aloha friday scoop

ever the romantic, my plan was to type out the scoop while waiting for the royal wedding, however slumber wooed me just before the ceremony's 3a west coast start time. yawn. luckily, i awoke just in time to see the beautiful bride make her way to westminster abbey to meet her prince. alas, burning the midnight oil found me bleary-eyed as the scoop's deadline approached so my hearty apologies for today's exceptionally tardy post.

greenroom hawaii's first anniversary festivities include a love for japan auction featuring artwork by christie shinn, heather brown, kat reeder, and more.

• when: sat, apr 30th - 5p to 9p
• where: 2350 kalakaua avenue, waikiki

on sunday, first sister maya soetoro-ng shares and signs her new children's book ladder to the moon, a story inspired by her mom, when she stops by mu'umu'u heaven.

• when: sun, may 1st - 1p to 3p
• where: 767 kailua road, kailua

find loveliness for your mama during the mom's day party at olive boutique. enjoy 10% storewide savings plus photo booth snapshots ($10) and treats & mimosas while you shop.

• when: sat, apr 30th - 11a to 3p
• where: 43 kihapai street, kailua

Click to read more ...

and the winners are . . .

kara from ka'a'awa and marisa from fountain valley who will be the happy recipients of shop toast's cheery fabric koi wraps!

although there were only two koi to share with everyone, mahalo to all my lovely readers who tried their luck this time around. if you wish to surprise your favorite girls and boys next week, shop toast's 2011 children's day lineup is priced from $8 to $12 and be found online and at their kaimuki storefront:

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, suite 3, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

happy congratulations to kara & marisa!

{warm mahalos to jeremy and michelle, the delightful designers behind shop toast!}

hey mama! 2011 sparkle guide

i suspect most mamas would prefer a carefree day spent together filled with stories, hugs and laughter because making memories is simply priceless. that said, it is still hard to resist treating your number one fan in life to something unexpected as a small way to say mahalo for all she does for you.

first up . . . handmade adornment gathered up from around the islands!

1 - show some love for the islands with maui jewelry designer erica wissmar's i love hawaii bangle and necklace. {$50 to $60}

2 - rockabella jewels treats mama & keiki to matching puka bangles (baby sized too!) in sterling silver or 14k gold fill. {reduced to $55/set 'til sun, may 8th}

3 - quartz drops mingle with a slice of earthy agate in maui jeweler debra mack's mystical gaia necklace. {$140}

4 - honolulu's padma & pickles donates 20% of jewelry sales, including this pretty watermelon tourmaline ring, to help care for abandoned animals. {secret code hapahale saves you 30% on the entire collection during the month of may!}

5 - cabin no. 7 helps mom represent her hometown with custom handstamped jewelry. {$66; contact drift to order}

6 - [ki-ele] offers a sterling style getaway in the form of tahitian-inspired moorea bungalow earrings. {$56}

more possibilities next week!

kokua japan - take two

while the world delights in the royal wedding today, a smaller celebration is taking place at greenroom hawaii which is marking the first anniversary of their surf art gallery-slash-boutique with a love for japan silent auction this weekend (more details in today's scoop). some of our favorite island artists have donated artwork including oahu illustrator kat reeder who created an especially lovely poster which embodies our islands' aloha for japan with quiet sweetness.

if venturing to waikiki on saturday night is not in the stars, kat's online shop just stocked up on her aloha for japan print ($25) which benefits the red cross's relief efforts in japan.

since the first kokua japan roundup, kinohi designs has released more love for japan plus our friends at owens & co., so'mace, and the wedding café have made cute new tote bags to help the cause. peek all the new designs after the jump!

love & hope by kinohi designs

if you have been waiting for the next round of help heal japan goodness by kinohi designs, two new offerings have joined designer jennifer tanabe's heal button. the hope design will benefit unicef while proceeds from the love tee will also help the red cross. an etsy shop will be launching soon, but in the meantime send jen a note to place an order.

{$20 online}

help heal japan tote

occasionally, there is a silver lining to being cursed with procrastinating ways. first the wedding café 'ohana sent over a peek the other day of their new help heal japan tote bag mixing sister shop eden in love's birdie motif with japan's rising sun. understated in the most delightful way with 100% of tote proceeds donated to the american red cross.

{$20 eden in love + the wedding café}

then a note from isla at so'mace arrived yesterday with news of a design fundraiser with missy at owens & co. (chinatown's lovely new design & home goods shop). the graphic collaboration is printed on recycled cotton and available in two cheery hues with proceeds benefiting direct relief international. add $5 for shipping if you wish to rock an aqua or bright pink tote on the neighbor islands or mainland.

{$30 owens & co. + so'mace}

have you happened across any new local prettiness to help our friends in japan?