cute commuter: maui rose

get ready to say hello to holiday mode while still packing the lucky belongings accompanying you on your journey! the arrival of summer heralds getaway season and the darling new accessories offered by maui rose will make you daydream of a seaside vacation. if the label sounds familiar, you may recall the keiki collection with its sweet prints and adorable appliqués featured a few years back. after a brief hiatus, designer marion girardin decided to say aloha to the teeny bikinis to concentrate on introducing some much needed joie de vivre to modern day travels.

the lineup of hawaii-inspired bags are designed for both keiki and grownups, and are perfectly portioned whether an island hop is calling your name or new stowaway space is needed for a summer sleepover. my first glimpse of the old timey canvas carryalls was one of absolute delight with its mix of cheery coral, embroidered plumerias, and stenciled beach spots. imagine a classic road movie like it happened one night finding its way across the pacific to share the vintage charm of a zip-up malette crafted with aloha spirit.

have your ticket ready for a peek after the jump!

weekend bag * mahalo pocket * keiki tote

cabas * malette * beaches pocket

the mahalo nui loa pocket would be a fine way to "wrap" a thank you gift, no? teachers, bridesmaids, babysitters . . . why the list of possible recipients is endless! and, did i mention the keiki and cabas totes are lined in a rotating selection of hawaiian prints and can be reversed in a pinch? and that the entire collection is made in hawaii?

yes, indeedy!

alas, no online shop yet but maui readers can find maui rose bags at bikini market in kihei, collections in makawao, and imrie in paia.

p.s. faraway friends are invited to email marion directly to purchase.

morning crush: hot club of hulaville

. . . i'm pau by hot club of hulaville . . .

the swingy melodies by hot club of hulaville never fail to brighten my day so i was thrilled when the honolulu quintet's django would go! scooped up a hoku for jazz album of the year this weekend.

hooray for gypsy jazz!

the perfect remedy if your tuesday has a case of the mondays after the long holiday weekend.

$15 online + $9.99 itunes.

aloha friday scoop

sending apologies for mistakenly rescheduling ARTafterDARK in last week's scoop (which is really tonight, fyi) along with winning wishes to sabrina for sunday's hoku awards! we have been craving old fashioned chocolate frosted cake so i just may attempt smitten kitchen's yummy delight since the mister will have three days off to help me tackle every sweet bite.

the holiday weekend brings two chances to say hello to nyc-based designer bliss lau who is back on island for a fashion 411 hosted by hifi & hawaii red magazine followed by a sunday peek of her ballerina-inspired fall collection.

• {a rotating fashion panel}
• when: sat, may 28th - 2p to 4p
• where: lobby bar @ waikiki edition, 1775 kalakaua avenue
• tix: $25

• {fashion as art}
• when: sun, may 29th - 6p to 8p
• where: lobby bar @ waikiki edition, 1775 kalakaua avenue
• tix: $10
• fyi: post-show cocktail party starts after the show

find a new and budget-friendly fighting eel in the sale section and save 30% off this weekend. all keiki styles too!

p.s. pop over to teetee bar next door and save 40-to-50% off stylish summer looks for the entire 'ohana!

• when: fri, may 27th to sat, may 28th + mon, may 30th - 10a to 6p
• where: 1133 bethel street, chinatown

Click to read more ...

beach read: moloka'i

growing up, my understanding of kalaupapa was limited to the occasional classroom mention and wandering past father damien's statue at the state capitol. then i borrowed moloka'i from my mom which turned out to be a beautifully written tale of how the dreaded epidemic upended the life of a seven-year-old girl.

the fictional story transports you to old honolulu and its inquisition-like investigations of the whispered about ma'i pake before journeying across the kaiwi channel where the inflicted were expected to embrace life on a forsaken slice of 'aina. and while tear-stained pages are inevitable, little rachel kalama stubbornly proves that happiness, even if fleeting, is possible in small moments of freedom be it secret surf sessions, teenage escapades, and unexpected friendships that blossom during an almost lifelong colony existence.

if you adore a good story, this is a must for your summer beach reads list!

p.s. there are plenty of copies waiting to be discovered on the shelves of your local library.

hello honi honi!

while watching the oprah show finale yesterday, i had an a-ha moment about today's post during lady o's message of finding your calling. readers who have been following the wings hawaii story know how the line started in the mid-aughties with just a handful of screenprinted goods sold at first friday and the occasional craft fair. handmade jewelry soon followed and, after a move from honolulu to maui, their flagship boutique eventually relocated from its upcountry outpost to the buzzy boho charm of paia town.

the stars always have a way of aligning if you are lucky enough to discover and step down the path meant just for you, and it certainly seems like the universe is smiling upon becky, melody and sam with every little expansion of their indie empire. with the ocean only a few blocks from their shop, a swimwear collection seemed to be patiently waiting for a silhouette to be refined and given the wings stamp of approval. lo and behold, sam found a way to combine the effortless prettiness the label is known for while allowing ladies to hit the waves without hesitation.

while the first glimpses of honi honi arrived last year, the mix and match lineup recently welcomed new styles to celebrate its online debut this spring. handmade for mermaids who appreciate playful patterns and the versatility of reversability, racerback and criss cross tops joined the original bandeau offering which coordinate with bottoms cut to flatter yet leave just enough to the imagination . . . happy news if super flirty brazilian styles make you blush.

join me in the cabana for a peek, won't you?

polka dots * houndstooth

riviera * scales

it is so delightful to see three friends start with a small idea, embrace all the possibilities, and find success and lots of goodness along the way!

while you can expect patterns to change with the seasons, honi honi's bikinis and maillots are designed to fit lovelies of many sizes including curvier physiques. (sam noted that a large will fit up to a size 13 or a small d cup.)

meet your favorite swim look in the online shop or say hello to the wings 'ohana at their indie storefront:

• where: 71 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat/sun, 9a to 1p

are you inspired to listen to those little whispers and say hello to a new adventure?

p.s. in addition to their design and shop duties, the wings 'ohana also publish inspire, a new-ish quarterly read covering local loveliness. find a copy at the shop or click over to facebook to peek pages from the latest issue.