let's get this luau started

anytime is a good time for a luau in hawaii, but if you're planning one on the mainland it can be tricky to find everything you need to throw the perfect bash. you're on your own to gather the ti leaves and to rustle up a pig, but head straight to the source at hawaiian luau party supply to stock up on all the kitschy decorations that your guests are expecting.

don't forget to add a few unexpected touches like these hand printed wood grain party invitations & vintage poster prints to set the mood.

big island candies

chocolate covered cuttlefish? while the thought may have never crossed your mind, someone over at big island candies had the delicious idea to dip all kinds of island snacks into the nectar of the gods. the hawaiian da-kines line is where sweet meets salty and their ono offspring is milk chocolate dipped iso peanuts, li hing mui, rice crackers & more.

and when you're visiting the big island, don't forget to stop by their hilo headquarters where you can nibble on samples while watching everything from shortbread cookies to puffed rice get dipped in chocolate.

menehune mac snack attack

okay, so i knew that menehune mac would have you covered in the chocolate department, but even more enticing are the snacks from the hawaiian chip company carried on mm's website. onolicious flavors like garlic taro chips and kilauea fire sweet potato chips are more than enough to kickstart my craving for something crunchy right now.

however, the mango pasta from sun noodle sounds like a curious food find for the more adventurous foodies amongst us. fruity noodles may not be my thing but the macadamia nut pasta would be welcome on my dinner plate anytime.

eggs 'n things

whenever itunes plays jack johnson's banana pancakes song, i always wonder if he has cooled his heels on the bench outside eggs 'n things patiently waiting for his name to be called so he too can join the pancake loving masses inside.

bet you're craving pancakes drizzled with coconut syrup now, aren't you? don't despair. eggs 'n things' world famous pancake mix can be yours with just a click of the mouse so now you can whip up onolicious pancakes at home in less time than it takes to score a table at the waikiki institution.

lappert's ice cream

i scream, you scream, we all scream for . . . lappert's ice cream? thanks to the miracle of 2-day shipping, you can order lappert's super premium ice cream online and savor every bite of local favorites like kauai pie, kona mocha chip or caramel coconut macadamia nut no matter where you call home.

of course, you just may scream when you see the shipping charges ($73 for dry ice?) so don't forget to check if an ice cream shop stocking lappert's is nearby before you order. the money you save on shipping can be spent stocking up on a few extra pints so it's a win-win for everybody*.

*with the exception of the shipping company, of course.

{update | dec 11th, 2009: while updating this post, i discovered that lappert's hawaii is operated independently from mainland-based lappert's (which is known as just lappert's, natch) so the photo has been updated to reflect the ice cream made in small batches on kauai . . . shipping, alas, is still pricey}