From retail to art and beverages, Hawai'i boasts exciting new businesses and programming.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PULAU INTERNATIONAL LLC
Stocked with fashionable and feminine pieces created using sustainable methods for slow fashion, Pulau Swimwear is made for the free spirits who maintain an ample conscience. Created on O‘ahu, its products are timeless, designed to last both in quality and style so as not to create waste. Adding to its repertoire of printed and solid swimsuits, Pulau has released a new line of chic resortwear. This collection of swimwear and clothing suits both laid-back and active lifestyles and pairs together for cool and classy coordinating looks in and out of the water. Owner Yuko Yoshida designed this most recent collection to reflect old Hawai‘i. Proving its commitment to styles for the ages, the collection draws on hibiscus prints, colorblocking and aloha-inspired patterns all reminiscent of the 1970s. From onepieces to Brazilian-style bikini sets and cover-up skirts, Pulau’s resortwear will inspire confidence and a clean conscience for years to come. pulauswimwear.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF OSHAN ESSENTIALS
For those who feel at home in the ocean, sun-damaged skin may be an unfortunate side effect. Shelley Lee, a former professional surfer who’s been there, created Oshan Essentials to help achieve healthy and glowing skin. A luxury skincare brand made for “people of the sea,” Oshan’s products are enriched with nourishing and aromatic botanical oils to prevent sun damage and hydrate salt-water-dried skin without leaving a slippery texture. From face washes to anti-aging moisturizers designed to restore skin on a cellular level, Oshan’s skincare doesn’t just protect your skin from nature but also prioritizes protecting nature itself. Using rain for water and sun for power, Oshan’s products are made sustainably on the north shore of Maui. Now, Oshan is taking a dip into the world of makeup, introducing two new face luminizers: the cool and shimmery ʻANAPA made with anti-inflammatory agents such as German chamomile, and the warm bronze-toned HULALI with fresh ginger, citrus and vanilla. Lee notes, “We included our proprietary essential oil blends so the luminizers also smell beautiful and provide you with aromatherapy benefits.” oshanessentials.com
PHOTO BY JESSICA PINE
Grounded in a love for nature and value for sustainability, Lokahi Swimwear’s suits are ethically made in Bali, shipped in compostable packaging and are not mass-produced. The only thing not recycled at Lokahi is the patterns. The prints are meticulously hand-drawn, inspired by Hawai‘i’s exotic flowers and lively colors, and exclusive to Lokahi. It drops a new collection every year, working in limited quantities, so act fast, because once owner and designer Emily Neal’s artful and vibrant swimsuits are sold out, they’re gone for good. This year’s line, the Under the Palms collection, features six recycled nylon tops and five bottoms in the brand’s distinguished florals as well as some solid hues. Made in a range of styles, including the bestselling Maile bottoms, the suits are made to accommodate active beach lifestyles and fit for surfing. Rompers, slip dresses and a variety of other beachwear are also available, adorned with the same limited-time botanical prints designed to emanate the beauty of Hawai‘i’s beaches and inspire the feeling of aloha. lokahiswimwear.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK KUSHIMI
A coffee connoisseur and a music aficionado walk into a bar. There’s no punchline, just great energy at Morning Glass Coffee’s newest Chinatown location. Stroll past the coffee bar, though, and discover a new twist: a listening bar. The establishment is split down the middle by a historic lava rock wall, with Morning Glass’ coffee bar on one side and EP Bar’s cocktail bar on the other. This innovative collaboration creates a day-tonight experience with both businesses passionate about sharing high-quality beverages from cold brew to the signature black sesame Old-Fashioned, all enhanced by dynamic music. The minds behind EP Bar were inspired by their visits to listening bars in Tokyo and are now sharing their variation of the sip-and-song experience with Hawaiians alongside Morning Glass. The music transcending the dual bar concept is curated by “sound selectors” who carefully control the beats, tempo and volume to establish a feel-good atmosphere. “Sound selectors not only play for the crowd,” says EP Bar co-owner Ryan Miyashiro, “but also for themselves with a goal of reviving the spirit and transporting guests back to a time when you could enjoy living without being on your phone.” 1150 Nu‘uanu Ave., Honolulu, morningglasscoffee.com
