The recent quarantine has many of us going down the rabbit hole of social media content, recipes, and work out videos. We though we would share some interesting content where you can take in some culture. Google has recently released Arts and Culture where you can view a myriad of art and take in more than Ina Garten's bread recipe.
Home to the Bishop Museum and a few gorgeous hikes, along with a blustering collection of traffic-heavy commercial centers, the mixed-use Kalihi neighborhood is a study in contrasts. Kalihi-Palama lies at the southwest edge of O‛ahu, tucked between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu.
Once an ahupua‛a in the traditional Hawaiian land use system, today the neighborhood is split down its middle by the Likelike Highway and is made up of six microneighborhoods: Kalihi Kai, Kalihi Area, Kalihi Kua, Kalihi Valley, Kalihi Upper, and Kalihi Lower.
These schism are echoed in other contrasts: the neighborhood is at once old-school O‛ahu, resistant to the development that has changed the faces of neighborhoods like Kaka‛ako, and a thriving locus for innovative artists and businesses, who come for affordable rents and easy access to Downtown and stay for the community they find.
Plate Lunch Every Day
If you like to eat and you enjoy food adventures, a working familiarity with the side streets and storefronts of Kalihi will serve you well. Often missing from glossy-mag restaurant reviews are some of the most flavorful and compelling meals to be had on O‛ahu (many of which come in Styrofoam). Here, a shortlist of plate lunch favorites, plus a little something for dessert:
Ethel’s Grill
Everything about Ethel’s is a bit of a task: it’s cash-only, the seating is limited, it’s difficult to find, the parking is limited, the kitchen closes at 2pm, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays, and the ambiance is more lunch counter than destination meal. None of that matters. The food—local style plate lunch, but elevated—is the only thing that matters. The best way to eat here is to bring friends and share: do the mochiko chicken and ahi tataki, plus the daily special (recent specials: super tender ahi kama (jaw), salmon with watercress and miso pesto).
Helena’s Hawaiian Food
As the foodie and fine dining scenes expand all over Honolulu, some things stay constant. Helena’s has been serving staples of local food to grateful diners since 1946 (approximately a millennium in restaurant years) and proudly bears a James Beard award. What may well be the best pipikaula on O‛ahu can be found inside the storefront, along with kalua pig, laulau, exceptionally delicious squid luau, and plenty more. Again, bring a group if you can—everything is served family style in small bowls, and the strong game is to taste a bit of as many dishes as possible.
Alicia’s Market
Another beloved local institution, Alicia’s is nestled into a nondescript storefront on Mokauea Street. Family-run since the 1940s, the food here brings together the heart of home cooking and the expertise of a professional kitchen. They are best known for their huge array of poke varieties, but smoked meat is my pick—char siu ribs any day of the week, or, just on Fridays and Saturdays, lechon (suckling pig).
Liliha Bakery
The iconic bakery has called Kalihi home since 1950, and whether you are a “sweets person” or not, you haven’t really given yourself the Kalihi food tour until you’ve had a Liliha coco puff: choux pastry filled with chocolate pudding and topped with chantilly mac-nut frosting. Small enough to eat even if you aren’t exactly starving, these treats hit the pastry trifecta of sweet, creamy, and doughy. The other move (less classic and more filling but never disappointing) is the poi donut, brilliant purple underneath its deep-fried outside, redolent of sugar and taro.
What’s Ahead?
With median listing prices well below the island-wide average and occasional gems coming on the market—particularly back in Kalihi Valley, which feels tucked away from the bustle of the Dillingham-adjacent areas—Kalihi is proving attractive to new residents. The strong sense of local community is palpable. If you become a repeat visitor at any of the beloved plate lunch spots, you’ll see many of the same faces, day in, day out, some on their way to work at the State Capitol, others on their way to work at the docks, eating side by side.
Header image of the Kalihi Valley, courtesy of maaachuuun.
