hapa | hale

nina kuna designs fall 2009

count me in the company of those who typically find pearls either a bit too preppy (hello betty draper!) or way too costumey (i.e. layers of faded victorian glamour), but it may be time to reconsider after eyeing the smoky pearl combinations featured in nina kuna designs' fall 09 offerings. the maui designer looked to the south seas for her latest collection and nina's lustrous new concoctions seem made for modern island lovelies rocking that always coveted unfussy-yet-elegant beach girl look.

dig deeper into the treasure chest and you'll discover more gorgeous seaworthy adornment from a hand cast sterling silver starfish necklace to a leather wrapped cowrie shell bracelet-slash-choker. and, if you have swooned in the past for nkd's edgy hand hammered strands, you will be delighted to make the acquaintance of another statement making style of carefully composed graduated organic circles that seem to linger oh-so-prettily without a care.

more peeks below . . .

on a happy note, nina opted to sidestep the middle man since her jewelry was last featured which means tinier price tags (the looks above range from $45 to $245) just in time for the holidays.

and, order up your favorites in the next three weeks to score an extra 10% off in the online shop as an early bird bonus!

• secret code: holiday09
• expires: tue, dec 1st
• fyi: complimentary shipping on all orders!

p.s. oahu readers can also call dibs on the nkd fall 09 collection when it arrives in-store at shasa emporium next month.

toast holiday giveaway

since this fab-u-lous toast giveaway was under wraps when last friday's sales sheet was posted, i am delighted to finally reveal the 2009 edition of the cheers mini pop gift set!

i am loving the punchy labels which add just the right touch of holiday happiness to toast's snack-sized bottles which are filled with crunchy island delights like peanut crackers, hot arare with peanuts, milk chocolate covered almonds, mini nori maki arare, and dry roasted macadamia nuts. yum!

while the gift set is currently available as a pre-order only, one lucky oahu reader has the chance to score the festive gift set (retail: $25) right this moment!

here's the scoop on how to enter:

• email your name & current hometown to:
  aloha [at] hapahale [dot] com by thu, nov 12th
• please put toast cheers giveaway in the subject
• one entry per person/household
• fyi: oahu peeps only, please

winner will be announced on friday.

good luck!

[update: please note winner must be able to pickup gift set at toast's studio in kaimuki - 11/10/09]

weekly sales sheet

. . . diva days : machine machine : sasaki cosmetic bag . . .

scoop up a diva days shopping pass to enjoy a weekend of deals at oahu's top indie boutiques and online shops. pass holders will score 20% off at alliway, the butik, cloth hawaii, cupcake boutique, fashionista's market & many more!

p.s. ticket proceeds will be donated to the japanese chamber of commerce's annual cherry blossom festival.

• tix: $10 (now on sale at the wedding café, ward warehouse)
• shop dates: fri, nov 13th to sun, nov 15th
• fyi: one ticket per diva, please

first friday style arrives compliments of rock shop which is hosting a one night sale featuring looks from cloth and mck metal plus sample deals from indah!

• when: today, nov 6th - 3p to 8p
• where: coral, 1133a smith street, chinatown

and, toast is offering a pre-order special of it's delightful cheers mini pop gift set and knocking 20% off the price tag through the end of the month!

p.s. pickup at toast's kaimuki studio begins nov 30th.

• pre-sale deadline: sun, nov 29th
• fyi: off-island delivery is also offered. email toast for shipping rates.

on the big island, a sasaki bags trunk show is part of the festivities during this weekend's 11th annual holualoa village coffee & art stroll.

• when: sat, nov 7th - 9a to 3p
• where: pacific islands gallery, 76-6004 mamalahoa hwy, holualoa

on kaua'i, the talented designers behind kealopiko and machine machine are jetting over to share a little handmade hawaiian style with garden island peeps!

