May 2008

Learning to swim started with being dunked by your cousins until you swam for your life. Getting the hang of driving meant circling the school parking lot a hundred times until your dad finally let you on the road. And then there were surf lessons – you’ve still never mastered the pop-up. Does riding waves lying down count?

There’s another way to get vertical on your board.

Kama ‘aina-owned Wet Feet will ease you into the newly-popular sport of stand-up paddle surfing. Rent a board at their laid back Aina Haina store, then talk story with the owners to get some... Read more »

Evoking tropical island flowers is nothing new for luxury perfumes. Every department store from Pasadena to Peoria carries scents like Estee Lauder’s Beyond Paradise and Michael Kors Hawaii.

But none of them have any real connection to someplace tropical – except maybe an escape wish.

That’s not the case with the newly launched Saffron James Parfums. Developed by former Lucky contributing editor and Big Island native Kate Growney, each of the three scents in the new line is derived from familiar Hawaii flowers.

All three also have elegant Hawaiian names that... Read more »

From Hollywood film stars to the cast of Lost, celebrity spotting is an easy pastime in Hawaii.

But there’s a new beauty superstar in town, hiding out at a local hangout in Kahala.

No, it’s not an A-list actress -- it’s the body butter from the fragrance beauty line Kai.

The line’s signature breezy gardenia scent and Hawaii-inspired name have made Kai’s luxurious lotions, body washes and candles cult favorites of celebs like Charlize Theron and Jennifer Garner.

But it’s the ultra-rich, shea-butter soufflé that is the... Read more »

It would be easier if people had instructive signs. Like when you have a super-tight deadline at work: Talk At Your Own Risk. Or when you’re feeling frisky: Open for Business. Okay, you have a signal for that. But sometimes your body needs preparation for up-and-coming activities, to keep things moving smoothly.

No shame. Honey Girl Organics, a local all-organic, all-natural skincare line, has a brand-new product to help. Today they launched an all-natural, edible personal lubricant (in addition to a new exfoliating papaya seed facial cleanser and luminous night cream).

Lucky you, Lei Chic has discovered four secrets to slay your most annoying beauty beasts.

Scrub that Booty
Durable, circulation-boosting exfoliators were impossible to find, until the Indigenous Soap Company introduced the perfectly rough Brown Body Scrubber. It resists mold, dries quick, stretches to reach those faraway areas, and even makes soap last longer. Cellulite and waxing-induced in-grown hairs, be gone! Available online from Indigenous Soap Company, http://www.indigenousoap.com/

Dear Poor, Tired Feet:

I know I’ve been bad. I keep wearing shoes all the time, haven’t gone walking on the beach to at least give you an island-style pedicure (all that rainy winter weather wasn’t my fault, though!); and you don’t need to remind me that old nail polish isn’t helping matters.

But here I am, with an apology and solemn vow to make it up to you.

So let me treat you to Ola’s Volcanic Foot Scrub, handcrafted using naturally healing and restorative local ingredients (it’s even paraben-free).

Volcanic pumice and sea salt... Read more »

With a few taps of your fingers, everything you want comes to you on demand (well, almost everything). Last month it was an online shopping marathon to use all your Christmas gift cards, and after New Year’s it was getting your organic fix and signing up for weekly fruit and veggie delivery. But all that time hunched over the keyboard has you wishing for someone else’s digits to come work on you for a change.

As you wish. Call Tradewinds Outcall Massage and a professional licensed massage... Read more »

Somewhere along the way, traditional became a bad word – conjuring visions of conservative clothes and drab foods served at mandatory family gatherings.

But connecting to our roots can often uncover rituals that make you feel good as new again (especially when massage is involved).

At Moku Ola Hawaiian Healing Center, owners and experienced practitioners Aoi and Pi‘ilani Wright employ ancient Hawaiian lomilomi and la‘au lapa‘au techniques to guide each client to a balanced body, mind, and spirit. Targeted therapies, such as a simple shower,... Read more »

Cliché, but true: it’s a small island. Looking your worst on a late night run for wine and ice cream? Garans you’ll run into your ex, high school arch enemy, or your boss. And when you’ve got a sensitive female appointment, forget privacy – somebody you know will be there, or know someone who knows someone…

So avoid at least one unexpected encounter and visit esthetician Katie Dye, who offers spa-caliber waxing services in her secluded Kailua residence. That means you won’t spot other clients in the parking lot, know any receptionists behind the... Read more »

You’ve found the perfect clutch for your sister’s Christmas gift at a chic web boutique. But even with the today-only Cyber Monday discount, the shipping costs nearly as much as the bag itself. How do you justify pressing the “confirm order” button?

Will mainland stores ever realize Hawaii’s not a different country already?

And then there’s that empty field at the bottom of the screen—the one that reads “enter promotional discount code here (if applicable).”

If only you had a code—then you could pretend you actually did get the mainland-only... Read more »