1. UA MAU TANK ($28)- Best-seller. Loose, comfy and cute. Hawai’i state motto. Perfect for the beach or a girls night out.
2. MAUI TRUCKER ($20)- Most popular. If you don’t have one, you need one. You can never have too many hats.
3. MAUI GIRL BAG($20)- Most useful. Perfect for any girl living out of their car.
4. HANU HAWAII BIKINI ($25)- Least amount of material. Locally made. Cutest designs. Perfect bikini bottoms for summer.

I know it’s a cliché, but she really is beautiful inside and out. Kimie was actually the first artist to play for Maui Thing ever, being featured at our launch party around six years ago, then again at the Maui Thing stage at First Friday two years ago. She played at the Maui Thing store last night for her hardcore Maui fans launching her new album, “To the Sea.” Let me premise this review with my background in music and formal training. I played piano for 3 years, violin for 1 year and french horn for about 5 years. Yes I was a band geek, whatevers. But, I also had a collection of journey albums, stuff from the 80′s like “Men at Work” and “The Barkays.” I was also the only girl from my gang to make mixed tapes. So I’m not a hardcore aficionado like Brendan at Request Music, nor I am I like my husband Ken who had only one tape in his brown Civic in high school, “Legend.”

Kimie continues to write soulful melodies that make me want to lay out in the sun, contemplate life and dump my boyfriend. The more I listen to her songs, the more I feel I know her…with glimpses of lyrical emotion and rhythmic oohs. The tunes I’m most drawn to have an obvious angst and longing like “Is this love.” Her honesty continues to come through in her soulful voice and her island inspired sound. Kimie is addicting. I asked my kids (9 and 7 years) if they wanted to go to their school’s Art Night or listen to Kimie. Without a doubt it was Kimie. When taking them to school this morning while listening to Kimie’s new album I did my normal dutiful parenting thing… asking them questions and engaging them in thoughtful conversation. The question that I had for them this morning was “Do you think Kimie could compete in THE VOICE?” My children respond with a confident and very affirmative “Yes!” as if they were the ones pressing the big red button and spinning their chair around. Then my daughter continued to ask, “What team would she be on? Adam’s?”

All I know is that I am on Team Kimie and if you ever get a chance to listen to her live, don’t miss it. For all you Mauians that missed her at our store last night, she’ll be playing tonight at Stella Blue’s…for details on how to buy tickets, click here.

I came across this card the other night at my girlfriend’s house. The minute I read it, I was instantly enlightened. These five simple rules are stuck with me. They are simple, and a reminder that we can all obtain happiness.

There are many amazing things on Maui that us locals have never done. Tourists even seem to cram more ‘MAUI TO-DOs” in a week than I have done in my lifetime. So, my girlfriends and I developed a “MAUI BUCKET LIST.” It includes places, activities and all sorts of things we still have not experienced on this island we call home. We decided it was time to start checking some things off. So this past Saturday we ventured out of the Waiside and headed for the country. We rarely go to Haiku. We had to rely on Google maps to get us to our final destination, MAUI KOMBUCHA! We arrived hungry, thirsty and excited to experience something new. There was only standing room and we lingered on the side, a little unsure of how this whole place operated. We were greeted enthusiastically with four shots glasses of Palo Santo. We had no idea what it was, but that didn’t stop us from clinking our glasses and sampling the Kombucha goodness. Next up, Ginger Lime and Lychee Juniper Lime. The mmmmm’s and ohhhh’s coming from our mouths were a clear indication that we just stumbled into heaven. We ordered a round of Kombucha and finally managed to get a table and begin the eating. Pupu style is the way to go here. Everything looked too good that you couldn’t have one. We got the Quinoa salad and a Rainbow Roll Sushi to start. The mmmmm’s and ohhh’s couldn’t be contained. Next, Da Kine Chili and the Garden Veggie Pizza! AMAZING! AMAZING! AMAZING! This is not an understatement. Every bite got better and better. Then came dessert, and I only need to say two words, HAWAIIAN TOAST! Some cracker, jam, bananas and a whole lot of amazingness! Another round of Kombucha and we were definitely experiencing a strong sense of elation. The two guys running the front of the house made the entire experience more pleasurable. The service was superior, their sense of humor entertaining, and we hadn’t been called chicas that many times since…never. We were told to try the coffee. Mind you, 3 out of the 4 of us don’t drink coffee. If I did drink coffee, it definitely would be that one. We all shared one cup of coffee and passed it around the table like a sacred ceremony. At this point the only word to describe the moment is bliss. Happy stomachs, souls and minds. Just when we thought we had done it all, we heard the word HOT SHOT. It already sounds dangerous and intriguing. The women next to us were raving about it, so we ordered one. It looked scary good. The initial sip isn’t bad, but it’s a creeper. The best thing to compare it too is Hawaiian chili pepper water. We felt alive after that one! As our Maui Kombucha experience came to an end, we didn’t want to leave. Happy, happy is all we could say. Happy to be with friends, happy to eat good food, and happy to live on Maui.

