Jade by Nikolai's aMAZE-ing spring eve

Nadine Kam photos
At right, jewelry designer Nikolai Tsang with Julie Aragaki.

Nikolai Tsang always stages the best parties, so a spring showcase of her latest jade and jewelry collections welcoming the Year of the Fire Monkey was not to be missed.

To entice, invitations were sent out weeks before the March 5 event. The invitations came with wooden destination markers, the picture postcard sort that indicate distance to desirable locations. We were told the arrows would point their way to a maze within which surprises await. Who doesn't love a surprise?

The space next door to Kakaako Agora was indeed decked out with a fabric maze with nooks that were home to a braid bar, henna station, several jewelry displays, a flower wall for selfies, and personal readings with Alice Inoue.

Coiffe Couture provided braids for men and women at a braid bar in one section of the maze.

Others signed up for mehndi, or temporary henna tattoos.

With flowers everywhere, the garden theme extended to the table where a "live garden" salad bar included crudité planted in soil of rye bread crumbs. And Elite Catering desserts of chocolate pudding studded with bits of fruit were planted in mini glazed flower pots. Other desserts came in stemware in the shape of tulips, and this was the first time I tried rose-flavored gau, a non-traditional version of the Chinese new year's sticky steamed rice cake.

All this was backdrop for the real stars of the show, Nikolai's beautiful jade carvings, and jade and precious stone jewelry. I made note of a particular yellow diamond ring.

An overview of the setting.

Guests could browse through collections of pearls, jade and precious stone jewelry all night long.

 

 

 

Hawaiian Air Fashion Friday takes off

Nadine Kam photos
Guests were able to pose with props for a portrait at the first Hawaiian Airlines Fashion Friday pop-up event, featuring more than a dozen local designers and retailers.

BY NADINE KAM

Hawaiian Airlines hosted its inaugural Fashion Friday event on Friday, giving its Hawaiian Airlines World Elite MasterCard holders the opportunity to shop new collections by local designers, with a discount if using the credit card for purchases.

Fashion has played a big part in the airlines branding since it hired its first “air hostesses” in 1943, when uniforms served as a sign of professionalism and reflected the glamour of the profession at a time when travel was the domain of the elite. Designs that reflected the street style of the times also were intended to pro­ject an image of moving forward.

Parents could pick up a fabric aviator cap and goggles for their kids at a discounted price of $12.

Located at the airline’s Koapaka Street headquarters near the airport, the event featured more than a dozen artists, designers and retailers, plus pupu from Pili Group.

Designers and retailers participating in the event were Katrina Cordova, Mahiku Activewear, Kira Hawai’i, Language of the Birds, B D’Angelo, Sticks & Stones, Manuheali’i, Noho Design, Fighting Eel, Lucky We Live Hawai’i, Choco Le’a, Happy Town Hawai’i, Honey Girl and Paiko Hawaii.

Hawaiian also hosted a pop-up shop of its own logo wear and merchandise, including retro-style bags, scarves, T-shirts and more.

Cassandra Rull helped shoppers with Lucky We Live Hawaii merchandise.

Fighting Eel’s Lan Chung, left, and Linh Owen took a break on the open-air patio deck. Lan’s pretty flower crown is by Paiko, another of the event vendors.

Paiko’s ‘Tamara Rigney, right, and Courtney Monahan, had a display of greenery on the patio, here and below.

B. D’Angelo designer Marissa Beatrice D’Angelo, right, had help selling her jewelry from sister Amber.

B. D’Angelo earrings.

Choco Le’a’s Erin Uehara showed some of her chocolate treats, including new chocolate-covered jabong. She was also offering a special truffle box for the occasion, comprising Tahitian vanilla, caramel with Australian hibiscus salt and Thai coffee flavors, nine pieces for $19.99.

Nerds everywhere could rejoice with a supply of retro-style airline travel bags and insulated bags offered inside the Hawaiian Air pop-up shop.

Friends tried on Lucky We Live Hawaii trucker hats.

Pupu was offered by The Pili Group.

Housewares from Noho Design.

Those interested in HA items can visit the Hawaiian Airlines Logo Store at 3375 Koapaka St., Suite C321. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Hawaii Jewelers Association names 2015 design winners

Denny Wong was named Jewelry Designer of the Year, collecting the highest points for his jewelry designs during the Hawaii Jewelers Association annual design competition, with winners announced during the groups annual banquet May 2 at Honolulu Country Club. Here are the winners in three categories:

JEWELRY UNDER $3,500

First place: “Jali” ring by Jason Dow. This eternity ring design captures the mysterious ephemeral transparency of intricate jali screens seen in prized Indian architecture. In 18 karat rose gold, framed in black diamonds.

Second place: “Waterfall” by Carrie Nottage Smith, Na Hoku. This elegant
opal inlay and diamond pendant expresses the hues and movement of Hawaii’s waterfalls.

Third place: “Fire and Ice” necklace, Denny Wong Designs. An icy blue apatite and fiery pink sapphire are the gems featured in this dramatic white gold pendant.

