Dec 4 the kokua auction officially came to a close on monday and $190 and change was raised for aloha harvest!
thank you to everyone who participated - the bidders, winners, and, of course, all the designers, artists, and alchemists who generously donated their wares so a few lucky h|h readers could sample and share just a little of the goodness being created in the islands.
mahalo nui loa for all your kokua!
kokua Dec 4 
everyone loves the idea of a spa getaway but that pesky thing called a budget may not allow such an indulgent escape from reality. you can still pamper yourself and everyone on your gift list with organic bath and body treats from malie kauai which is offering complimentary shipping on online orders placed by christmas.
Dec 3 
earlier this year, style blogs and glossies were abuzz with the brilliant luxe link which comes to the rescue whenever a questionable dining situation presents itself. the clever design is compact enough to slip in your purse and, when called into service, offers a simple yet ingenious way to keep your handbag off grungy floors and sticky seats.
it wasn't until my friend pointed me to an article in the star-bulletin that i learned of the hawaii connection to the latest hidden weapon of every in-the-know fashionista. island girl turned mainland entrepreneur, kalika yap, just happens to be one of luxe link's founders, and her influence can be seen in the recently launched vintage hawaiian collection.
alas, no island boutiques are currently listed on the stockist list, however luxe links may be ordered via the online shop. as an added bonus, online orders over $100 score 10% off the entire purchase by entering the code below at checkout (although be forewarned that orders are sent ups ground which seems pretty pricey to the islands).
click over to youtube to take a peek at how it works.
Dec 3 just a quick reminder that the final three lots in the kokua auction end later today. the fighting eel lot still needs a bid, and, if you are concerned about it being xs, just know the fabric is very forgiving and should fit someone who typically wears a size small. measurements are posted on the listing so do click over and scoop up one of fe's fabulous designs (at 60% off) to ring in the new year!
remember shipping is on me if you live in the states plus there is a sweet mix of island goodies included for you to sample and share.
thanks for reading & have a lovely monday!
kokua Dec 3 
it's always a happy day around h|h when a new discovery of paper goodness is uncovered. it's no secret i heart the old world artform of letterpress, and, after finding this mahalo letterpress note card on etsy, i knew i had to find out just how the designer was connected to the islands.
it turns out, tina pham, the creative mind behind joie studio, did indeed grow up on oahu and followed the path many of us know so well of going to the mainland for college and setting down roots far from hawaii after graduation. a web designer by trade, tina started designing invites as an extension of her work creating wedding websites, and eventually caught the letterpress bug after taking a few classes.
tina now spends countless hours by the side of her early 20th century golding letterpress churning out charming paper ephemera featuring a mix of antique and modern illustrations. the mahalo card is the first in joie studio's old hawaii series (a new design will be released every few months), and tina is now collaborating with the toast team to give their playful graphics a letterpress touch.
click over to the joie studio etsy shop to take a peek at the lovely holiday designs, and be sure to scoop up one of the remaining limited edition 2008 blooming desk calendars which has received a lot of online buzz since its debut last month. custom work is available and the joie studio design house also offers web design and event planning services.
go behind the scenes via the joie studio blog.
