kicks/hi x sig zane = (red)

the most anticipated island collaboration of the year is finally making its debut tomorrow. yep, after all the waiting kicks/hi + sig zane release their spin for the (converse) red collection on saturday. it's so cool to see local designers getting involved in the (product) red campaign and getting some well deserved exposure and a little media love.

in case you didn't catch bono kicking off the campaign on oprah last year, red is all about raising funds to help fight the aids epidemic in africa by giving you, the consumer, a painless way to shop a tad more consciously.

basically, whenever you choose to snap up limited edition red chuck taylors/ipods/razrs/etc over the standard issue, the participating company donates a portion of sales from that product to the global fund which is fighting the good fight by purchasing life saving medication that our fellow world citizens would otherwise not be able to afford.

the kicks/sz converse design features a handprinted 'uluwehi keaukaha print (in honor of the tree planted on son kuhao's first birthday) and is only available in men's sizes 5-13 (including half sizes; fyi - for the uninitiated, chucks are a unisex style so refer to the size chart to determine the corresponding w's size). there will also be a baseball cap in the same colorway.

no doubt these are going to be very popular considering there will be competition between sneaker collectors, converse fans, and folks who want to support local designers so remember that they will only be stocked at the following locations (in addition to the sz online shop):

• hilo: sz shop & the cutlery | honolulu: kicks/hi - makaloa shop | wailuku: sz shop
• chicago: saint alfred

ocean vodka online

just a quick update to let those of you who have been patiently waiting to add ocean vodka to your home bar that the maui made organic spirit can now be ordered online via hi-time wine cellars. however, if home is one of the states with prohibition era liquor laws then you are out of luck unless you find yourself visiting the oc (if not, then make a note to smuggle back some hooch the next time you are in hawaii).

of course, islanders can dodge all the subterfuge and stock up on ocean vodka whenever they please at foodland, costco and, yes, even the ever ubiquitous abc store.

fighting eel spring/summer 2007

spring 07 adara + summer 07 paris

spring is getting closer which means more wearable dresses to covet in the new collections from fighting eel. i am loving the empire waist and clean lines of fe's adara dress. of course, if you prefer something slightly more provocative take a peek at what's in store for those sultry summer evenings . . .

no online shopping at fe's website yet however click over to active endeavors, lalala or rafael hawaii to shop to your heart's content.

or, even better, friday brings a one day sale at fe's chinatown headquarters with pieces from past collections marked down to $30, $50 & $70!

details:

• when: fri, mar 2nd - 10a to 6p
• where: fe headquarters - 47 north hotel street
• fyi: cash only!

beach blanket bingo

pretty beach mats!

after spending a day wandering around honolulu furniture stores with my aunty, i can honestly say that pacific home is, hands down, my favorite design shop in hawaii. they are always mixing it up and bringing in new accessories that are really hard to find in the islands (actually it's difficult to find a brick and mortar store stocked with modern beach style like ph even here in so/cal).

there is always something cool happening like the recent meet and greet with rug designer emma gardner, the staff is friendly (hi tara!), and i am happy to report they don't shadow you around the store waiting to pounce which occurred in almost every other shop we visited that day (is it just me or does anyone else find that trying to shake a persistent sales clerk off their tail distracts from the task at hand).

oh, and they adore design*sponge too!

anyhoo, i had a difficult time resisting these oh so pretty beach mats imported into the states by one of the contestants from the amazing race, but since my willpower won out in the end now i have a good reason to stop by the next time i'm home.