tex message

i promised to share a few favorite finds from my last trip home and realized that a month has whizzed by with nary a mention. like any good local girl, many happy moments have been spent waiting in line for freshly fried malasadas with most of my sugar rolled moments (hold the cinnamon and fancy fillings, please) compliments of leonard's which is, imho, the gold standard.

it was only on a trip to the big island a few years ago that my fella and i discovered the delicious dough fried up at the tex drive-in. where leonard's version is light and airy (making it easy to justify many, many bites), tex offers up a denser delight sturdy enough that any leftovers will miraculously hold up until the next day (although you may want to warm it up and sprinkle a little sugar on top).

a piping hot tex malasada is one of the perks of kicking it on the hamakua coast which is home to tex's only outpost (in honoka'a off hwy 19). we typically take our order to go and savor the sugary treats while soaking up the breathtaking views from our rustic rental cottage overlooking the waipio valley.

next time you find yourself on the big island make your way to tex's and sample the sugar rush for yourself.

• where: 45-690 pakalana street, honoka'a

bon appétit!

whale season

it's almost time for the whales to swim back north so with a little cut and paste and, voilà!, a show and tell of all the finds inspired by the planet's largest inhabitant collected over the past year. enjoy!

1 - teach your keiki all her abc's with strawberry luna's w is for whale print.

2 - the cheerful graphics of sirena con jersey's whale tote perk up a standard issue book bag.

3 - two trick pony's handscreened print takes your wall on a fanciful whale ride.

4 - elegantly designed magnetic whale tongs are a dinner party conversation starter.

5 - sterling silver is coaxed into a charming whale pendant.

6 - add a little whimsy to your entry with this playful whale tail door knocker.

7 - jot down notes on this cute whale chalkboard complete with blowhole chalk holder (also stocked at three potato four).

8 - show your gratitude with fugu fugu's 100% recycled big thanks note card.

9 - craft your own whale goodness with nikoart's handcrafted rubber stamp.

10 - announce your house number to the neighborhood with this fun-loving ode to moby.

11 - delight tiny sea explorers with eco-friendly little whales wallpaper by pottok prints.

and the winners are . . .

marybeth of honolulu who scored the valentine edition of toast's mini pop and apple of my eye love fruit! while erin of yakima and liane of hermosa beach will each be charmed by a scented sweet berry.

mahalo to everyone who entered! the valentine goodies can be scooped up online or hele over to the wedding café at ward warehouse, the menehune mac factory store, or stop by toast's new kaimuki showroom and say hello:

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

congratulations, marybeth, erin & liane!

{mahalo jeremy & michelle!}

toast valentine giveaway

toast has just released a collection of pretty in pink treats just in time for valentine's day! li hing gummy apples are the secret surprise inside the apple of my eye love fruits! while candy hearts fill toast's signature mini pops bottle. and, the latest offerings from the toast workshop are scented sweet berry charms made to dangle from your keychain or rearview mirror.

jeremy and michelle, toast's crafty creators, want to share some handmade love with the h|h 'ohana and are giving away one set of mini pops & love fruits! plus two sweet berry charms scented in either strawberry or vanilla (three winners in all).

with valentine's day wooing sweethearts everywhere on saturday, the deadline to drop your name in the hat is midnight tonight so hele on and:

• email your name & current hometown to: aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by midnight hst
• please put toast valentine giveaway in the subject
• fyi - note if you prefer the set or charm
• one entry per person/household

check in tomorrow to find out if cupid struck you with his arrow!

p.s. email subscribers - simply hit reply and follow the instructions above for a chance to win.

{update: winner list posted}

sweet nothings roundup

with valentine's on the calendar for next weekend, enjoy a show and tell of lovely goods to add a little sweetness to your day!

1 - maui jewelry designer kira ferrer hand stamps a secret message in the you are loved sterling bangle.

2 - delight your keiki with the crochet cuteness of berrysprite's red velvet cupcake.

3 - simply embellish's valentine note set asks to be sealed with a kiss.

4 - champagne toasts get some extra sparkle via space moderne's handcrafted wine tote.

5 - decorate your love nest with lisa brodinski's sweetly titled photographic blossom.

6 - honolulu jewelry designer stacey lee's pink tourmaline drops dazzle with glittering gold leaves.

7 - sweet love tags by simply embellish perk up valentine treat bags.

8 - indulge in gourmet cheesecake bites without waiting to be buzzed to your table.

9 - lilikoi fruit tints honolulu cookie company's yummy chocolate dipped shortbread hearts.

10 - design lovely turns the traditional valentine into a hawaiian love note (print your own here).

11 - craft your own st. valentine's surprise with a swath of denyse schmidt's county fair fabric (the pear tulip medallion is a pretty hawaiian quilt dopplegänger).

12 - style your sweetheart in a long sleeved aloha shirt from sig zane.

13 - candy grams go gourmet compliments of sweet paradise chocolatier's handmade confections.

14 - for the family man - anje design's engraved washers keeps your 'ohana close to his heart.

15 - warm island wood inlays offset sturdy metal in hawaiian titanium rings handcrafted tribal collection.