(from FrolicHawaii.com 10/3/15 – Amanda Stevens)

It felt good to indulge at First Friday last night. It was for a good cause, as The Good Hawaii and Cake Envy presented Cheesecake & Champagne, a pop-up shopping experience to help benefit domestic violence awareness in Hawaii.

There was a large crowd throughout the evening who enjoyed libations, cheesecake and chocolate from Cake Envy, while local vendors provided discounts, deals and special treatments.

(from FrolicHawaii.com 9/28/15 – Amanda Stevens)

I never thought I’d be so happy that fall’s here, but it’s been a brutal summer. This past weekend Macy’s held a Fashion’s Front Row runway show unveiling hot fall trends, from hats to heels. A couple of my must-haves: the cape blazer by Material Girl and the long-sleeve vest by Rachel Roy – both keep you warm, but not too warm.

Take a look at our favorite looks, snapped by Levi Viloria:

Global Attractions/70s Boho trend

Artistic Expression, on-trend outerwear

Country Living

White/Black Modernism

Photos by Levi Viloria

 

(from FrolicHawaii.com 9/27/15 – Amanda Stevens)

A handful of Hawaii fashion bloggers and industry peeps were invited to Furla in Waikiki to identify handbags we thought would be the IT-bags for Fall 2015. Truth be told, handbags are as much about style, as about function, and we spent hours touching, carrying, examining and even smelling these babies, all in the name of fashion.

Here are some of my favorite handbags that are on trend from Furla:

Snakeskin (Flair) – Here’s a fresh take on the python bag, and this particular handbag can be used for the office or as a chic weekender tote.

Color block (Piper) – The shape of the Piper bag is perfect, not too big, not too small, just right. The Fall color block shades are perfect for the season. This was my fave, by far.

Boxy (Candy Satchels and Minis) – Every season there is a silhouette of choice and this season it’s the boxy, hard shell bag. This Candy collection looks almost edible and is a fave among Waikiki tourists.

Medal (Metropolis Mini Crossbody) – Medal, especially silver, is huge this season. This bag fits just the essentials – smart phone, car keys, credit card and lip gloss. Perfect for a night out at the club or dressed down with jeans and a tee.

Pop Culture (Graffiti Mini Metropolis) – Comics and super heroes are everywhere this season. Sporting this crossbody bag is a fun way to express your artsy side.

Bucket (Viva) – The color blocking on this bucket bag (held by Melissa White, Hifi co-founder) is eye catching. Bucket bags are popular because of their unique shape; they’re structured, yet a little boho and slouchy at the same time. This was a fave among the lot of us.

I leave you with a fashion tip…

When purchasing your next wallet, lean towards bright – black wallets are boring. On the other hand, black handbags are classic and will never go out of style. So, it’s much easier to find a bright wallet in your black handbag, and more fun to bust-out that pop of color at the grocery store check-out, just sayin’.

(from FrolicHawaii.com 9/21/15 – Amanda Stevens)

Polo players Nic Roldan of Team Mercedes and Juan Bollini of Team Porsche arrived in helicopters in the middle of the Honolulu Polo Club field in Waimanalo, setting the stage for Saturday’s luxe event. The highly anticipated polo match presented by Hawaii Polo Life began later in the afternoon. A portion of the proceeds raised at the event will support the Hawaii International Polo Association’s mission to help establish an Equestrian Center of the Pacific that engages at-risk-youth in the community with programs that develop and engineer therapeutic horsemanship.

Here are a few of our favorite soiree pics:

Models sported swim suits from Rebecca Beach, Diamond Head Beach Club, Malia Jones, L-Space and Tori Praver with jewelry by Uno de 50, plus sportswear from Porche Designs, Salvage Public, Hawaii Polo Life, Local Motion, Patagonia and Quicksilver. The well-crafted looks were styled by Kim Smith, assisted by Rebecca Atkins, with make-up by Kecia Littman and hair by Jake Acedo.

(from FrolicHawaii.com 9/13/15 – Amanda Stevens & Frolic Hawaii)

Extreme humidity and heavy morning rain didn’t stop thousands from attending the “Hawaii Five-O” season six premiere at Sunset on the Beach on Saturday. As emcee Billy V. told the crowd, “It seems to be raining everywhere on the island, except in Waikiki.”

A majority of the cast came out to celebrate the season opener, including Alex O’Loughlin, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Ian Anthony Dale, Jorge Garcia, Chi McBride, Taylor Wily, Teilor Grubbs, Dennis Chun, Shawn Garnett and Sarah Carter. Even after six seasons, fans gathered from the night before to reserve a good space along the red carpet where once again, in terms of fashion, we spotted a bunch of winning designer looks. Park chose Versace again and looked stunning, O’Loughlin rocked a Gucci suit, and Kim looked super sleek in Valentino. Even the post-show performer, John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting went for the designer vibe wearing American designer John Varvatos.

The episode began where last season ended, Kono’s and Adam’s wedding celebration. But trouble is still looming around the corner. Oh, and there were pirates, treasure, and tons of action. No spoilers here, but you can see for yourself; the season six premiere airs on CBS on Friday, Sept. 25.

Here’s a look at the our favorite party pics and red carpet moments:

Scenes from the red carpet – video by Melissa Chang

‘Hawaii Five-0’ Season 6 Sunset on the Beach premiere

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Photo by Amanda Stevens

‘Hawaii Five-0’ Season 6 Sunset on the Beach premiere

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Here’s a video of Five for Fighting’s John Ondrasik performing his song, “All for One,” live on stage at the premiere.