People’s choice: “Waterfall,” Na Hoku

JEWELRY OVER $3,500

First place: “Ocean Tides” ring, Maui Divers design team. This ring features a perfect example of Hawaii’s state gem, black coral, surrounded by waves of diamonds.

Second place: “Royal Bliss” ring, by Dona Wong, Keoni Collections. A stunning royal blue tanzanite is the centerpiece of this pendant, with a diamond crown set atop a rich, diamond-decorated lotus design base. Craftsmanship fit for a monarch in white and yellow gold.

Third place: “Koala” pendant, Tiara Pearl International. The cute and cuddly koala is a perfect expression for this impressive baroque Australian South Seas pearl. Delicate and imaginative use of white gold, diamonds, black rhodium and even a stick of wood completes this sculpted design of Australia’s iconic, irresistible living teddy bear.

People’s choice: “Snowflake” by Moshe Hakemolo, Diamond Guy Hawaii. The design of this engagement and wedding ring set is as delicate as a snowflake and packs a blizzard of brilliance. Set in 18 karat white gold it features a 3.5 carat round diamond that is surrounded by custom-cut fancy shaped diamonds.

HAWAIIAN-THEMED JEWELRY

First place: “Kilauea” necklace, Denny Wong Designs. The flickering of red emitted from the unique rose-cut red garnet featured in this 18 karat gold pendant represents Kilauea’s fiery cauldron. The black tourmaline necklace it is dangling from represents the black basalt rock that is Kilauea. Every aspect of this garnet, diamond and tanzanite pendant evokes fire.

Second place: ”Treasured Waters” by Dona Wong, Keoni Collections. Featuring a natural shape precious red coral and flowing diamond studded gold, this pendant expresses the dreamy romantic beauty of Hawaii’s waters. It completes its water motif design with a delightful raindrop filigree pattern on the back.

Third place: “Plumeria Scroll,” gold and diamond pendant, Maui Divers. This pendant features a delicate sculpted plumeria with flowing, diamond accented royal scrolling. A jewelry wardrobe staple for locals and a prize for visitors who might want to bring home a memento of their stay.

People’s choice: “He’e (Octopus)” by Donna Shimazu, Na Hoku. The power and grace of
the Hawaiian octopus is wonderfully expressed in this powerful slide pendant. With a gold body and Tahitian black pearl head and diamonds for the eyes this beautiful piece would be the perfect possession for those with the he’e as their aumakua.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Bakery Charms Easter jewelry a treat for eyes

 Jenn Lee photos
Bakery Charms Easter jewelry shown here are available for $16 to$29 at BakeryCharms.com.

Chocolate bunnies, pastel macarons, oh my!

If you’re putting together the perfect Easter outfit, accessorize your dress and bonnet with some of the adorable pastel-colored Easter jewelry created by Bakery Charms owner and designer Jenn Lee.

Charms and pendants in the style of Peeps and chocolate rabbits, cookies and macarons are great for Easter baskets, gift-giving and, of course, wearing.

Pieces range from $16 to $29 and you can order them at BakeryCharms.com.

This box of marshmallow bunnies Mommy necklace comes with a second, smaller two-bunny necklace (pictured in top photo) to share, at $32 for the set.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Riches marks 26th year with series of trunk shows

Nadine Kam photos
Riches Kahala owner Lo Kaimuloa, left, is celebrating her Kahala Mall kiosk's 26th anniversary. She's with Lesli Tod, center, and Kelli Coffin.

Riches Kahala has been celebrating its 26th anniversary and the holiday season with a series of trunk shows featuring local jewelry designers.

On Dec. 2, Riches owner Lo Kaimuloa welcomed a half dozen designers—Kimberly Le, Two Hands, LK Atelier, Beachcomber Designs, Paradisus and Hands in the Sand—for a night of shopping, and will host a Misa trunk show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 8, with a 10 percent discount on jewelry designs by Los Angeles-based Misa Hama­moto, who draws inspiration for her handcrafted jewelry from her Hawaii and Micronesia roots and an affinity for nature.

The holiday event will feature metal jewelry with a mix of precious and semiprecious gemstones gleaned from Hama­moto's world travels.

For more information, call Riches at 737-3303.

Misa designs to be showcased tomorrow at Riches, Kahala Mall.

Jewelry designer Kimberly Le wore one of her new necklaces during a designer trunk show Dec. 2 at Riches Kahala. The Kahala Mall kiosk offers dozens of local designer jewelry creations throughout the year.

Island ocean- and flora-inspired designs from Paradisus.

Designer Fay Scherr, left, and Moe Myers, show Scherr's Two Hands line of precious and semi-precious stone jewelry.

New to Riches is LK Atelier, a partnership between designer Leela Goldstein, left, and businesswoman Kari Greenwell. Born in Thailand and raised in Hawaii, Goldstein creates a range of designs for day to evening, and beach to city wear. With a yin-yang dynamic, Greenwell says her personal style is more "city," and Goldstein's is "beach." It all works out.

Cori Rilliet, right, and Samantha Tom show off Beachcomber Designs line of pearl and semi-precious stone jewelry.

Sabrina Awana, left, and Dana Miller show shell and pearl bangles, among other pieces by Hands in the Sand designer Lydia Ho.