shop peek: owens & co.

one of my favorite boutiques to visit whenever i find myself back on the island is the always delightful owens & co., the sweet design shop located in the most gorgeous corner space in the chinatown arts district. the cheery chevron curtains framing the windows instantly brighten my day and the curated collection of local and faraway finds are a design geek's dream come true.

something fabulous is always waiting to woo me whenever i pop by to to say hello - stacks of decorating/gardening/cooking & craft books, handmade sparkle and carryalls, playful domestic wares, pretty paper goods, and a selection of buzzy indie goods being swooned over on pinterest (hello washi tape, anthology magazine, and leather baggu pouches!).

missy, the shop's lovely proprietor (who shares my house hunters internationale obsession), is constantly on the lookout for charming discoveries to indulge our latest design obsessions as well as little delights perfect for every gifting occasion.

enjoy a peek of new summer arrivals after the jump!

scents & stacks

a.wattz * fortune

summer arrivals

in addition to elusive merch you have been crushing on compliments of your favorite design blogs (and ever so difficult to find in hawaii), owens & co. happily stocks goods from local makers including jewelry by justine, meleana handbags, so'mace tableware, and saffron james (did you spy the just introduced monoi/tamanu/coconut body oils up above?).

even if the shop is closed it's always fun to peek through the window, but do plan to stop in and wander about when honolulu's delightful indie emporium is open for business (note: missy's hubby jeff steps behind the counter when errands call her away from the shop).

• where: 1152 nu'uanu avenue, chinatown
• shop hours: mon to fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 11a to 4p

p.s. missy & jeff generously filled my shop tote with bars of nuuanu & pauahi soap (created in collaboration with the human imagination, a few doors down the block) on my last two visits, and i would love to share them with a few lucky readers. send me a note by the fourth of july and you might find a summer surprise in your mailbox!

new peeks: malie style collection

i dare say i have not been this excited about a new collection in quite some time. malie, the kaua'i company best known for their island scented offerings and pampering body treatments, recently welcomed a gorgeous new resort wear collection made to woo island lovelies far and wide.

a sampling of malie's thoughtful design details: a palette of ocean blues reminiscent of the pacific, an eco-friendly organic cotton/bamboo jersey knit chosen for its comfort in the tropics, and playful patterns featuring modern interpretations of island sea life (the i'a print above is inspired by our state fish).

the tunics, convertible skirts, maxi gowns (ombre alert!), and fluttery wraps are simply too pretty to describe so let's have a look at a few of the beauties from malie's debut collection after the jump!

hanalei tako & ombre

makani wrap * waikiki ombre

{swoon}

lucky for us malie founder dana roberts turned her daydreams of effortless island chic wearables into a fetching real life wardrobe for the rest of us to covet and call our own.

the capsule collection is happily made in the usa which officially ticks all the boxes on my elusive wishlist (pretty + sustainable + produced in the states = style trifecta . . . hooray!).

peek the entire collection in the online shop (fyi: complimentary shipping on orders over $100) or pop into a malie boutique to admire in person:

• kaua'i boutique: 2-2560 kaumuali'i hwy, kalaheo
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p

• oahu boutique: royal hawaiian hotel, 2259 kalakaua avenue, waikiki
• shop hours: daily, 9a to 9p
• fyi: if you follow the garden path from the royal hawaiian shopping center, the malie boutique will be on your right tucked away in the famous coconut grove

island crush: waikiki rainbow

it's impossible not to heart loose petals' cheery print of waikiki beach, just one of the iconic skylines featured in chicago designer karen young's delightful city series of eco prints.

the sweet curve of the postcard-perfect shoreline with kapiolani park's grassy lawn stretching below diamond head is such a cheerful reminder of sunny memories spent splashing in the pacific, watching puffy clouds leisurely drift from island to island, and the sweet scent of coconut oil.

printed on 100% recycled cardstock.

$19.99 online. (fyi: an 11x14 print is also offered for a few dollars more.)

summertime stationery giveaway

aloha friends! alas, back to back family emergencies have pulled me away for the past few weeks, but i wanted to pop in to announce a small summer giveaway.

my mister and i have had two reminders in less than a month's time about how suddenly and unexpectedly loved ones can be lost, and, since we will always have regrets about a missed visit or phone call, i would love to share a trio of letterpress note cards so one lucky reader can fill a few favorite mailboxes with postal cheer.

because sometimes a handwritten note to say hello can be the sweetest way to send a smile to faraway family and friends . . . and letterpress goodness by hour of nine, joie studio (featuring a shop toast design) & miemiko atelier make for even more delightful tidings.

more details on how to enter after the jump.

Click to read more ...

uncle clay's house of pure aloha

hopa sunshine & coconut * strawberry & li hing

happy saturday! popping in this weekend to share the story of how uncle clay's house of pure aloha came to be which just might make your heart melt . . .

once upon a time a boy's childhood dream is to become the proprietor of his neighborhood sweet shop. fast forward four decades later when uncle clay finally acquires his coveted storefront then skip forward a few years more when, with the help of nephew bronson and crowdfunding from around the world, a makeover transforms the old timey space into the nicest shave ice shop in the islands.

the handcrafted syrups featuring locally sourced ingredients and the shop's modern decor are what tempted me and the mister to make a detour to 'aina haina after grazing our way through the kcc farmers market. and, oh my, our first hopa encounter was a very pleasant surprise. (in fact, we made two visits during our winter trip just so photos could be snapped for this post.)

the menu features all the tropical fruity favorites kama'aina love along with flavors for more adventurous palates (sweet potato or kalespin, a blend of earthy greens, anyone?). the li hing perfectly balances salty and sweet, the green tea delicate and nuanced, and the lightly sweetened coconut made a fan of your girl reporter who refuses most coconutty offerings.

extra fixings are also on the menu including tropical dreams ice cream (made in small batches on the big island & so 'ono!), homemade mochi, and ono pops li hing powder.

peek inside plus find out how you can help hopa's 1st anniversary pop-up project after the jump!

the hopa 'ohana welcomes every customer with a smile and uncle clay can best be described as an ambassador of aloha who took time to talk story and introduce us to fellow customers before eventually sending us on our way with a hug. it was truly one of the most delightful and inspiring moments during our trip home.

and, since my inner treehugger cringes every time a plastic monstrosity is whipped out upon ordering shave ice (oh for the days when a paper cone would do), hopa scores bonus points for presenting their frozen delights in biodegradable bowls accompanied by compostable spoons.

the next time you crave something sweet you simply must find your way to hopa for a cup of cheer:

• where: 'aina haina shopping center (just a few doors down from cake couture)
• shop hours: mon to thu, 11a to 6p & fri to sun, 10:30a to 8p

treats from local producers, including madre chocolate bars, can also be scooped up in the shop.

p.s. share hopa forward celebrates the shop's 1st anniversary by inviting one and all to help fund a future pop-up which hopes to gift 2,012 cups of shave ice to the community with an extra serving of pure aloha.