lavender fields forever

i finally had a chance to page through a review copy of ali'i kula lavender's the maui book of lavender (one part memoir, one part growing guide & one part cookbook with a handful of herbal tips thrown in for good measure) and found it to be a quick read for anyone who fancies herself an amateur herbalist. friends who have visited the upcountry gardens rave about the

experience so it was fun to take a peek behind-the-scenes and discover the history of lavender in the islands while filing away a few kitchen tricks for my next cooking adventure.

one surprising revelation was that lavender was grown in hawaii more than a century before akl owner (and noted horticulturist) ali'i chang discovered the perennial while experimenting with drought-tolerant plants to grow on his maui farm. that was news to me and makes the current renaissance of lavender in the islands more than just a happy accident.

alas, lavender seasoning is missing from my pantry but culinary fans will enjoy sampling recipes which put a provençal twist on island favorites while those open to otc alternatives will welcome tips on how to incorporate lavender into everyday living (a few drops of lavender essential oil equals sweet dreams for me).

now it's time for the book and the lavender delights that arrived with it to find a new home which means two readers have a chance to win!

• email your name & current hometown to: aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by thu, feb 5th
• please put akl giveaway in the subject
• fyi - note if you prefer the book or the surprise
• one entry per person/household

click back on friday to find out if lucky lavender was on your side.

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

{update: winner list posted}

pau hana clicks

• my inner band geek was delighted to see punahou's marching band rewarded with what just may be the very first presidential shaka sign during the inauguration parade!

• click over to my fella's favorite music rag for a neat little widget that will makeover your mug in shepard fairey's iconic hope design [via dailycandy].

• just a few days left to order up an obama dog from hank's haute dogs. $5 plus change gets you a portuguese hot dog topped off chicago style accompanied with a soda pop. look for the special on the menu board at hhd's coral street outpost until sun, jan 25th.

• the lovely menagerie calendar from joie studio scores a mention in the l.a. times. [yay tina!]

• take a peek at the top 10 hawaii blogs (including your truly - mahalo ryan!) picked by one of the islands' top bloggers.

have a happy weekend!

and the winner is . . .

theresa from bellevue, wa who will soon be flipping through the pages of the ultimate guide to shopping on oahu for the inside style scoop.

alas, there was only one copy to give away, however the publisher sent along an exclusive 30% discount just for the h|h 'ohana. simply click over to the online shop and order away!

• secret code: hapahale
• fyi: no expiration date
  

congratulations, theresa!

{mahalo dawn!}

ultimate shopping guide giveaway

imagine my surprise upon discovering that h|h made the list of shopping resources in the ultimate guide to shopping on oahu. a review copy was soon on its way to me and the purse-sized guide, penned by executive editor kathryn drury wagner of honolulu magazine, shares the skinny on the best spots (a mix of local boutiques and brands with oahu outposts) around the island to unearth designer deals, vintage finds, island style, and where to go when you need a little extra help (mamas-to-be, petites, etc).

one lucky winner will receive a copy of the handy guide (compact enough to slip in your purse) complete with a shopping survival kit (not available in stores).

• email your name & current hometown to: aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by thu, dec 18th - midnight hst
• please put ultimate guide holiday giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household
• previous h|h winners are not eligible

hele back on friday for the winner and a preview of the final goodie to be given away.

p.s. email subscribers - simply hit reply and follow the above instructions to throw your name in the giveaway hat.

{update: winner list posted}

social wahines 2.0

danielle from social wahines recently sent along word that the group's new beta website has launched with the addition of an online social networking feature. it's like an über-exclusive facebook, an online pa'ina to meet new peeps and a way to help biz-minded island girls expand their empires.

the new features mean that sw is switching to paid memberships so, if you are already a member, you will need to re-establish your account to access all the good stuff including monthly networking events (at a discounted rate) plus member-only deals, message boards & much more.

annual memberships go for $65, however, to celebrate the new website, social wahines is offering h|h readers an introductory membership deal. it's on a sliding scale so the sooner you hele over and sign up, the more you save:

• $45 membership ($20 savings)
  secret code: swnov
  expires: sun, nov 30th

• $55 membership ($10 savings)
  secret code: swdec
  expires: wed, dec 31st

click rewind to learn more about social wahines.

p.s. once you register, please join the new h|h group on sw!