To check out Maui Kombucha, click here!

If you don’t know yet, Valentine’s Day is next week!! This day brings mixed emotions for each of us. Whatever your thoughts on Valentine’s Day, we are all fans of love songs. We have that certain song that makes us feel love. Or that one song that remind us of someone special. Music is a very powerful thing in this world. We thought we would share some of our favorite songs to get you in the Valentine’s Day mood.

• Maroon 5- If I Ain’t Got You (Live)
• Cas Haley- No One
• City & Colour- The Girl
• The Green- Love I
• Ingrid Michaelson- Can’t Help Falling In Love
• Bob Marley- Stir It Up
• Jason Mraz- I Won’t Give Up
• Ka’au Crater Boys- Still The One
• Sade- By Your Side

Don’t forget, our store is filled with lots of great gifts for your special someone:)

I cannot tell you the last time I developed photos. My camera roll on my iPhone is filled with hundreds of pictures. So, I decided it was time to develop some of my favorites and add some decoration to my plain, yellow bedroom walls. I was so excited to actually hold a photo in my hand. It was nice to flip through photos, instead of scrolling through a touch screen phone. Now it was time to display them, and I found the perfect way.

Supplies:

Rope/twine
Clothespins
Tacks/nails
Photographs

It is pretty self-explanatory. Measure your spacing, secure it, and have fun arranging your photos! Simple and stylish. The best thing about it, is everyday I am constantly reminded of how great life is:)

Can’t believe its already the holidays! Here’s this year’s gift wrapping idea: jars! Its easy, cute and reuseable! Have fun with it and add ribbons, raffia, stickers, paint, anything! So after you get those great gifts from Maui Thing, throw them in a cute jar and put it under the tree ;) Simple, affordable, and sustainable!
You can get jars anywhere! They’re sold at Wal-Mart, Longs Drugs and everywhere online!
Need some other fun and sustainable wrapping ideas? Check out our Christmas wrapping posts from the past few years here and here.

Want to get this tank for a gift? Buy it online here.

When we find beauty secrets that work for us, we have to share it! Say hello to the oil washing method. I was recently introduced to this face washing method by a couple of women who have “flawless” skin. It is a pretty simple concept, OIL DISSOLVES OIL. The oil you massage onto your face will dissolve the oil that has hardened with junk found in your pores.

Supplies:
• Castor Oil
• Almond Oil
• Washcloth
• Hot water

1. Place a quarter-sized drop of castor oil and almond oil in your hand.
2. Rub together and begin massaging the oil on your face.
3. Massage your face using slow, circular motions. Really work on getting the oil into your pores.
4. Leave the oils on your face for at least two minutes.
5. Grab your clean washcloth and run it under hot water. You want the water warm enough to open your pores and remove the oil. Be careful and use your best judgment for the right heat.
6. Hold the washcloth over your face until it turns cool.
7. Begin wiping the oil off gently. Rinse your washcloth a couple more times. Repeat this until the oil is off.
8. Look in the mirror and smile :)