• when: sat, nov 7th - 12p to 8p
• where: oskar's boutique, 4270b lighthouse road, kilauea

online, beauty and the beach continues to clear out the 2009 collection (up to 40% off) and is now offering complimentary shipping on orders over $100 shipped to the u.s. and australia!

p.s. knock an additional $10 off orders over $60 when you enter the code below at checkout.

• secret code: love2shop
• expires: fri, nov 27th

and, rockabella jewels woos readers with a fabulous early bird deal - 35% off all designs featured in the online shop. plus, a secret surprise will be tucked into all orders!

• secret code: mahalo
• expires: mon, nov 30th

have a happy weekend!

double identity

. . . vintage starfish . . .

since i am signed up for apartment therapy's fall cure in hopes that a little hand holding will help me tidy up and refresh my home away from home, it seems only appropriate to share the gorgeous new(ish) pillow collection from honolulu designer kaypee soh today.

while swatches were previewed before the collection debuted at the made in hawaii festival, i completely spaced and forgot to feature the completed pillows which continue to reference the islands with tropical charm.

kaypee's use of cheerful turquoise never fails to make me swoon but fans of more traditional hawaiian motifs will want to check out the lovely muted kapa pattern which combines old school design with an elegant modernity. and, makeover artists will welcome the simple genius of the reversible patterns designed so that a quick flip updates your space without any additional fuss.

more peeks below . . .

. . . kapa . . .

. . . elephant ear . . .

. . . starfish . . .

the 100% linen pillows ($120) are constructed on oahu so your best bet is to hele over to so'mace to gather up your favorites.

• where: 1115 young street
• shop hours: mon to fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 10a to 3p

offline orders are also welcome so click for details on how to get your wish list dispatched to your door.

p.s. isla just posted a peek sharing all the fun during last sunday's shop day hosted by so'mace.

new peeks: jools fall 2009

. . . scroll cuff : snowflake earrings : suede rose drops . . .

hope everyone has survived the great sugar coma of 2009! a sneak peek of the jools fall 2009 collection was posted in friday's sales sheet, but i wanted to feature more of the new looks since they are such an eye catching departure from la-based designer (and hilo girl) sybil shimazu's usual offerings.

this time around, laser-cut suede accessories have joined the delicate filigree metalwork that have become a jools signature. i dashed off a note to sybil to learn more about the process and discovered that computerized sketches (which involved a crash course in illustrator to create the detailed designs) were the blueprint for the laser machine which precisely cut each design into the suede fabric in mere seconds (or minutes, depending on the intricacy of the design).

the results add an unexpected edge and are especially crush-worthy when the laser-cut technique has been combined with the bohemian dreaminess of far away lands. mix in a little color (all of the laser-cut pieces are available in a rainbow of pretty jewel tones) along with a few playful, die-cut shapes and the fall forecast looks to be filled with vibrant flourishes designed to chase away the chill in style.

more peeks below . . .

. . . 24k filigree wreath earrings : suede leaf earrings . . .
. . . double lotus necklace : 24k filigree cuff . . .

since the process was so demanding, the laser-cut pieces will only make an occasional appearance going forward so if you love something definitely scoop it up asap.

happily, fall 09 is gently priced from $28 to $52 and becomes even more budget-friendly if you shop the current 20% off sale happening in the jools online shop by tomorrow!

• secret code: scary20
• expires: tue, nov 3rd
• fyi: complimentary ground shipping on orders over $49

weekly sales sheet

. . . riri : laser scroll earrings : chicken pom pom . . .

[just a note to let you know that i will be back to a full posting schedule next week. the mister has been on hiatus so we have been enjoying a mini staycation over the past few days which means, alas, h|h was a bit more neglected than planned.]

fighting eel is tempting fans to hele over to its chinatown studio with halloween surprises like dress giveaways and weekend-only discounts!

• when: fri, oct 30th & sat, oct 31st - 10a to 5p
• where: 47 north hotel street, chinatown

p.s. off-island readers can save 15% off their entire order in fe's online shop with the secret code below.

