racing in the new year

looking to do something a little off the beaten path to ring in 2008? lucky you, it appears there is still time to snap up tickets for the new year's eve edition of ravenchase!

gather up your best code crackers and have fun exploring the nooks and crannies of town and chinatown during the second annual quest for father time. cryptic puzzles and mysterious characters help guide you to the final pit stop where players will enjoy a fabulous new year's bash along the honolulu waterfront.

• when: tonight @ 7pm
• tix: $125/$100 (kama'aina rate)

click rewind to learn more.

aloha harvest

i hope everyone enjoyed a lovely holiday! it seems i am still playing catch up with life and emails so finds from my trip home will kick off in the new year. since this last visit home was so last minute, i realized i never got around to sharing a bit more about aloha harvest (the oahu charity that was the recipient of the donations raised during the kokua auction).

if you are the one in charge of planning parties for work or play, read on. aloha harvest puts a twist on the traditional food bank by accepting prepared fare in addition to the usual canned goods and packaged food. no matter if it's a fancy catered affair or a big potluck with your peeps chances are leftovers will abound so here's the 411 on how to prevent all that good food (and money) from going down the drain.

once your event winds down, simply give aloha harvest a ring with the details of what is remaining on the buffet (fyi - you can also schedule a pickup in advance). a driver will be sent to pick up your food donation and will then deliver it to one of the many social service agencies who have partnered with aloha harvest so all that extra prime rib (or your aunty's famous lumpia) can help feed folks who may otherwise go without.

keep aloha harvest's number handy for upcoming new year's celebrations/sugar bowl shindigs and the continuous rotation of class reunions, weddings, baby's first luaus, and office parties (let's hope their donation number is on the speed dial of every caterer, event planner, hotel, restaurant and cafeteria on oahu who may still be sending quality food to waste away in waimanalo gulch).

click here for more details.

p.s. donations are also tax deductible

giveaway announcement

just popping in to announce that stacey from honolulu is the lucky recipient of the etiquette tee and joie studio letterpress note card set!

many mahalos to everyone who entered the holiday giveaway (and for the sweet notes that some of you included with your entry). it was neat to discover just where h|h readers call home (hint hint: it's a 50/50 split between the islands and mainland).

congratulations, stacey!

holiday giveaway

while i readjust back to pst, i have a little holiday surprise thanks to a generous elf who won one of the kokua auctions with the intention of gifting it to me and my fella for xmas. one of the goodies was an etiquette tee which we already have, so, with her blessing, a little giveaway plan has been hatched.

one lucky h|h reader will receive a state of mine tee (brown/size large) along with a set of lovely mahalo letterpress note cards from joie studio.

to add your name to the pot, email aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com with your name & hometown by 6a pst on fri, dec 21st. please put h|h giveaway in the subject. the winner will be announced on friday.

{mahalo nini + tina!}

cosmetic counter gift picks

1 - the go to tool of what not to wear's carmindy just happens to be made by honolulu's very own body+soul cosmetics. alas, the darling mini brush set is sold out on the b+s website but you can still scoop one up here.

2 - mama coco's lip rouge has returned just in time for the holidays! red hibiscus petals add a hint of color to the organic and fair trade moisturizing base of coconut oil, shea butter and hawaiian honey.

3 - maleana, makeup artist dorys foltin's cosmetics line, recently introduced color tides, a mineral shimmer that highlights and brightens all the right spots (fyi - the online shop is not fully functional yet. email or call to order).

4 - body & soul's face glow is the one stick wonder to keep in your purse 24/7. it gives your cheeks and lips a pretty pick me up plus adds a little ooh la la to the décolleté.