(from FrolicHawaii.com 8/29/15 – Tracy Chan)

It’s been a long time coming, and it’s finally here. SKY Waikiki, which originally was set to open September of last year, finally opened its doors on Friday. And like that girlfriend who’s late to the party because she spent so long doing her hair and putting an outfit together, our reaction was “the results better be worth it.” Is SKY worth the wait? Take a closer look…

Here’s the schedule for opening weekend:
SKY Waikiki Grand Opening with Brody Jenner & Devin Lucien
Saturday, Aug. 29 from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
$10, 21+, Classy clubwear/formal attire recommended

Sunset Sessions with The Green and Afatia Thompson
Sunday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m.
$10 Cover (Free for kama’aina before 5 p.m.), 21+, Resort Casual Attire, Sundresses recommended

The Construction:

Plans for SKY Waikiki date back to May 2013, when owners/operators Leighton Mau, Alika Mau, Darren Seu and Kainoa Akina announced their goals for a new venue. The four business partners also own and operate the Waikiki Business Plaza, Top of Waikiki and Waikiki Shopping Plaza.

It started with an additional deck, built out below the landmark disc that marks Top of Waikiki. When you see the inside, you’ll understand why it took so long to get ready. The inside space is small but lavish, with ambient tropical lighting behind the bar, a huge 30-foot set of screens depicting island scenes at one end, and an open-air deck at the other. While you may initially be surprised that the inside is so small, the outside lanai deck makes up for it, with gorgeous views (about a 320-degree view) of Diamond Head, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Waikiki Beach and the mountains.

“It’s exciting that everything’s come together and it’s finally here,” said Jovan Andow, managing partner. “We’re providing a place that is upscale, yet approachable, with a stunning view, and we want our patrons who are here tonight to feel welcome to back again and again.”

Waikiki’s second rooftop lounge, SKY, does boast better views than Buho, and while it might be problematic in rainy season or on hot days, the space is versatile, equally able to host events of any kind inside or out. The venue, located on the 19th floor of the Waikiki Business Plaza and two floors below the newly remodeled Top of Waikiki is 7,000-square feet total, and is designed for a max capacity of 400 people, with three full-service bars.

The staff:

Running the restaurant is Executive Chef Lance Kosaka, and in charge of the cocktail menu is Top of Waikiki mixologist Jennifer Ackrill. The team here has been in the biz for a while; Darren Seu’s grandfather William Mau is the visionary businessman who developed the Waikiki Shopping Plaza and the Waikiki Business Plaza and opened Top of Waikiki in the 1960s. Although it could be viewed as a family-run business, word from the staff is that the management puts great emphasis on building a team that works well together. Most of the staff went through five weeks of intensive training, and it shows in the way they interact with each other. It’s nice to see a bar’s employees looking out for each other with genuine care — clearing the way, spotting customers who need help, and many other small gestures that improve the flow in a crowded bar or club.

The drinks:

Amanda: “I loved the Iolani Spritz signature cocktail, made with hibiscus-infused organic cucumber vodka with lime juice and a splash of soda.”

Tracy: “The Pineapple Gangster, with Belvedere Vodka, Amaro Montenegro, pineapple juice, mole bitters and egg white fizz on top sprinkled with grated cinnamon, was totally my style.”

Liquor to SKY is supplied by Southern, but the cocktails are created in house by the Top of Waikiki head mixologist Jen Ackrill from Top of Waikiki, formerly of Rye in San Francisco and very briefly Salt Kaimuki, and her team of experienced bartenders. One thing you’ll find here that is worthy of a sophisticated craft bar are the custom syrups and other house-made ingredients. Average cocktail prices aren’t cheap, but they’re reasonable for craft cocktails, at $11-$13. The bar also offers very limited draft beers on tap for $5 and house wine for $8.

The food:

At the soft opening, food was served in bite-sized bits, but it’s expected that more substantial dishes will be offered later on. If you’ve ever dined at Top of Waikiki, expect a small-plate pupu-style menu of the same caliber that includes dishes like truffle flatbread pizza and ahi poke with avocado mousse, popcorn shrimp with real popcorn and the ahi and tofu “panna cotta” salad (pictured).

The programming:

Although its emphasis will be more clublike on Friday and Saturday nights (expect to see lots of celebrity guest DJs here, as well as well-known local Top 40 club DJs like Compose, Anit and Toma), the management is aiming for more of the rooftop bistro lounge vibe. SKY will be open seven days a week, from 4 p.m.-midnight, except for Fridays and Saturdays, when it will be open until 2 a.m.

There will likely be a cover charge on weekend nights, but already SKY is trying to make locals feel welcome, with perks like getting in free for the first hour, something that other upscale Waikiki clubs like Addiction have failed to do.

The crowd:

(from FrolicHawaii.com 8/27/15 – Amanda Stevens)

HONOLULU Fashion Week returns this fall as a three-day event, from Nov. 20-22, that highlights international and local designers with runway shows, VIP events, pop-up boutiques, exclusive merchandise and more.

Super exciting… Fern Mallis who created 7th on Sixth Productions in 1991, which eventually turned into the famous New York Fashion Week will be a special guest, as will Honolulu-born Harold Koda, curator-in-charge of the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Another new element this year is Runway to Runway, a fashion show featuring international designers including CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund finalist Todd Snyder from New York, Ellery by Kym Ellery from Sydney, Lie Sandbong by Lie Sang Bong from Seoul and Aula Aila by Yukimi Kawashima from Tokyo. These designers, along with Hawaii’s own Kaypee Soh will present capsule collections inspired by the fashion markets and destinations serviced by presenting sponsor Hawaiian Airlines.

Two popular shows featured last year Live Aloha and Get Out! will showcase various design aesthetics from local talent. Confirmed designers for these shows include: Allison Izu, Bliss Lau, Cameron Hawaii, Florencia Arias, Ink & Tailor, In4mation, Kini Zamora, Language of the Birds, Mahiku Activewear, Malia Jones, Matt Bruening, