morning crush: hot club of hulaville

. . . i'm pau by hot club of hulaville . . .

the swingy melodies by hot club of hulaville never fail to brighten my day so i was thrilled when the honolulu quintet's django would go! scooped up a hoku for jazz album of the year this weekend.

hooray for gypsy jazz!

the perfect remedy if your tuesday has a case of the mondays after the long holiday weekend.

$15 online + $9.99 itunes.

and the winners are . . .

kara from ka'a'awa and marisa from fountain valley who will be the happy recipients of shop toast's cheery fabric koi wraps!

although there were only two koi to share with everyone, mahalo to all my lovely readers who tried their luck this time around. if you wish to surprise your favorite girls and boys next week, shop toast's 2011 children's day lineup is priced from $8 to $12 and be found online and at their kaimuki storefront:

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, suite 3, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

happy congratulations to kara & marisa!

{warm mahalos to jeremy and michelle, the delightful designers behind shop toast!}

kokua japan - take two

while the world delights in the royal wedding today, a smaller celebration is taking place at greenroom hawaii which is marking the first anniversary of their surf art gallery-slash-boutique with a love for japan silent auction this weekend (more details in today's scoop). some of our favorite island artists have donated artwork including oahu illustrator kat reeder who created an especially lovely poster which embodies our islands' aloha for japan with quiet sweetness.

if venturing to waikiki on saturday night is not in the stars, kat's online shop just stocked up on her aloha for japan print ($25) which benefits the red cross's relief efforts in japan.

since the first kokua japan roundup, kinohi designs has released more love for japan plus our friends at owens & co., so'mace, and the wedding café have made cute new tote bags to help the cause. peek all the new designs after the jump!

love & hope by kinohi designs

if you have been waiting for the next round of help heal japan goodness by kinohi designs, two new offerings have joined designer jennifer tanabe's heal button. the hope design will benefit unicef while proceeds from the love tee will also help the red cross. an etsy shop will be launching soon, but in the meantime send jen a note to place an order.

{$20 online}

help heal japan tote

occasionally, there is a silver lining to being cursed with procrastinating ways. first the wedding café 'ohana sent over a peek the other day of their new help heal japan tote bag mixing sister shop eden in love's birdie motif with japan's rising sun. understated in the most delightful way with 100% of tote proceeds donated to the american red cross.

{$20 eden in love + the wedding café}

then a note from isla at so'mace arrived yesterday with news of a design fundraiser with missy at owens & co. (chinatown's lovely new design & home goods shop). the graphic collaboration is printed on recycled cotton and available in two cheery hues with proceeds benefiting direct relief international. add $5 for shipping if you wish to rock an aqua or bright pink tote on the neighbor islands or mainland.

{$30 owens & co. + so'mace}

have you happened across any new local prettiness to help our friends in japan?

shop toast koi giveaway

monday skipped by before i had a chance to post the shop toast surprise which will be treating two readers to the darling handkerchief koi just released for children's day celebrations! this year's edition is made to cheer in bright new colors (loving the turquoise!) which can be reused after the wrap is unbundled and the tomoe ame rice candy tucked inside has been enjoyed.

happily, one koi has been set aside for an oahu reader willing to pencil in a pickup at toast's kaimuki studio while a second koi is destined to be with a reader with a mainland mailbox.

feeling lucky? carefully read and heed all the fine print posted after the jump.

Click to read more ...

new peeks: roberta oaks spring 2011

palaka!

nothing says old school hawaii like a palaka print so i am thrilled to see designer roberta oaks pay an homage to the iconic pattern in her new line for the fellas. retro styled floral prints also make an appearance in this hipster update on the aloha shirt, but kama'aina will always embrace the palaka which is a sweet reminder of plantation days gone by before big box stores arrived and mom & pop shops like arakawas closed their doors forever. 

a handful of m's styles are made in snazzy vintage fabrics and, as such, limited in number with the remaining looks cut from a breezy cotton/linen blend from japan. springtime also brings new loveliness for the ladies with updates on old favorites and demure additions in pretty pastels and chipper polka dots perfect for sunday brunch and skipping about town with your sweetie.

boys day

sarah

mollie

how cute would it be to spot a couple styled in coordinating ro outfits?

if the new looks make you happy, just know there are only two days remaining to save 20% off all the newest goodness in the online shop:

• secret code: easter
• expires: sat, apr 23rd

or, starting tomorrow, hop over to roberta's studio to scoop up spring loveliness just in time for easter weekend:

• when: fri, apr 22nd - 11a to 6p
• where: 19 north pauahi street, chinatown