call for volunteers

yoo hoo! if your new year's resolution was to do some good in the world, cool kailua nights needs volunteers (and vendors too) to help out behind the scenes. the feb 2nd block party is filled with food, shopping, entertainment, carnival rides, and a wellness center to bring the windward side together to raise funds for local cancer organizations.

volunteers are needed to assist with set-up, manning booths, auction help, etc. plus, there are still a few booths left if you are a vendor and would like to participate in the event.

email danielle [at] socialwahines [dot] com for details.

farmstand fusion

this last trip home gave me the opportunity to do almost all of my xmas shopping in the islands (no packing up and hauling boxes to the post office or a hefty postage bill - yay for me!). on the flip side, the refrain made most often by my peeps is how difficult it can be to find anything good to gift in hawaii so i was on a mission to prove them wrong and hit the local shopping scene for a little indie gifting in 2007.

one of my favorite things to gift are gourmet treats which are in abundant supply in the islands yet something many folks never splurge on for themselves. the first booth that caught my eye at the honolulu gift fair was maui upcountry jams & jellies with their exotic mix of sweet and savory concoctions that proved hard to resist. the company originally started out as a way to make use of all the fruits growing on their family farm, and, after receiving raves from their 'ohana, other local farmers began approaching the family to turn their harvest into a bounty of breakfast spreads.

the farm fresh offerings have expanded over the years beyond jams and jellies to include syrups, mustards, and chutneys featuring island standards like mango and lilikoi to intriguing nectars made from kula black raspberries, loquats (japanese plums), and poha berries. there's even a li hing mango jam to give your morning toast an old school wake up call (sans the cock-a-doodle-doo of country roosters).

the online shop is stocked with their entire maui made product line, or click over to ali'i kula lavender who partnered with maui upcountry to whip up some of the culinary goodies infused with lavender grown on akl's farm.

outdoor makeover

the eco-chic showroom of 1st look exteriors was one of my favorite discoveries on this last trip home. the design center is devoted to all things green and when my fella and i finally stepped through the doors, well, it was a bit like getting a golden ticket to wonkaland if you love modern style that also happens to be good for the earth.

owners greg & terri lee opened their waipio showroom to offer more environmentally friendly furniture options to their landscaping clientele, and, after chatting with greg about everything from green roofs and solar/led lighting to la's ca boom design show, it was apparent they know their stuff. even better, greg & terri are making a concerted effort to bring in lines previously unavailable in the islands with an emphasis on green materials like sustainable woods and recycled plastic to transform hawaii's outdoor spaces.

soda pop bottle transformed

if flipping through design glossies is one of your hobbies du jour, all you need to know is that this is the place to go for in person peeks at the collections of modern outdoor, pie, and loll designs (picket chair shown above). in addition to furniture, the showroom offers accessories like this spectacular pendant lamp cobbled together from empty silk cocoon pods (an innovative use of "trash" and, more importantly, the light filters through the pods with a gorgeous, ethereal glow).

get your eco design fix every tue to sat (mon by appointment only).

petite sweets

fair warning to those who have resolved to eat healthy in the new year: consider yourself advised to skip this post which has the potential to sabotage your plans ever so sweetly. cari from miemiko had tipped me off on the latest cupcakerie to hit the islands last summer, and i am happy to report that i finally had a chance to sample the offerings at cake couture cupcakes during my latest visit home.

pastry chef carmen emerson-bass, known for her elaborate wedding cake designs, is the confectionery mixologist behind the charming aina haina spot where delightful cupcakes are whipped up six days a week in flavors ranging from the traditional (chocolate & vanilla) to the unexpected (chai spice & orange creamsicle).

red velvet * egg nog * peanut butter

the case was almost bare when i stopped by in the late afternoon so plan on arriving earlier in the day if you have your heart set on a particular flavor fix. cupcakes start at $2.50 a pop and an even more gourmet selection (think decadent chocolate ganache, lemon curd filling, etc) will attempt to woo you from the adjoining case.

take a peek at the rotating menu before you go and remember custom cupcake orders are also welcome.