new peeks: mu'umu'u heaven

bean bag & bear

by now i should know that posting during a visit home is like a magic 8-ball prediction - very doubtful. between bouncing between two families, a wedding, playing tour guide with out-of-town pals, and island hopping (aloha conn & john!), the days this time around flew by in a snap with half my to do list remaining untouched.

i did manage to take a peek inside mu'umu'u heaven's expanded space which now includes a home section filled with charming eco-friendly goods. two of mu'umu'u heaven's newest additions to catch my eye were the cheery bean bags ($80; cover only) and bird mobiles crafted from scraps of fabric left over from the production process of transforming no longer loved mu'umu'us into the reinvented styles stocked across the way in the boutique.

the mister and i also couldn't help stopping to admire a piece made by honolulu designer mark chai who upcycled a 55 gallon plastic barrel into a comfy lounge chair ($1500). and, the shop walls are currently filled with heather brown prints and other goodies including the brand new organic green with aloha totes which had just hit the shop floor the day of my visit.

more peeks below . . .

delightful birdie mobile

barrel chair by mark chai

alas, none of these pieces are available in the online shop so you will have to hele over to mu'umu'u heaven's kailua outpost which also happens to employ some of the nicest shopgirls on the island:

• where: 767 kailua road, kailua
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 11a to 4p

lily lotus giveaway

it turns out hapa | hale is not the only website enjoying a pretty makeover in 2010 so if you love to bliss out in lily lotus (one of h|h's fab sponsors) be sure to click over to the kaimuki label's gorgeous website which debuted just a few days before the new h|h said hello.

to celebrate, momi from lily lotus wanted to share one of the line's most popular designs with the h|h 'ohana - the happy buddha is my omboy tee which one lucky reader will win in turquoise.

you have a bit more time to enter since i am off on my island holiday so follow the fine print and cross your fingers!

• click here to send your name & current hometown by mon, apr 5th
• please put lily lotus giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household
• u.s. readers only, please
• winner will be announced on tue, apr 6th

good luck!

{update: winner list posted}

introducing 3rd ave shore

mermaids swirl

{just a note that i am home for a springtime visit so my posting schedule will be a bit lighter until april, but i will do my best to post sales and other fun notes over on twitter & facebook}

one of the things missing from the wall graphic trend these past few years have been designs befitting of an island home so you can imagine my delight when i happened across kailua's 3rd ave shore. i was instantly charmed by the sweet little mermaids who seem destined to find a home on more than a few walls and knew readers would be thrilled to find wall art depicting scenes from paradise.

it turns out designer samantha hardin is a doodler-at-heart and always kept a sketchbook nearby during her days as nanny. after three years, the pages were filled with possibilities and sam decided to transform her drawings from a simple sheet of paper to a grander display in the form of wall decals. these days sam personally produces each design by hand carefully transferring and dissecting each detail in her studio.

3rd ave shore's debut collection features hand drawn illustrations and bold graphics inspired by paradise and its swaying palm trees, lifeguard towers, surfer silhouettes, and rolling waves.

more peeks below . . .

a surfer after the adventure

price tag ranges from $45 to over $200 depending on the size and complexity of the design. wall decals can also be ordered in a rainbow of colors and can be made to fit your space. sam also offers personalized graphics and welcomes custom orders if you require something more specific for your space.

click over to 3rd ave shore's etsy shop to view the collection and enjoy complimentary shipping when you place your order in the next week!

• secret code: hapahale (enter in notes to seller)
• expires: thu, apr 1st
• fyi: shipping will be refunded via paypal

p.s. click over to the official website to take a peek at the installation video which shows you all the steps for a perfect application.

{mahalo sam!}

bunny love

my favorite part of easter growing up was the little chocolate bunny tucked into my easter basket . . . although i always felt a bit guilty when it came time to say goodbye to its sweet little face. happily, no such dilemma presents itself with toast's newest creation - the delightful cotton tail which features a custom printed handkerchief that has been magically coaxed into a bunny shape with perfectly placed twists and ties.

hidden inside the bunny's belly are a mix of chocolate confections in the form of kit-kats, mini cadbury eggs and reese's pieces (yum!). as an added bonus, once your sweet tooth is satisfied the hanky remains as a cheerful reminder of your little buddy.

toast's charming cotton tails are available in three hues of bunny pink and can be ordered in the online shop or scooped up at toast's studio:

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

p.s. toast recently debuted an in-store mini pop bar where you can mix and match sweet and savory bottles and scoop up preprinted labels whenever you require just a handful of favor fun.

letarte 2010 collection

starfish bikini

hope everyone had a lovely weekend and took a moment to take a tour of the new website (this would mean you, mr. & ms. email or rss subscriber!). while i was away tinkering on h|h's makeover, the letarte 'ohana sent over news of the maui-based label's ten year collection which scored quite a few snaps in the latest edition of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue.

letarte can always be counted on for girly glam - fun and flirty beach-inspired looks accompanied by either a dash of boho, a hint of rocker edge, or a cheeky combination of the two (hello skull toile!). i continue to swoon for letarte's pretty, playful prints including the gorgeous abstract feather design introduced this season and the aloha guitar's cheery repeat which was inspired by hawaii's own slack key guitar and ukulele (be sure to take a peek at the coordinating tunic with little aloha's embroidered along the hem).

and, of course, no letarte collection would be complete without a proper coverup which is offered in an endless variation be they bardot-inspired nautical stripes, sweet peasant details, or luxe embellishments.

more peeks below . . .

feathers bikini with leather straps

aloha guitar

pink sand tunic

pineapple juice maxi

2010 styles have already landed in letarte's online shop (which offers complimentary shipping to the upper 48) and the flagship boutique in paia.

• where: 24 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: mon to sat, 9a to 6p & sun, 10a to 6p

take a peek at the collection and remember to report back and share your favorite looks!