body+soul cosmetics

gigi vanity case

you could trek to the mall and endure the crush of bodies at the department store cosmetic counter to search for that ever elusive mother's day gift. sure, you'll score that free gift with purchase but is it really worth the trouble of getting spritzed with the latest eau de britney?

better idea: indulge your mom with beauty goodies from the hawaii based body+soul cosmetics line. creator tao miller's products are designed in delightful retro packaging which evoke the days of dressing tables and powder puffs which your mom is sure to love. order online or hit the testers at sephora. just don't forget to buy something for mom.

chocolate with a heart

if your mom has a sweet tooth, give her chocolate that is not only yummy but spreads the aloha spirit too. kokologo owner sherri terao was raised in hawaii and decided to spread hawaiian concepts like 'ohana, malu & hau'oli with the rest of the world by way of gourmet chocolates from the islands and donating a portion of sales to charities like the susan g. koman breast cancer foundation.

although online ordering isn't available on the kokologo website yet, you can stock up on mana'olana chocolate covered macadamia nuts on sale here or head to the ala moana neiman marcus and pick up a box of chocolates in time for mother's day.

{update | dec 2009: fyi, kokologo's website seems to have been taken down}

hawaiian wearable art

searching for something pretty but a little bit different for mother's day? stop by vicky durand's online boutique and admire her tropical hand printed scarves, sarongs & skirts. vicky is a former international surfing champion who turned her lifelong love of textiles into an island inspired line created steps from the beach at her makaha studio.

hawaiian wearable art is hand dyed and printed on natural fibers like linen and silk and is just the thing to give moms who appreciate the art of textile design.

add a little bumatai on boy's day

if you're from hawaii and have been online for awhile it is safe to say that you have received one of those you know you're from hawaii when . . . emails. as agent smith said in the matrix, "it is inevitable." and, if you are a guy who grew up in the islands in the 80's, i'll wager that you can slam down more than a few lines from the andy bumatai specials that aired on kgmb.

find out if your memory served you well and pick up a copy of andy bumatai's all in the 'ohana dvd. step back in time and savor that long awaited reunion with honey girl, junior boy, tutu and linda coble (the recipient of one of my other half's favorite lines).

fighting eel sample sale

planning to be in honolulu tomorrow night? don't forget to add fighting eel's supersonic summer sample sale to your datebook:

• when: fri, may 5th - 6p to 8p
• where: 47 north hotel street, honolulu, hi

the sale is *cash only* so leave the credit cards at home.

have fun!