sugar cane sweetie

anyone who has planned a wedding in recent years is familiar with the gift bag bestowed on guests who make the journey to celebrate your big day. it's a fun way to share your favorite hometown finds with out of town pals - in fact, i still remember strolling the aisles of costco & local shops scooping up hawaiian style goodies days before our first wave of guests arrived in the islands.

if you are short on time but big on budget, you may want to click over to sugar cane sweetie, a new gifting service based on maui. partners jen martin and liz mcgain started their company to offer corporate events a fresh take on the tropical welcome basket trading standard issue mac nuts and sweets for gourmet goodies, luxe spa treats, and other delights evocative of paradise.

many h|h favorites made the cut including letarte coverups, malie kauai potions & maui beach sheets plus your picks can be gifted in a simple lauhala basket or a stylish meleana tote bag.

jen and liz are happy to work with weddings and private parties (minimum quantity required - contact scs for details) and offer an à la carte selection for those who prefer to customize gift options. delivery is available on maui and the neighbor islands plus gifts can also be dispatched to the mainland to set the mood for your guests' upcoming tropical getaway.

click over to the website to take a peek at the sugar cane sweetie selection (price tag is $40 and up).

{update | feb 2010: sugar cane sweetie has closed its website}

merrymaking goes upcountry

while the economic slump has everyone fretting about their holiday budget, the upside may be a little less commercially manufactured cheer and more appreciation for handmade goodness, festive moments with family and friends, and dazzling displays of twinkling lights.

one way to celebrate the season without dreading the arrival of the post-holiday bill collector is to kick off a new tradition with the help of ali'i kula lavender which is hosting weekly wreath workshops on its maui farm.

the hour long session includes materials and instruction, you just need to bring a little craft moxie to deck your space with a fancy wreath for a fraction of the cost.

• when: every fri, sat & sun (until dec 21st) - 10am
• where: akl, 1100 waipoli road, kula
• fee: $30
• fyi: reservations required

organik fall 2008

wave by eric rieth

the fall 08 collection from organik continues the big island-based line's mission to show that it's possible to green your closet and still be stylish. this season, organik's sustainable threads have expanded beyond organic cotton to include bamboo and recycled plastic bottles reborn into a wearable textile.

even better, all styles are finished with low-impact dyes which are gentle on the earth while water-based inks bring the hand printed designs to life.

sustainability

dragon crest

select styles can be found online over at green planet earth or shop local and click over to the stockist list to locate your neighborhood retailer.

plan to swing by chinatown later this next week to preview organik's fall collection during ecolounge, a networking meets social mixer for the eco-conscious crowd.

• when: thu, nov 20th - 6p to 8p
• where: indigo, 1121 nu'uanu avenue

p.s. click rewind to learn more about organik.

power to the people

yesterday, moveon announced that graphic designer shepard fairey (creator of the now iconic hope poster) has made a limited edition victory poster to celebrate barack obama's election to the presidency. only 5000 posters will be made available ($500 signed & $80 unsigned) with the proceeds helping to fund moveon's progressive movement.

no question that competition will be fierce so, while i must confess to briefly toying with the idea of holding out on you, what's a few extra peeps vying for what is sure to be an instant collectible proving you were present for this wonderful moment in u.s. history?

poster drops tomorrow, sat, nov 8th at 12:30p est / 9:30a pst / 7:30a hst.

p.s. sticker versions are also available on moveon's website. 1.6 million and counting as of this post!

pau hana clicks

since all my online reading over the past month was riveted to all things political, it's time to return to lazy hours spent flipping through the partisan-free pages of stylish, yummy & arcane internet clicks.

• berrysprite shares a crafty beaded pull tutorial perfect for adding a little bling to your gifting this holiday season!

• shaunna from pacific weddings penned a series of island guides (oahu/maui & kaua'i) for the fabulous design*sponge!

• chefs gone wild's zenchef warms up your appetite with a seasonal butternut squash soup fancied up with a spicy apple compote.

• maui and kaua'i residents - green your landscape for free during saturday's tree giveaway hosted by arbor day hawaii.

have a happy weekend!