It’s funny. When you’re a mom, your world revolves around your kids. (I should know.) But when you’re a mom with, say, a talent, that obsession with your baby can turn into a full-fledged business. Dozens of Hawaii moms have built businesses while raising their kids—many of them while working full-time jobs. The Mom Made […]
Go back to Best of All Islands. Looking for the best of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai & Lanai, and Hawaii Island? Fashion Swimwear 1. Pakaloha Hawaii 2. Volcom 3. Pualani Hawaii 4. Acacia Swimwear 5. San Lorenzo Aloha Shirt 1. Tommy Bahama 2. Hilo Hattie 3. Tori Richard 4. Kahala 5. Reyn Spooner Jewelry 1. Na Hoku 2. Maui Divers Jewelry 3. Honolulu
Pamela Miller-Sofos is a serious fashion fan. So much so that she went into business with the owners of one of her go-to boutiques. Miller-Sofos had been shopping at Hula Moon in Waimea for years and had been pestering owner Kathy Keller to open a space on Oahu. Finally, Keller gave in—with a catch: The
It’s hard to know if you’re really getting a locally made product when you buy from a street kiosk, store or farmers market. The question of where you can find the best made-in-Hawaii clothes, knickknacks, music, crafts, jewelry and home décor is a big one. Here are some of the top boutiques on Oahu where
About five years ago, Shannon Hiramoto, a Kauai-born fashion designer who uses secondhand materials to create garments and bags, received a box of old muʻumuʻu (relaxed aloha print dresses) from a friend’s mom, thinking she could repurpose the material into other clothing. “I upcycled a few into tote bags, but it broke my heart to
Locally owned and operated since 1948, Foodland has long been the go-to supermarket for locals. Its popular poke, made fresh in each store daily, tops our 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, and the company has been committed to stocking its shelves with local produce and products. Late last year, Foodland, the state’s largest locally owned grocery
Poke bowls, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel for lounging on the sand—we’ve got big plans every time we’re out and about, and that means toting along a good amount of gear. As much as we’d love to rock our backpacker’s pack (except not at all) for a day out and about, there’s got to be another
Hawaii knows coffee, and these six new coffee products—some using Kona’s exclusive java—will give you another, sweeter way to get your caffeine fix. 1. Kona Coffee Leaf Tea, Hawaiian Ola This tasty drink combines two things we love: tea and coffee. Brewed from lightly caffeinated Arabica coffee leaves harvested in Kona, Hawaiian Ola’s unique coffee-leaf tea has
While leaving Costco one day in October 2016, Mitzi Toro looked down at her phone to see her website had crashed and her Instagram account was flooded with hundreds of messages—all because of a personal Instagram endorsement by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on one of his buzzworthy “cheat days.” “This is 16 ounces of handmade, hand
If you’re looking for something unique to remember your Hawaii Island vacation, search no further than Jams World, an iconic local apparel brand with more than 50 years of rich history in Hawaii. With stores at The Shops at Mauna Lani in Waimea and Keauhou Shopping Center in Kailua-Kona, Jams World is a one-stop shop
The doorbell chime at Awa and Olena jingles merrily into the early Kaimuki air. From a shaggy carpet, Rika, a little rescue pup, is adding his own cheery canine song to welcome me. “Oh stop,” says Amanda Watkins to the excited pup, grinning from behind a counter of geometric cinder blocks and clean, bright wood.
The iconic aloha shirt: Today, you’ll see it on top models, brightening up the pages of Vogue, or showing up as playful, vibrant additions in collections from some of the world’s most celebrated fashion designers. Like Hawaii itself—the place for which this lively little clothing item has become an indelible, internationally recognized symbol—the aloha shirt