In Hawai‘i, the leaves don’t turn orange and the temperature barely drops to herald the start of Fall, but here on O‛ahu, we mark the arrival of shoulder season with some of the best social and cultural events of the year, which serve as prelude to the season many residents and visitors wait all year for: Big Wave Season! By November, the North Shore is abuzz with all things surf as pros from around the world descend on the island for legendary winter swells and competitions. Here, a few of my top picks for this year’s fall festivities:
Doris Duke Theatre at the HoMA
Sunday October 27 and Thursday October 31
$12 general admission, $10 for HoMA members
Just in time for Halloween season, the Honolulu Museum of Art presents “Scream Like It’s 1999,” a celebration of the high art of horror cinema. The screenings mark twenty years since the release dates of Takashi Miike’s Audition, M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense, and Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez’s The Blair Witch Project, and promise hefty doses of both nostalgia and creep factor.
Due to the mercurial nature of ocean swells, surf competitions are planned inside of time windows rather than on specific dates, with events being “called” last minute. This is certainly stressful for the athletes, but exciting for the spectators: Will the Eddie go this year? Who knows, but it’s exciting to wait and wonder. Event window dates for the major competitions in the North Shore big wave season are as follows—and be ready fight traffic north on the Kam when the epic swells roll in.
Blue Note Hawaii
Sunday November 3, 7:30PM
Premium tickets $42
As Honolulu’s favorite songstress’s career picks up international steam, it is becoming rarer and rarer to catch her intense flamenco ukulele and vocal performances in settings as intimate as the cozy Blue Note stage. Just this year, she’s sold out five North American shows and walked the runway for AllSaints, so it’s fair to say, she’s having a well-deserved moment. This show will sell out quickly, so be sure to reserve your seats ahead of time.
Kapi‘olani Park
Sunday December 9
Race entry $225; spectating free
Whether you’re an ambitious runner looking to smash a PR on one of the most scenic marathon courses in the world, a hobbyist with an epic walking costume, or a mimosas-in-the-park picnicker who prefers sleeping in and watching others exercise, there is something here for you. As one of the largest international marathons, with over 20,000 runners and a field of elites which typically includes Olympians and world record holders, this race is considered top-tier in the sport of distance running. It also holds the distinction of being the only major marathon with no cutoff time, a rule which has blossomed into a robust tradition of costumed running and walking. Keep your eyes peeled hours after the elites break the finish line tape and you will spot tubas, full Darth Vader suits, geta sandals, and much more.
Header image by Tom Pennington, courtesy of Honolulu Marathon
Architectural Digest asked the pros of the interior design industry to take their best shot at predicting 2019 design trends. Read their blog to find out the patterns, colors, and textures you might just be seeing a lot of this year.
Design Pros Predict the Big Decor Trends of 2019
Featured image courtesy of architecturaldigest.com
Honolulu Rail Line extending from Kapolei into Waipahu. Photo courtesy of HART.
For more than four decades, local residents and politicians have hotly debated whether Hawai‛i’s most populated island needs a rail transit line. Honolulu’s traffic congestion consistently lands it a spot among the Top 10 U.S. Cities for highway gridlock. Most Honolulu residents have long considered it the price for living in paradise. But what to do about it?
The City and County of Honolulu is constructing a 20-mile raised rail transit line to connect East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center near Waikiki. The route will begin near the University of Hawai‛i - West O‛ahu campus, and will have twenty-one stations along the way to downtown Honolulu, with stops in communities such as Waipahu, Pearl City, Waimalu, Aiea, Halawa, and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
This will be the first large-scale publicly-run metro system in the U.S. to feature both platform screen doors and driverless operation. But its construction hasn’t been without controversy.
In November 2008, the rail issue was on the ballot and only a slim majority (53%) of voters approved it. At the time, it was projected to be a 34-mile raised rail line, with a price tag of $4 billion, that would ease traffic congestion for commuters into the downtown area. Government officials were later criticized for releasing the Environmental Impact Statement a mere 2 days before the vote, meaning that early voters never saw it and the majority of people went to the polls unaware that the statement had been completed. The findings of the EIS were that the rail project impacts would include land acquisition from private owners on the route, displacement of residents and businesses, aesthetic concerns related to the elevated guideway, and noise from passing trains.
Ten years later, the estimated cost is now $8.1 billion and climbing, while the planned length is down to 20 miles. Needless to say, the Honolulu Rail Project has lost some popular support over the past decade. But with almost half of the line constructed, it’s too late to turn back now. And by all projections, the line isn’t due for completion until the end of 2025.
Local taxes are financing the project, as well as a $1.55 billion grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). After major cost overruns, the temporary .5% increase in the general excise tax that was supposed to expire in 2022 has now been extended to 2030. And a new law this year placed a surcharge of 1% for the next 13 years on the statewide hotel room tax that is paid by tourists. There is no guarantee that there won’t be additional taxes levied in the future to get this project over the finish line.
The first phase of the project linking East Kapolei and Aloha Stadium is scheduled to open in late 2020. Construction of the final 4.3-mile section through downtown Honolulu, which is expected to be the most difficult to build, has not yet started.
Like most major infrastructure work in Hawaii, construction of the rail line is likely to uncover historic human remains in its downtown Honolulu section. The Oahu Island Burial Council (part of the State Historic Preservation Division) is the watchdog to protect the treatment of ancient native Hawaiian burials.
Nan Inc, the contractor set to relocate the utility lines along the 4.3 mile downtown stretch, estimates that it will take until 2022 to complete their work, which they describe as “some of the most disruptive work that’s going to happen on the project”. This utility line relocation will run the following path: through the final eight rail stations along the Dillingham Boulevard corridor, past the Kalihi, Kapalama, and Iwilei stations, onto Nimitz Highway to the Chinatown and Downtown stations, over to Halekauwila Street through the Civic Center and Ward Center stations, and finally along Kona Street to the station fronting Ala Moana. Residents in high-rise towers and businesses on the route have been notified of added noise and traffic while the work proceeds.
While cost overrides of the rail line construction have been in the news consistently, little has been discussed of what it would take to operate the line once completed. The Honolulu rail authority recently announced plans to use a “public-private partnership” approach to develop the last segment of the line as well as the planned Pearl Highlands Transit Center, together estimated at $1.4 billion to build. The plan is to solicit proposals from developers who will finance and build the new facilities as well as operate and maintain the entire rail system for 30 years. For more information on the Honolulu Authority for Rail Transit (HART) project, their website is at http://www.honolulutransit.org/
There’s no neighborhood more reminiscent of Honolulu in the 1950’s and 60’s than Kaimukī. It’s been a residential neighborhood since the early twentieth century, and today boasts plenty of single-family homes with a sprinkling of multi-family dwellings. Close to shopping and downtown Honolulu, the business center of Kaimukī retains its retro charm with old-style diners and boutique shops.
Kaimukī is situated on the mountainside of Diamond Head Crater between Kapahulu to the west and Kahala to the east. Pu‛u o Kaimukī Park, Kaimukī's highest elevation point, sits on the rim of an extinct volcanic crater and offers great views of everything down-slope.
Most of the homes in Kaimukī were constructed before the 1940’s, with a number of those homes still owned by the same families, passed down through the generations. Little by little, older homes are being renovated or replaced with new construction as homebuyers discover the value of Kaimukī’s convenient location. Most Kaimukī homes have modest-sized lots between 3,000-6,000 square feet.
Even amid the growing sprawl of O‛ahu, Kaimukī has managed to maintain its quaint charm and small-town vibe. Kapiolani Community College is in Kaimukī, and every Saturday it hosts the largest farmers market in the state. Converging on this iconic outdoor marketplace, residents and tourists alike plan their weekends and travel itineraries around it to find the best in fresh local produce and unique homemade crafts.
History of Kaimukī
Many ancient Hawaiian legends tell of a race of tiny people who did good deeds and built great structures during special nights. They were similar to stories of the Irish leprechauns, and they were called “menehune”.
Kaimukī got its name from stories that the menehune had ovens in this part of O‛ahu where they baked the roots of the ti plant into a sweet food that was eaten like candy. Thus, the name Kaimukī , which in the Hawaiian language, means “the ti root oven”.
Maybe Kaimukī really got its name from it's naturally dusty and dry landscape, having only one known spring in the area. Still, in the 19th century, King Kalākaua took the land over as his personal farmland and was known to let his ostriches roam wild in the mountains.
It wasn't until the Chinatown Fire of 1900 left many Chinese people homeless that Kaimukī began its transformation into a residential area in earnest. Those who didn’t rebuild in Chinatown moved their households and businesses to Kaimukī, where just a few years before, a water system had been constructed.
Being so close to Honolulu, an early vision for Kaimukī took shape: a suburb where residents could commute from each day for work. So, in the first decade of the 20th century, electric streetcar routes extended out to the Kaimukī area. That was all it took for waves of young families to move there.
Eventually, Kaimukī became a live-work destination in its own right, as Waialae Avenue became a busy thoroughfare and magnet for businesses. However, issues arose: Ala Moana Shopping Center in Waikiki and the Waialae Shopping Center became competition to the mom and pop stores in Kaimukī. Additionally, the new H-1 Freeway hurt those small businesses even more by diverting commuters.
But the community fought to get exit ramps added, and the H-1 Freeway may have ultimately been what saved Kaimukī’s main business thoroughfare. Since traffic is diverted by the freeway, Kaimukī’s businesses can serve local residents without the added pressure of investors looking to demolish and rebuild larger shopping centers.
The Best Things About Kaimukī
Kaimukī is a little hamlet tucked behind Diamond Head Crater. Waialae Avenue is its business center and is lined with an eclectic mix of small shops, boutiques and some of the best eating spots on the island. Although it is known as a non-touristy part of Honolulu, if more tourists knew about it they’d enjoy the quirky vibe that is Kaimukī today.
And if more families knew about its school system, they might consider relocating. A neighborhood which houses many schools within its boundaries, Kaimukī boasts Waialae School, a public charter elementary school, along with Kaimukī Middle School and Kaimukī High School. Private schools also abound, with Saint Louis School for boys, Sacred Hearts Academy for girls, St. Patrick’s co-ed school for K-8, and Kaimukī Christian School. There’s also Kapiolani Community College on Kaimukī's perimeter, with the University of Hawai‛i Manoa Campus just two short miles away.
Besides a mix of shopping venues where you can find everything from vintage aloha shirts to Japanese fabrics, the eating places in Kaimukī are highly worth mentioning. You can satisfy your hunger with everything from Chinese dim sum at Happy Days restaurant to Portuguese donuts, called malasadas, at iconic Leonard’s Bakery. You could spend a whole weekend dining on the octopus salad sandwich at Kaimukī Superette, the breakfast bruschetta at Koko Head Café, or Lilikoi (Passion Fruit) gelato at Via Gelato. Indulge in boiled peanuts at Tamura’s, the teriyaki bento box at Okata Bento, or the freshest catch of the day at Fresh Catch. And try anything at all where former First Lady Michele Obama came to eat: the trendy farm-to-table restaurant, Town.
And the fun of Kaimukī is that there’s so much more to discover than the few places mentioned here.
What’s Ahead for Kaimukī?
Kaimukī is on the cusp between preservation and development. The vision is to find the balance for both.
On the preservation side, there’s a strong community in Kaimukī which continues to discuss the best options for residents. ENVISION KAIMUKĪ has already held a series of town hall-style meetings where they've discussed strategies for Kaimukī’s future. They aim to improve pedestrian safety, make Kaimukī more of an age-friendly community, develope bike-friendly streets, and beautify the mature tree canopy.
On the business end, KEEP IT KAIMUKĪ is a grassroots organization formed by small business owners who strive to collaborate to keep the business community strong.
With cooperation and aloha between residents and businesses, Kaimukī will continue to be a choice location to live, as well as work, for Hawai‛i residents. To see homes for sale in Kaimukī click here or call me at 808-843-0003.
Header image of Kaimuki as seen from Puu o Kaimuki Park, the highest point in the neighborhood, Travis Thurston, Wikipedia.
Mauna Kea, Big Island of Hawai'i. Photo by Vadim Kurland, Wikimedia.
Winter in Hawai‛i is almost like Summer in Hawai‛i. That’s what happens when you live near the equator. Hawaiian weather isn’t divided up into “seasons” like it is in other places. The Hawaiian summer known as “kau” runs from May to October and has a daytime average temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter, known as “ho‛oilo”, is from November to April, where the daytime average temperature is a frigid 78 degrees. While the winter months do tend to be rainier, a light jacket and umbrella are all you’ll really need to be comfortable. This weather is what makes Hawai‛i a popular vacation destination all year.
Believe it or not, there is snow on Hawai‛i's tallest peaks during winter: Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawai‛i Island, and Haleakalā on Maui. If skiing in Hawai‛i is on your bucket list, your best bet is to check out the weather conditions on Mauna Kea. Skiing Mauna Kea is a rugged experience, and one you won’t forget.
The southern and western parts of the islands are a bit drier. As these areas get less rain, visitors might want to find winter accommodations in these places:
But remember, just because it’s raining in one part of the island doesn’t mean it’s raining everywhere. Often you can drive right out from under a rain cloud and into the sunshine.
Whale Watching
Not unlike our human visitors seeking warmer weather, humpback whales make their annual migration into warm Hawaiian waters. Swimming almost non-stop for up to 8 weeks, the whales leave Alaska’s icy ocean to mate, give birth, and nurture their calves offshore.
Whale season lasts from November to May, with peak sightings between January and March. Whales can be seen quite easily from most shorelines around the Hawaiian Islands. Take binoculars with you on a trip to the beach or a scenic lookout, and watch for the blows, pec slaps, and breaches of Hawai‘i’s noble humpbacks.
Boat tours and whale-watching cruises are popular on all the islands, and the knowledgeable crews will take you to the best spots for viewing whales in the open ocean.
If you'd like to help protect the whale population, the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count gives residents and visitors the chance to help in evaluating the status of humpback whales. Volunteers are assigned a lookout spot for an assigned time, so you can watch for whales while adding to the statewide count. The count is held on the last Saturdays of January, February and March on the islands of O‛ahu, Hawai‛i and Kaua‛i. Find out how you can volunteer!
Winter Festivities
Winters here may be green, but Hawaiians love to celebrate the holidays and heartily welcome in the New Year. Formal fireworks displays can be seen on all of the islands on New Year’s Eve, and if you drive through neighborhoods you’ll also see families in revelry, lighting fireworks in their yards.
But, December 31st isn't the only New Year Hawaiians ring in: Chinese New Year is equally revered throughout the islands. In 2019, the Chinese Year of the Pig will be celebrated from February 5-19. The largest celebration takes place in O‛ahu’s Chinatown, with events spanning the entire two week period. For more information, call the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at (808) 533-3181.
Here are just a few of the winter festivities that you can enjoy throughout the islands:
Honolulu City Lights – December 1-January 1
8AM-11PM daily
530 S. King Street, Honolulu
FREE
A must-see for the whole family, and a month-long party. You’ll love the 50-foot Christmas tree, themed displays that make for great photo ops, food booths, games, and rides for the young and young-at-heart.
Seven Days Till Christmas – December 19-25
6PM-7PM daily
Waikiki Beach Walk
FREE
Stroll over to the Waikiki Beach Walk at sunset, and watch a hula show and Hawaiian musical performances by different groups each night.
Maui Whale Festival – February 2-23
It takes a HUGE festival to honor these 40-ton mammals, so this Maui festival lasts far more than one day. Check out their website to find out more about events such as Run for the Whales, the Whale Regatta, World Whale Film Festival, the Great Whale Count, and more!
Waimea Town Celebration – February 16-24
Waimea Town, Kaua‛i
This 9-Day festival takes place in Waimea where the whole town welcomes visitors and celebrates their plantation heritage and Native Hawaiian culture. Free events include Music in the Park and Heritage of Aloha Ho‛olaule‛a. Other events may charge a nominal fee.
