made in hawaii 2007 - first peeps

tsang & mirai

while a number of h|h favorites toil away in the final hours leading up to the made in hawaii festival kick off tomorrow, the rest of us can kick back in front of the screen and enjoy a behind-the-scenes sneak peek of what everyone is bringing to the show.

tsang & mirai are making an encore appearance and have been busy in their honolulu workshop crafting new pieces for the show. fresh designs like their hand stamped lotus necklace and carved jade blossom ring are sure to tempt you as will t&m's signature origami pendants.

midori jewelry

midori jewelry is making its debut at mih this weekend and to celebrate designer traci morinaga is offering h|h readers a sweet deal. buy $75 of pretty baubles and receive a complimentary pair of earrings from her twinkle collection. just whisper that you spotted midori on h|h when you stop by the mih booth.

off the rock? click away and pick out your favorite sparkles since traci is generously extending the offer to online shoppers too! place your order by aug 31st and type in the secret code hapa in the order form. don't forget to indicate which twinkle style makes your heart go a-flutter.

bubble shack tropical trios

meanwhile bubble shack will be unveiling tropical trios which promise to transform your bath into a mini getaway. your skin will be pampered with organic jojoba & aloe vera body wash, organic shea butter (fair trade) & macadamia nut lotion, and, the handcrafted soap which put the shack on the map.

bubble shack is all about good for you ingredients which means their product line is 100% vegan, sulfate & paraban free, and never tested on animals.

kauai handbag designer denise tjarks (whose vintage line has been flying off the rack at muumuu heaven) will be island hopping to show off her latest collection. fall is all about hollywood glamour and festival goers will also get to preview denise's holiday and resort 08 lines.

and, as if you needed another reason to stop by the booth, denise will knock 10% off your purchase at checkout in exchange for the secret code (holly golightly). for those far away from the fun, free shipping on online orders placed by aug 22nd should brighten your day.

let's see, big island bees, purveyors of sweet organic honey will also be there (supplementing their fruity nectar with hand dipped beeswax candles) as will aunty nalani's cookies with their spankin' new coconut macadamia nut morsels. downtown general store will also be making an appearance as will roberta oaks, lily lotus, kealopiko and many, many more.

have fun everyone!

made in hawaii 2007

stacey lee designs + lani mala'ela'e

with the made in hawaii festival just around the corner, it's time to take our annual virtual tour through the uncrowded aisles and uncover a few under the radar local companies setting up shop at the blaisdell this weekend.

first up, prettiness shines bright with jewelry created by stacey lee designs. stacey recently returned to the islands after nixing life in silicon valley to kick off her own start up adventure. alas, no online shopping to be found however you can score your own sld creation at martin & macarthur and the ihilani resort. click here for the full line of stockists.

the lani mala'ela'e product line embraces a more youthful vibe with its fresh take on island design. take a peek at their pa'u skirt set which features pretty prints to sway in complete with a matching bag to tote your gear to hula class in style. tropical handbags and a small spa line round out owner maki nishiguchi's ode to hawaii.

be back tomorrow with a roundup of what's new for the keiki set.

sea of dreams

mandala

whether it's a simple hello or a juicy tip sent my way, it is always nice to find a friendly note from a reader in my email box. and so it was in this roundabout way that i discovered cherry creek designs which happens to be the etsy shop of jewelry designer heather gill.

now based in arizona, heather spent a chunk of her childhood in hawaii and it's easy to spot the influence her time in the islands have had on her designs. primarily self-taught, she decided to put her culinary career on hold to be a sahm, and it is inspiring to see the progression of heather's work from
simple beading to her current fascination with metalsmithing.

simply red + she sells seashells

there is a modern simplicity in her pieces with a focus on shapes and colors which add an understated, yet still eye catching, finishing touch to an outfit. and if you are in the midst of wedding planning, do take a peek at the bridal section to accessorize your party in style (without blowing your budget).

a visit to hazelnut cottage

oh meet me at the sea

in a world of fast fashion, one way to make your mark is via the charming hand stamped designs from hazelnut cottage design. the romantic in me thinks this would be a lovely way to send/keep a secret message to/from your beloved near to your heart.

honolulu designer jan avellana's soul sings through her profile which describes her long journey from the corporate world to embracing her lifelong dream of artmaking. each .925 sterling silver piece is crafted by hand and then oxidized to create the effect of a vintage find discovered in a paris flea market.

sister

complimentary gift wrapping is available and, as with most etsy shop purveyors, custom orders are always welcome.

summertime goodness

sam, melody & becky of wings hawaii have been busy bees lately what with their new boutique opening in haiku, an expanded keiki line, and a new tee just for the fellas. the shop is located in the pauwela cannery and stocked with all the delightful goodness that has made wings a staple of island girls everywhere.

vintage heart charms + ti leaf bangles

and don't forget to take a peek of designer samantha howard's ocean worthy jewelry line filled with pieces like these vintage charm necklaces and organic ti leaf bangles.

{update | jan 2010: find your way to paia which is the new home of the wings hawaii flagship boutique}