• secret code: trickortreat
• expires: sat, oct 31st - midnight hst
• fyi: all sales final

decorating your space became a bit more budget-friendly during fishcake's 20-30-50 sale. buy more, save more with 20% off the first item, 30% off the second item, and 50% off the third item and beyond!

p.s. be sure to take a peek at new arrivals including the happy housewares from alice supply co., a fishcake exclusive.

• when: now to sat, nov 7th
• where: 307c kamani street, kaka'ako
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p

the so'mace 'ohana welcomes jessica's traveling boutique and alfie jewels with the delightful kon tiki shave ice truck pulling up to the studio to offer cool refreshments. added bonus: save up to 40% off storewide including sustainable design finds and in-house designer kaypee soh's line of modern tropical home accessories!

• when: sun, nov 1st - 11a to 5p
• where: 1115 young street

online, berrysprite celebrates the three year anniversary of her etsy shop with a week long sale filled with holly's handcrafted amigurumi goods!

• when: sun, nov 1st to sun, nov 8th
• fyi: free chicken pom pom with all orders!

and, accessorize in style and save 20% off your entire purchase at the jools online shop. orders over $49 also score complimentary ground shipping.

• secret code: scary20
• expires: tue, nov 3rd

have a happy halloween weekend!

new peeks: misa vega collection

. . . asteroid pendants . . .

i happened to spy pieces from l.a.-based jewelry designer misa hamamoto's new vega collection when we met up at edwin ushiro's opening reception last month and they are, quite simply, spectacular in person. for fall/winter 2009, the starry skies provided unlimited inspiration for misa who retreated to her studio to turn constellations and other far away celestial elements into modern treasures that seem to have been scavenged from galaxies far far away.

the petite asteroids featured throughout the collection are a quick study into the intricate molds misa meticulously casts by hand to create gorgeous, abstract orbs that you can imagine wandering straight from the night sky to adorn us here on earth. and, while sterling silver and matte gold vermeil quietly shimmer like the heavens, the two metals occasionally find themselves grounded with geological stones imbued with healing properties for vega's assortment of edgy rings.

more peeks below . . .

. . . marquis ring & plain stacking bands . . .

. . . rays bangle . . .

. . . asteroid ring . . .

the vega collection is priced from $30 to $245 and can be ordered via email until misa's online shop makes its debut.

you can also find neighborhood boutiques located from los angeles to guam on the stockist list.

p.s. the best bet for oahu readers swooning for vega is riches kahala which recently received its first shipment of styles.

weekly sales sheet

. . . ki-ele : maya papaya : chase 'n sky . . .

this weekend brings two more chances to meet petite denim designer allison izu and try on looks from the fall 09 collection!

• when: sat, oct 24th - 10a to 2p
• where: adore, kahala mall

• when: sat, oct 24th - 3p to 6p
• where: the butik, 1067 kapiolani blvd, suite a-3

p.s. online shoppers can save 10% off their entire order (including already discounted styles from past seasons) with secret code F09ML (expires mon, nov 16th).

lily lotus presents a jewelry trunk show featuring local designers jewelry by justine and maya papaya. save up to 30% off on trunk show offerings while adorning yourself with traditional henna tattoos.

• when: sat, oct 24th - 11a to 4p
• where: 1127 12th avenue, kaimuki

next week, alliway's gotta have it thursday returns to host the one year birthday bash of ki-ele jewelry by marylea conrad. enjoy mini cupcakes, pupus and punch while you shop!

• when: thu, oct 29th - 4p to 8p
• where: alliway, ward warehouse

on maui, ali'i kula lavender welcomes readers to their fall harvest complete with crafting fun (featuring maui thing), costume contests, and lavender-infused delights.

• when: sat, oct 24th - 10a to 2p
• where: 1100 waipoli road, kula
• tix: bring three canned goods per person (or $5 per car) to help stock the pantry at the maui food bank

online, maui dive girl offers one last october deal - 25% off your entire order (including sales items) in her etsy shop!

• secret code: hh weekend deals (enter in notes to seller)
• expires: sun, oct 25th
• fyi: discount will be refunded via paypal

scoop up delightfully girly togs for your little one when the big island's chase 'n sky arrives for a weekend sale on hautelook!

• when: sat, oct 24th - 8a pst
• fyi: members only; sign-up for a free account to access sale

and, festival of giving tickets are now available for ward center's annual shopping extravaganza. you score an extra discount on your pre-holiday shopping plus the feel good glow knowing that 100% of your ticket purchase ($10) goes to the fundraising efforts of your favorite local organization.

discount amounts vary but participating shops & eateries include alliway, cottage by the sea, cupcake boutique, executive chef, honolulu chocolate company, honolulu cookie company, kaka'ako kitchen, native books/na mea hawaii, nohea gallery, red pineapple & the wedding café.

• when: fri, nov 6th to sun, nov 8th
• where: ward centers

happy weekend, everyone!

[update: please note that ki-ele jewelry was linked to the wrong website. alas, an official website is still in the works so many apologies for any confusion!]

and the winners are . . .

alison and leslie, both of honolulu, who can expect a complete set of mozaic paper letterpress note cards in their mailboxes soon!

this was one of the most popular giveaways to date so many, many mahalos to all of h|h's lovely readers who hoped to find a happy surprise in their inbox today. remember you can order up sets of mozaic paper's tropical blossoms & leaves designs on the official website while oahu peeps can shop mp's letterpress offerings at soha living in kahala mall.

congratulations alison & leslie!

[mahalo to the mozaic paper 'ohana!]

halloween treats roundup

with halloween just nine days away, it seems like the perfect time for a sweet roundup of delightful treats (no tricks!) handpicked for your enjoyment!

1 - ravenchase returns to the streets of honolulu and is recruiting agents for its zombie elimination task force to crush the undead invasion (tix: $35) expected next weekend.

2/3 - trick out goodie bags with niko art's spooky stamp set ($18) and simply embellish's personalized halloween labels ($6).

4 - dress up your tiny hula girl in a sweet tutu ($22) handmade by hilo's palm tree princess.

5 - maui jewelry artist kira ferrer mixes black onyx and sterling silver to create her along came a spider pendant ($52).

6 - keep track of your candy stash with whimsical arach notes ($3) made by our friends at toast.

7 - glam it up all autumn long with a juicy triple stand of carnelian gemstones ($275) by stacey lee designs.

p.s. you can also order up gourmet halloween candy cheesecakes at ottocake in chinatown or stop by sweet paradise chocolatier (kailua & waikoloa) for seasonal artisanal confections like creepy chocolate fingers, pumpkin spice truffles, and green fairie absinthe chocolates.

music lesson

one of my favorite discoveries since finding my way to twitter is h|h reader and kaneohe singer/songwriter sabrina velazquez who captures that quiet, lovely indie sound that always makes me swoon ("dark rider", a tune penned in three minutes, i speak of you). after studying at usc and punching in at an ad agency following graduation, sabrina decided to return home to oahu to focus on her first love before leaving for portland to immerse herself in music making 24/7.

a 6-song ep soon followed (have a listen over on lala), and, now back home in hawaii, sabrina is one of the first local musicians testing out the crowdfunding waters via kickstarter which matches up fans with a few dollars to spare with artists needing a financial hookup. the goal? to raise enough money to head back into the studio to record a full-length album.

in exchange for pledges of $5 and up, you get a little shout out for your support and, the deeper your pockets, potential perks like free downloads or the chance to commission a song. as of today, the project goal of $5000 is 23% funded with only 41 days to go to the nov 30th deadline to acquire full funding (pledges are held by amazon until the goal is met so your donation is only charged when enough people back the project).

intrigued? click over to kickstarter to get the scoop on how to be a mini music mogul on sabrina's lp project.

p.s. hard copies of sabrina's the anomaly ep is currently sold out so click over to itunes or amazon to download to your playlist.