Main image courtesy of https://www.worldwhaleday.org/.
Airbnb has analyzed users on their platform to find the trendiest buzzwords that hosts are writing and guests are searching. Check out their findings in this Airbnb blog post:
https://press.airbnb.com/rustic-chic-to-staying-in-imalism-airbnb-plus-2019-design-trends/
Featured image courtesy of Airbnb.
Kapolei Golf Course. Photo courtesy of Kapolei Golf Club
Kapolei is the fastest growing area in the state of Hawai‛i. With urban Honolulu approaching full build-out, state and county governments have designated Kapolei as “O‛ahu’s Second City," and West O‛ahu’s hub for business, commerce, and government.
A master-planned community with almost 12,000 homes, condos and townhouses, the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting expects that number to be at least 50,000 by 2035.
Luckily, Kapolei is a thriving community, boasting wide streets and plenty of amenities for residents. The area features big-box stores, several shopping malls, restaurants, movie theaters, other recreational options, and county and state government offices. Anyone who lives and works in Kapolei will almost never need to drive into downtown Honolulu for anything.
Located just off the H-1 Freeway heading west on the way to Wai‛anae, Kapolei is 15 minutes from Pearl Harbor, 20 minutes from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, and 30 minutes from downtown Honolulu.
Whether you are looking to live in Kapolei, or you're buying an investment rental property, Kapolei is a highly desirable area with plenty of growth potential.
History of Kapolei and its Growth
James Campbell was a 24-year-old Irish carpenter when he sailed to Hawai‛i in 1850 on a whaling ship. Campbell was to become one of Hawai‛i’s most famous business pioneers. Living much of his early life on Maui, he co-owned Pioneer Mill and later sold it, using the proceeds to buy large amounts of land on O‛ahu, Maui, and the Island of Hawai‛i.
His largest acquisition was 41,000 acres of dry ranch land on O‛ahu’s Ewa plain, which he bought for $95,000 in 1877. He drilled the first artesian well in Hawai‛i on this land, and uncovered a pure water reserve that transformed the arid land into a fertile sugar plantation.
Campbell set up a trust for his heirs, and in 1955 the James Campbell Estate issued a Master Plan detailing the transformation of the Ewa plain into a dynamic economic center. In 1958 the Estate opened the James Campbell Industrial Park, with Standard Oil Company as the first tenant. As early as 1977, the City and County of Honolulu had already designated this area to be O‛ahu’s “Second City," and in 1990 the Campbell Estate finally broke ground on the City of Kapolei.
Rapid growth has taken place in Kapolei since 1990. Here are some notable developments that make Kapolei an ideal place to live and work:
Shopping – Several major shopping centers serve the Kapolei community, with large stores which include Home Depot, Target, Costco, Walmart, Ross, Macy’s, Office Max, Safeway, Foodland, and more.
Education – Kapolei Elementary, Middle, and High Schools serve the families of Kapolei. There is a growing contingent of private schools, including the Island Pacific Academy, which is a private college preparatory school. In 2012, University of Hawai‛i - West O‛ahu opened its doors in Kapolei and offers bachelor’s degrees in a wide range of academic majors. The University of Phoenix also has a presence in Kapolei.
Recreation – There’s plenty to do in and around Kapolei. Nearby white sand beaches are where the locals go for fun. The Ko Olina Resort and Marina, along with its four gorgeous lagoons, is Kapolei’s premier resort destination. At Ko Olina are also other resorts such as the Disney Aulani, Marriott Ihilani, and Four Seasons. Kapolei has several championship golf courses, the Wet ‘n Wild Hawai‛i Water Park, which features the Chief’s Luau, lots of green space at county parks, and several biking and hiking trails.
Up and Coming in Kapolei
What does the future hold for Kapolei, aside from expanded housing development and growing neighborhoods?
The most consequential development will be the completion of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, estimated to be finished by the end of 2025.
