organic keiki

organic flower onesie + paisley shorts

after living in sf where she first became acquainted with the growing green movement, regan ranoa decided it was time to move back home and find a way to make the eco lifestyle more accessible in the islands. along the way, she worked on an organic farm on the big island where lessons such as how the pesticides used in conventional farming can affect the 'aina for generations to come resonated with her newfound mission.

she left the big island with a renewed purpose that she was on the right path, and as fate would have it, learned of a maui mother who was selling her company catering to the islands' smallest kama'aina. along with her mom, regan took over organic keiki, moved it to kailua, and nurtured its possibilities of bringing non-toxic & sustainable playthings and garments made of organic fibers to island parents who shared their concerns about leaving a healthy planet to hawaii's children.

baby caterpillar * foundling * yamuna organics blanket

organic keiki is also one of only a handful of spots in the islands where parents can stock up on gdiapers, a flushable & compostable alternative in the disposable versus cloth diapers debate.

the mother and daughter team also have a passion for buying local and stock island made goods like sweet island baby mei tei carriers, handmade blankets from yamuna organics, and debra mack jewelry for moms. and, noting the lack of organic togs made for island keiki, plans are in the works to launch an in-house clothing collection for little ones later this year.

one thing to keep in mind is that all orders are shipped via usps and currently pick up is not available for oahu residents, however this weekend brings the first of two chances to go organic in person during the green living expo at the blaisdell (free admission). and, if you have your tix to next month's kokua festival, be sure to stop by organic keiki's booth in the kokua village and say hello!

under the waterfalls n rainbows

fresh pick

today's etsy find is waterfalls *n* rainbows, the nine month old keiki clothing line by honolulu designer wendy yoshioka. by day wendy teaches ukulele at her 'ohana's renowned music studio and in her spare time her fashion degree goes into overtime via her bubbly collection which embraces the sweet side of every little girl.

wendy originally started out on ebay and just last week opened up an etsy shop stocked with her cheerful confections. all of the garments are handmade and feature precocious details like cascades of ruffles and virtually indestructible serged and french seams. add wendy's flair for mixing patterns (she is also a fan of kokka fabrics from japan) and all the elements come together to create frocks with a childlike charm worthy of a storybook adventure.

anna wrap dress

sasha

all of wendy's designs are made to order and are available in a range of sizes (12m to 7y) so prepare yourself for the fun that is wrapping a measuring tape around your little one for a perfect fit. and, if you have an idea for something even more one of a kind for your keiki, you will be pleased to learn that custom designs are also welcome.

to celebrate the opening of her etsy shop, wendy has offered readers a 15% discount on all etsy purchases made during the month of march so remember to mention h|h

when you place your order.

• secret code: hapahale
• expires: mon, mar 31st

wendy also has a blog so click over to take a peek into her world.

{mahalo kym!}

super tuesday spectacular

while the hawaii democratic caucus is still a few weeks away, here are a few online finds if punahou grad barack obama is your presidential pick.

1 - love and politics are usually a no-no unless your sweetie would swoon for a i want to barack your world valentine.

2 - obama mamas seem to be the new soccer mom this election season. show your support with style via this charming sterling silver pendant.

3 - lekker politics adds a much needed modern touch on a range of obama goods for tots and the grownups who love them.

4 - playtime gets political with a crafty obama finger puppet.

and, with the age of instant screenprinting, there is certainly no lack of tees emblazoned with obama's mug to be found. if you have something even more clever than combining barack with rock and obama with mama, or just want to declare the candidate's hawaii connection, neighborhoodies lets you create your very own custom obama tee

p.s. every vote really does count so click here to register (not in hawaii? find your state's voter info right here).

it's a maui thing

w's nalo tie + 'ihi baby doll

style with a message has been an evolving trend in recent years and now a collective of graphic artists on the valley isle have come together to establish maui thing. their mission? to create clothing with a conscious via good design and a sweet dose of localism.

the collection celebrates all that's good about life on maui putting a positive spin on protecting both the 'aina and the spirit of kama'aina. the eco conscious designs are screen printed on a mix of jersey styles (organic when possible) with an ever evolving selection for men and women.

m's buddha + be yourself

little ones will adore the graphic punch of the keiki line (sizes available from infant to big kids) which features bold images of island wildlife. even better are the messages that accompany each design to educate both keiki and grownups on how hawaii is the endangered species capital on the planet (did you know there are only 500 nene left in hawaii?).

the entire maui thing collection is available exclusively in their online shop (bonus: free shipping for maui residents!).

p.s. take a peek at the maui thing launch party on youtube.

petite sweets

fair warning to those who have resolved to eat healthy in the new year: consider yourself advised to skip this post which has the potential to sabotage your plans ever so sweetly. cari from miemiko had tipped me off on the latest cupcakerie to hit the islands last summer, and i am happy to report that i finally had a chance to sample the offerings at cake couture cupcakes during my latest visit home.

pastry chef carmen emerson-bass, known for her elaborate wedding cake designs, is the confectionery mixologist behind the charming aina haina spot where delightful cupcakes are whipped up six days a week in flavors ranging from the traditional (chocolate & vanilla) to the unexpected (chai spice & orange creamsicle).

red velvet * egg nog * peanut butter

the case was almost bare when i stopped by in the late afternoon so plan on arriving earlier in the day if you have your heart set on a particular flavor fix. cupcakes start at $2.50 a pop and an even more gourmet selection (think decadent chocolate ganache, lemon curd filling, etc) will attempt to woo you from the adjoining case.

take a peek at the rotating menu before you go and remember custom cupcake orders are also welcome.