heart to heart

jeremy from toast recently sent along word announcing the latest favor options to be birthed inside their imaginative workshop. these playful wooden heart stumps can be customized with the "carved" initials of the love birds and filled with a sweet surprise (or order up personalized cotton hankies from the toast team). the empty stumps are 100% biodegradable so guests can toss them into the compost pile for a little cradle to cradle action.

and, come december toast will be rolling out a more budget-friendly option to their popular soda snack line. mini pops will still put a smile on the faces of your guests (especially little ones on the birthday party circuit) but the shrunken size promises to keep the sugar rush to a minimum.

click over to the faq for the fine print.

easy rider

electra huli huli cruiser

with more people opting for two wheels in face of higher prices at the pump and as a way to reduce their carbon footprint, you may have flirted with the idea of digging out that rusty old bike and taking it out for a spin. problem is it may be too small or, worse, too broken to get you on the road. enter the kalihi valley instructional bike exchange program (k-vibe) which will get you back in the saddle in no time.

a little kokua &/or sweat equity is all that's required. simply trade in your (or your keiki's) old bicycle for new wheels or help fix up bikes donated to the co-op and pay it forward. no bike and no time? no worries, a donation (which goes to stock bike parts and tools for the program) will get you rehabbed wheels so you can pedal along with one of the community bike rides organized by k-vibe.

click over to the official k-vibe blog to stay in the loop.

p.s. new bike owners are also welcome to stop by for a lesson in bike maintenance 101.

{via knittybird}

pualani 2008 collection

key lime

in only a few short years, the fit of pualani hawaii bikinis has become legendary among waterwomen (and movie stars) who prefer to focus on the waves and not readjusting their swimsuit every few minutes. the secret is a four-way stretch fabric imported from europe that allows pualani swimwear to move with you yet still retain its shape.

the 08 collection is now out in a tempting mix of solids and patterns as well as the introduction of a chic reversible design that is sure to win new fans for its appealing versatility.  

reversible black & creme * convertible top * tattoo

safari cat

the mix and match pieces are available in a variety of cuts allowing you to minimize or maximize coverage as you please. since pualani was last featured, a keiki collection has been added and last year designer iwalani isbell opened the doors to pualani's flagship boutique on the gold coast of waikiki.

shop online, click over to the stockist list, or stop by pualani's waikiki outpost:

• where: 2863 kalakaua avenue, suite 2 (at the new otani kaimana beach hotel)
• shop hours: mon to sun, 10a to 7p

sig zane summer 2008

2008 has been declared the international year of the reef and one way you can do your part to help save hawaii's coral reefs is to scoop up sig zane's limited edition kai palaoa design. the ancient hawaiian art form of 'ohe kapala (traditional bamboo stamps used to create tapa) inspired the bold pattern which celebrates both the creation of the reefs and the way of life the reefs sustain for all the creatures who call the ocean home (or consider the waves their home away from home).

a portion of sales from the collection will be donated to support the educational programs of the national oceanic & atmospheric association's national marine sanctuaries hawaii division.

be sure to take some time to click around the online shop which is stocked with lots of new goodies from pretty pillows to stylish leather goods and adorable keiki wear (how cute is that l'il dress!).

or stop by sz's hilo or wailuku outposts:

• big island: 122 kamehameha avenue, hilo
• shop hours: mon - fri, 9:30a to 5p & sat, 9a to 4p

• maui: 53 north market street, wailuku
• shop hours: mon - fri, 10a to 5p & sat, 10a to 3p

mu'umu'u heaven update

aloha onesie + l/s tee

the other day i happened across sweet little onesies perked up with recycled fabric appliqués made by mu'umu'u heaven and realized that it had been far too long since the last update. alas, the wee togs are sold out at the kailua boutique but if you simply must have one for your keiki click over to online stockist equita.

for grownups, mu'umu'u heaven continues to translate the little black dress in bamboo jersey with their signature island style which will certainly delight those with a more minimal aesthetic.

honey * bamboo sunrise * luana

heavenly home

pretty flower pens

and, you may recall that earlier this year designer deb mascia launched her heavenly home collection as a way for customers, who swooned over the shop's beach chic meets reclaimed design upon its opening, to decorate their own space with the one of a kind look found inside the boutique.

eric of mu'umu'u heaven (deb's husband, business partner & right hand man) kindly sent along a peek of a few pieces from the collection which closes the green loop by transforming thrift shop bound furniture with a few fixes along with a fresh coat of paint and updated upholstery.

accent pillows made from vintage aloha shirt fabric are also available to brighten up your space and can be found at the shop and pacific home.

finally, one of my favorite things about mh is that every thursday they welcome w.i.n.g.s., a group that works with windward teens and young adults who have autism, into the shop for an afternoon of project making. members have created these cheerful flower pens made with scraps of fabric saved from mu'umu'u heaven's sewing room and are available at the shop for $6 (proceeds help support w.i.n.g.s. activities and additional craft supplies).

• where: 767 kailua road
• shop hours: mon - sat, 10a to 6p & sun, 11a to 4p