show & tell: stix flix

temple of blue : mariko merritt

alas, the stix flix show hosted by chinatown boardroom last month has left the gallery walls, but i was delighted to discover prints for sale on the cb blog. the scoop behind the show is that invited local and international artists were asked to put their spin on the iconic surf movie poster and the offerings are printed perfection for any surf shack.

more peeks below . . .

on the crest of the wave : yusuke hanai

beyond beyond : rona bennett

in full trim : heather brown

price tags range from $30 to $650 with a portion of the proceeds donated to accessurf hawaii which helps kama'ainas with disabilities enjoy a fun-filled day in the ocean (btw, the honolulu non-profit needs your kokua to raise $25k by the end of august in hopes of receiving a dollar for dollar match by the pierre and pamela omidyar fund).

most of the above limited and open edition prints (exception: mariko's lovely temple of blue which has sold out) can be purchased on the chinatown boardroom blog as well as stix flix designs by christie shinn, rich richardson & manny pangilinan.

or, hele down to chinatown boardroom and say hello:

• where: 1160 nu'uanu avenue
• gallery hours: tue to sat, 11a to 4p

{mahalo jackie!}

made in hawaii sales sheet

lily lotus * so'mace * ginger 13

hot off the presses! many mahalos to all the designers and shopkeepers who kindly shared their festival deals and product news so the h|h 'ohana can make a beeline to their favorite booths!

{bubble shack} introduces its sulfate-free 3-in-1 wash which promises to get you squeaky clean from head to toe.

{ginger 13} jewelry designer cindy yokoyama celebrates a big anniversary with 15 to 25% off her 5yr collection (yemaya shown above) plus past season styles will be marked down up to 75%.

{lily lotus} scoop up $20 steals on the sale rack, save 30% off spring 09 styles, and knock 10% off all regular priced yoga wear.

Click to read more ...

sneak peek: made in hawaii 2009

the made in hawaii festival kicks off tomorrow so here's my annual sneak peek of fresh island goodness ready to woo you at the blaisdell this weekend!

1 - new label one hula girl transforms everyday style staples with a little razzle dazzle.

2. delight both little ones and their mod mamas & papas with personalized blankets, burp cloths and onesies handmade by it's mine baby.

3 - designer janine spalding of mahina pearls crafts lovely compositions to conjure your inner sea goddess.

4 - lather up with kona natural soap's calorie-free cocoa bars handcrafted with chocolate grown on its big island farm.

5- artist joseph dwight recreates island scenes out of stained glass which are the perfect complement for any modern surf shack.

6 - the traditional tapa aloha shirt receives a delightfully graphic update with tutuvi's handprinted textiles.

7 - hawaii island gourmet products continues to make atebara potato chips from the original 1930's recipe while sourcing 'ulu, taro, sweet potatoes and ginger from local farms for their line of salty and sweet snacks.

8 - umi blends offers up their secret island style ingredient for a perfectly seasoned teri burger.

9 - nibble your way to do-gooder status with the yummy treats (furikake lavosh, anyone?) made by rainbow falls connection since 100% of sales fund programs to lift big island kama'ainas out of poverty.

10 - the north shore's old sugar mill brand sweetens your day with chocolate confections harvested from its back yard.

11 - everything tastes better with butter especially when it's the artisanal offerings by waianae's naked cow dairy (be sure to sample the macadamia nut honey & toasted coconut).

p.s. be back later with a special mih sales scoop!

a minei makeover

the other week a shop announcement popped in my inbox heralding the arrival of minei, a new jewelry collection from the islands that remakes once loved castoffs into new'ish wearables complete with a soulful hippie chic charm. i later discovered that minei loosely translates (from hawaiian) to "me now" which seems to be a perfectly tailored description of the line's reconstructed heritage.

jewelry calls to me most when it has a story to tell and the mu'umu'u heaven 'ohana kindly put me in touch with designer katye killebrew who only recently discovered her talent as a bead mixologist. with only a few jewelry making classes under her belt and working with a cache of findings that followed her home from many adventures abroad, katye gifted her first creations to family & friends last christmas which later caught the eye of mu'umu'u heaven designer deb mascia during a chance meeting at the shop.

and so, the minei collection was born out of that unexpected but serendipitous moment. designs are guided by katye's finds in the jewelry boxes and junk drawers of friends plus the occasional goody bags that have been dispatched to her door. each one-of-a-kind piece hints of a little déjà-vu suggesting moments past that have been recaptured in the simple yet striking strands.

current offerings are limited to necklaces and bracelets ($49 to over $300) and katye also welcomes custom orders which is happy news for readers with an unrequited crush for more personalized adornment. your wish list can be matched with katye's collection of worldly charms or from your own treasure chest which would be a sweet way to remember a loved one, shower your wedding maidens with meaningful sparkle, or to modernize forgotten trinkets that need a style reboot.

the official website is still under construction however you can find minei's eco-friendly designs exclusively at mu'umu'u heaven's flagship boutique in kailua:

• where: 767 kailua road, suite 100
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 11a to 4p

new peeks: indah summer 2009

summertime may be on the wane but i couldn't resist sharing peeks from indah's summer 09 lookbook which is filled with gorgeous on-the-street fashion shots reminiscent of a dreamy stylish travelogue (complete with foolproof hair and makeup plus professional touchups, natch). more proof that a fetching frock should be required packing for a delightful island adventure.

the summer offering by bali-based designer libby de santis is quite extensive with prints ranging from muted batik repeats to punchy tropical patterns. in addition to a host of pretty dresses offered in hemlines that go from mini to maxi, you'll find lots of mix & match separates plus a collection of saucy swimwear designed for balmy days near the equator.

more peeks below . . .

lele

maximo tank + kola shorts

oba

fahna

an official online shop is still in the works so until then support your neighborhood stockist or click over to swell which is freshly stocked with a handful of summer arrivals or planet blue which has a good selection of past season styles.