Salvador Dali’s Stairway to Heaven on display at Park West Gallery. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARK WEST GALLERY
Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Toulouse-Lautrec are just a few of the names behind the masterworks on display at Waikiki Beach’s Park West Gallery. Open daily, the gallery houses thousands of spectacular pieces of art qualified to impress experienced art enthusiasts or even casual viewers, and may even ignite a new affection for the arts. A free day at the gallery provides exposure to some of history’s most prolific artists, with free tours and seminars available for those who want to dive deeper. For a limited time only, a traveling exhibition makes Park West Gallery all the more enticing. Until May 31, guests have the chance to experience Dali’s famous Stairway to Heaven, an awe-inspiring collection of illustrations depicting Dante Alighieri’s classic literary portrayal of the afterlife, The Divine Comedy. The world’s largest art dealer, Park West also acts as a purveyor of fine art. Original works by first-rate artists including Peter Max, Nano Lopez and Michael Godard are available for purchase. 226 Lewers St., Honolulu, parkwestgallery.com/hawaii
PHOTO BY RAE HUO
PANCI Style’s new line began with a compliment in a store check-out line. The chain attached to founder and CEO Crystal Pancipanci’s mask caught the appreciative eye of another shopper who wasn’t privy to the fact that the jewelry in question was in fact a prototype modeled by the designer herself in O‘ahu. Just like that, PSChains got their very first customer. Now available online, this limited capsule collection of acrylic resin accessory chains come in a variety of colors with gold finishings that attach to any face mask to make it instantly more stylish. The inspiration for this line came from Pancipanci’s approval of the growing athleisure trend throughout the pandemic, but she felt that something was missing. “That something was a lack of texture, color, multipurpose function and, above all, making safety a style statement; so I launched the #PSCHAIN on my Panci Shop,” she explains. When masks become no longer necessary, the chains are also fit to spruce up sunglasses, revamp bag handles or impress as a stylish chunky chain necklace. pancistyle.com
PHOTO BY WILD WEST LA/COURTESY OF LAKA LIVING
“If matcha were a prescription, everyone would have it,” says Dr. Clara Krebs, a physician based out of Lihue and Laka matcha enthusiast. Packed with antioxidants, Laka Living’s new green tea powder promotes gut health and cortisol management and may even soothe pesky coffee addictions. Laka Living founder and wellness devotee Liz Smithers explains that matcha introduces buffered caffeine into the body in a way that prevents jitters and the classic caffeine crash. “We like to think of it as our step one in stress management,” Smithers says of Laka matcha’s energy-enhancing quality without the worry of side effects. Breaking that coffee dependence tastes good too. Laka Living’s bright green beverage has hints of rosemary, banana and avocado, creating a sweet and savory flavor profile enhanced by umami that your body and taste buds won’t be able to get enough of. Healthy and delicious, Laka matcha unlocks the body’s natural reserves and reduces stress, a worthy addition as a new ritual into everyday routines. laka-living.com
PHOTO BY CARLY WESOLOWSKI
In the Mānoa Valley, a cozy cottage awaits to provide a welcome relief from Honolulu city life. Settle on the massage table and put your trust in the capable hands and feet of licensed wellness professionals. Yes, feet. At The Mānoa House, wellness may be only a step away—literally. Using a technique called Sarga Bodywork, massage therapists use their feet and the tension of a silk fabric attached to the table to create a deep, satisfying stretch. Not your typical massage, the practice promotes hydration and connective tissue flexibility. “We celebrate the broad, densely innervated surfaces of our feet as perhaps the most effective and intelligent tools for this purpose,” says owner Amy Hastanan, a licensed acupuncturist and massage therapist with over 17 years of experience in complementary and alternative medicine. “So we promise this massage is unlike any other you have experienced.” The 90-minute sessions are the most popular and can include a “kitchen sink” medley of treatments to suit each body’s needs and wants. Alongside Sarga Bodywork, offerings include fire cupping, hot stones, acupuncture and infrared light therapy. 2845 Lowrey Ave., Honolulu, themanoahouse.com
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