O‛ahu’s transportation system will expand when the 20-mile transit line connects Kapolei with downtown Honolulu. The raised-rail system has already started construction and will have five transit stations in the Kapolei area. The first half of the system will go from Kapolei to Aloha Stadium and should be finished by the end of 2020. Construction of the final 4.3-mile section through downtown Honolulu, which is expected to be the most difficult to build, has not yet started but is projected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Honolulu Rail Transit’s first rail car on display in Feb 2017.
Because living on an island challenges Hawai‛i residents to live in harmony with the environment, I've grouped together some eco-friendly places that locals love to shop for the holidays. I’ve also included some online shopping venues, because shopping online saves gas, time, and the stress of long lines. And everybody loves that!
Eco-Friendly Shops
Roberta Oaks 19 North Pauahi Street, Honolulu 96817, (808) 526-1111
Also in Chinatown, this is the spot where hip locals buy their modern fitting Aloha Shirts and vintage-inspired dresses. Roberta Oaks is a Missouri native whose artistic roots bloomed from her farmhouse childhood and hippie parents. The Roberta Oaks brand evokes memories of the ‘60’s. Clothing is handmade in Honolulu, and the Aloha Shirts are created in small batches which has made them collectors’ items. The shop carries brands like Angel Court, Herbivore Botanicals, Stone & Cloth, Threads & Stones, Topo Designs, Will Leather Goods, and locally crafted jewelry and body products.
WIMINI 326 Kuulei Road, Kailua 96734, (808) 462-6338
Started in 2007 by Mari and Yutaka Chino, the shop is filled with hand-printed shirts for babies, kids and adults. They also have home décor, jewelry, and other types of apparel. Yutaka is a Tokyo-born graphic designer who moved to Hawai'i in 1992. WIMINI uses water-based inks that are safe for humans and the environment. The inks are also re-cleansed with water to make the prints feel softer. Amazingly, WIMINI uses sunlight instead of electrical exposure units to expose the screens, since the sun shines for most of the year in Hawai'i. The t-shirts are made in a small garment factory in Los Angeles, and they are individually hand printed in the company’s tiny factory in Hawai‛i.
Mu‛umu‛u Heaven 326 Kuulei Road #2, Kailua 96734, (808) 366-2260
Deb Mascia founded Mu‛umu‛u Heaven in 2005 with the desire to recycle vintage island-wear into new quality products. She describes her brand as ‘earth-loving, vintage-loving, …ocean-loving.’ She transforms vintage Hawaiian apparel into one-of-a-kind eco-friendly pieces and easy-to-wear pieces. The vintage fabric is also used to bring to life new pillows and home décor items.
Lily Lotus Boutique 3632 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu 96816, (808) 277-1724
Lily Lotus embodies eco-friendly clothing for a mindful lifestyle. The shop includes organic and eco-friendly yogawear, fitness and active apparel along with home décor, artwork, stationery, crystals and jewelry. The sustainable fabrics don’t hold wrinkles and they wear and pack nicely.
Owens & Co. 1152 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu 96817, (808) 531-4300
Nestled in the historic Arts District of Honolulu’s Chinatown, Owens & Co. has been serving up uniquely curated home accessories and gifts since 2011. They carry exclusive clothing lines, handmade soaps, boxed stationery, home accessories, rare gifts from across the globe, jewelry, greeting cards, fragrances, kitchenware, and gifts for children and pets.
Online Shopping Ideas
Hawaiian Aroma Caffe has a string of high-quality cafes in Waikiki. Their eco-friendly business practices include a photovoltaic-paneled 17,000 square foot roasting facility in West O‛ahu, and a fleet of hybrid-powered company vehicles. Check out their website for the café nearest you, because you’ll enjoy watching their talented baristas and latte art. Order their premium island coffees for direct-shipping to your recipient's home.
If you know a Christmas ornament collector, check out these hand painted Christmas ornament inspired by the sights and sounds of Hawai‛i. It's mailed directly to your recipient's home and they have 50 scenes to choose from to remind you of Hawai‛i every Christmas.
Whether you're in the market for a small or large gift, locals and visitors will thank you for shopping sustainably.
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