maui girl beach peeks

maui beach sheets

maui girl & co. recently opened up an online storefront stocked with the same exclusive swimwear styles that have made the pa'ia shop a favorite of locals and visiting celebrities (gwen stefani is said to be a fan).

it's also the only place online to find the fabulous maui beach sheets, a super size cotton cloth rocking a bold polynesian print in a mix of cheery colorways. two sizes are available - the original is a pretty and packable alternative to the bulky beach towel (and at 60x90 it's just asking for a crafty transformation) while the sarong size is a sweet beach coverup.

twist + leaf tribal

beaded chevron stripe tote

the online shop is stocked with an array of swimwear from mix & match separates to maui girl's boutique line of handmade swimsuits. you can also make like a supermodel and sashay along the sandy shoreline in the very provocative beach glam bikinis custom made for the pages of the sports illustrated

swimsuit issue.

• where: 12 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: 9a to 6p everyday

{update | 2012: if you are looking to purchase maui beach sheets, please click over to tiare style to contact the designer directly.}

prep school resort

since the announcement of j.crew's resort collection popped into my inbox last week, i've been going back and forth on whether to post the new designs which were obviously influenced by hawaii. a conspiracy theorist might think that the island inspired looks were created to coincide with the recent opening of the ala moana shop, but, having been a j.crew girl since my college days, i know better and can tell you that j.crew resort has always offered up a modern, if preppy, take on tropical style.

the oahu tee seems to be the 2008 followup to last year's big island design (up next: kaho'olawe!) and then there is the curiously named nanakuli button up in this year's mix (oh, how i wish i was a fly on the wall to hear that discussion).

alas, my new shopper's manifesto* means i am sitting this one out in an attempt to ween myself off my j.crew habit since more of my shopping dollars are being devoted to products that are made in the usa, fair trade, &/or organic (if i ever find all three in one product i will have hit the trifecta!).

of course, my guess is that h|h readers probably have not limited themselves in such a way so off you go to enjoy the latest looks before they sell out. and, while some may find it odd that a resort collection designed far from the islands sells like hotcakes, consider this a cue for local designers that there definitely is a market outside hawaii for retro island style designed for the modern girl.

*[just trying to be a better world citizen by being a more conscious consumer because i do believe that after voting our best hope to transform this capitalist economy of ours into one that is more sustainable is from
the ground up at checkout. my new motto compliments of ghandi - be the change you wish to see in the world!]

fresh flavors of surf show

fresh

yoo hoo! chinatown boardroom is kicking off a solo show filled with new work by north shore artist heather brown (she of those captivating glassy waves featured last month) with an opening reception this evening. and, no worries if something more pressing has dibs on your twilight hours since the fresh flavors of surf exhibit will be up for a little art appreciation all may long.

• when: tonight, 6p to 8p
• where: 1160 nu'uanu avenue
• show dates: today to sat, may 31st

red pineapple roundup

red pineapple proprietor nalani mclaughlin holliday scored a little mention in dailycandy yesterday for her eponymous cookie creations. with mother's day fast approaching, time to gather 'round for a show and tell of whimsical gift ideas stocked at nalani's ward centre boutique:

1 - for the green thumb: garden-in-a-bag creates instant blooms

2 - for the fashionista: a stiletto door stop makes for a flirty homage to her choos

3 - for the sweet tooth: pretty packaging conceals nalani's famous cookies

4 - for the wave warrior: a stylish swim tote complete with waterproof liner

missing the gifting gene? take a rain check on that panic attack and let the red pineapple 'ohana whip up the perfect mother's day basket for you. minimum order is a budget friendly $11 plus red pineapple offers delivery and shipping direct to your mom's door.

north shore sweetie

oceanside

the music of jack johnson often plays in the background while north shore artist heather brown paints in her studio surrounded by the cascading blooms and balmy trees of the countryside. it was hawaii's waves that initially lured heather to the islands from california in 2001, but, after a series of jobs in and about the ocean, she eventually decided the time had come to follow her passion for making art. with a fine arts degree from uh, heather now spends her days with paintbrush in hand to reveal the surface of the sea in a whole new light.

heather's work has always reminded me of the mesmerizing translucence of stained glass so it was a bit of a surprise to learn that was one of the few mediums she has yet to explore. the defined lines that are a signature of her artwork seem to be an homage to heather's background in printmaking and her style effortlessly captures the movement of glassy waves and laid back days at the beach with happy pops of color.

white plumerias

surf girl

in a full circle moment, last year heather met kim johnson (jack's wife & co-founder of the kokua hawaii foundation) who recently tapped her to create the official concert poster for the 2008 kokua festival as well as the artwork seen on plastic free haleiwa's re-usable totebags.

original paintings and silkscreened prints & tees can be ordered online, and heather's artwork can be found hanging in wyland gallery (haleiwa), chinatown boardroom, wet feet (aina haina), and wave riders gallery (san diego).