the life aquatic

bracelet

you may have noticed i slipped away unannounced last week to enjoy my fella's short but sweet hiatus. in between visiting friends and a quick getaway to san diego, life stood blissfully still for a few days filled with all the little things in life that sometimes pass by unnoticed.

while i reacquaint myself with the real world, enjoy this peek at the work of kaua'i artist carol bennett and her series depicting quiet moments floating just below the surface of the sea. honolulu magazine selected carol as one of their artists to watch earlier this year which served as a timely reminder that a show and tell of her paintings was long overdue. 

after studying fine arts at the art center college of design, carol went on to become a scenic artist in hollywood and her work on movie sets (and the huge backdrops that stand in for a location) certainly helped her to imagine life on a grander scale. she eventually ditched los angeles for a quieter life on kaua'i which has served as her muse since her arrival 25 years ago.

 

leash

girl

carol's artwork ranges from intimate portraits (leash, shown above, is just under 11-inches square) to supersized commissions incorporating a mix of mediums that you just may have walked past at the honolulu airport, hawaii convention center, or one of the many islands resorts that are fans of her work.

alas, no exhibits are on the horizon, however carol's artwork can be viewed at fine art associates (by appointment only), timespace gallery on kaua'i, and online at elisa tucci contemporary art.

pualani 2008 collection

key lime

in only a few short years, the fit of pualani hawaii bikinis has become legendary among waterwomen (and movie stars) who prefer to focus on the waves and not readjusting their swimsuit every few minutes. the secret is a four-way stretch fabric imported from europe that allows pualani swimwear to move with you yet still retain its shape.

the 08 collection is now out in a tempting mix of solids and patterns as well as the introduction of a chic reversible design that is sure to win new fans for its appealing versatility.  

reversible black & creme * convertible top * tattoo

safari cat

the mix and match pieces are available in a variety of cuts allowing you to minimize or maximize coverage as you please. since pualani was last featured, a keiki collection has been added and last year designer iwalani isbell opened the doors to pualani's flagship boutique on the gold coast of waikiki.

shop online, click over to the stockist list, or stop by pualani's waikiki outpost:

• where: 2863 kalakaua avenue, suite 2 (at the new otani kaimana beach hotel)
• shop hours: mon to sun, 10a to 7p

shinn-ful indulgence

firelight

this year is flying by . . . i can't believe it's been eight months since last checking in with artist christie shinn. christie recently sent along word that the wyland gallery on the north shore is featuring her work during this weekend's meet the artist show. enjoy a few sneak peeks of her latest creations!

on duty

makeshift

if you love the warm magic hour glow of firelight, be sure to inquire about the special show rate for the giclée prints which will be 20% off (the deal will also be honored on phone & email orders placed this weekend).

and, fyi, christie is now accepting commissions!

• when: sat, jul 19th & sun, jul 20th - 12p to close
• where: 66-250 kam hwy (north shore marketplace)

click rewind to learn more about christie.

fresh goodness: heather brown

three wave set * ginger * surfer girl

north shore artist heather brown's newest hand screenprinted tees are just the thing to wear on a lovely summer day. the online shop is also stocked with new prints fresh from heather's latest art show. i, for one, am quite smitten with the latest depictions of heather's delightfully happy little hawaiian birds.

rusty feathers

party wave

south point

with the exception of party wave, the original paintings have already been snapped up by savvy buyers but the online offerings include a variety of matted prints (starting at $15 for an 8x10), giclées, and the occasional greeting card.

heather's artwork and tees can also be found at chinatown boardroom.

click rewind to learn more about heather.

boardshort roundup

sometimes it seems like the fellas are forgotten about here on h|h so take a moment and enjoy this mid-summer boardshort roundup!

1 - patagonia's palaka boardshorts were the jumping off point for this edition. the delightfully old school pattern is instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up in hawaii back in the day (available online or stop by the haleiwa shop).

2 - paddlers will definitely want to hit the waves in 'oiwi's ho'ohele boardshorts. alas, they have disappeared from the online shop so hit the kailua outpost to get yours.

3 - represent the 808 with j.crew's retro map bermudas (oops, forgot to mention that these may also be available at the ala moana shop).

4 - i spotted loomstate's organic holas boardshort while shopping greenloop's summer sale. the 100% organic cotton will take longer to dry but 'tis a small sacrifice for going green (p.s. a w's version is available here).