island glassworks

fire calabash vase

one of the more mesmerizing places to visit is a glass studio where it's impossible to peel your eyes away as the artist manipulates the hot glass into a piece of art. island glassworks recently opened in kailua and is the only glass studio in hawaii open to the public.

in addition to showcasing his designs in the gallery, glass blower geoff lee also offers workshops to glass enthusiasts who are interested in learning the craft firsthand.

halekulani + vera wang = $$$$

if you have $4000 burning a hole in your pocket, here's a way to blow it all in one night (and, no, i don't mean vegas) . . . the vera wang suite at the halekulani. not only will you enjoy a lanai larger than some apartments, but you'll also have your very own private butler who can pop in one of vera wang's favorite movies for you to enjoy on the 50-inch plasma tv while you lounge around your 2100 square foot suite that has been decorated with all things vera.

in addition to all the vera wang suite goodies, a chauffered limo will greet you at the airport and you can summon the spahalekulani to come to your room. the halekulani has also designed an experience hawaii program exclusively for suite guests which includes your very own private tour of shangri la.

thank goodness for the rest of us that the view of diamond head can still be enjoyed for free.

the java farm that mother goose built

imagine a farm where geese dot the landscape and in their own little way help the coffee beans grow as mother nature intended. such a place can be found on the big island at mother goose farms which uses sustainable farming techniques to grow their crops. the geese are free to wander the grounds and graze which not only keeps weeds at bay but fertilizes the earth.

so your morning cup o' joe is not only 100% kona coffee but certified organic to boot. mother goose has got you covered even if you prefer to roast your own beans with their certified organic green kona coffee beans.

welcome to muumuu heaven

in honor of earth day, i thought i would give a little shout out to muumuu heaven which recycles aloha wear and refashions them into skirts, tees and pillows. every design is one of a kind and when they can't bear to deconstruct a vintage piece they add it to their untouchables section. muumuu heaven continues their good for the earth mantra by participating in 1% for the planet as well as this weekend's kokua festival.

slipper storage

one of the benefits of the custom of removing your shoes when entering your home is that it keeps the floors clean (an added bonus when it's time to move). however one of the more vexing problems is finding a place for all those shoes and slippers so neat freaks will appreciate big island woodworker tai lake's elegant solution for the entryway.

his small shoe bench made of koa offers a place to sit while untying your laces and thoughtfully stores shoes out of the way to keep folks from tripping. what's even better is that tai manages a koa forest and is part of the movement to make hawaii's koa forests more sustainable.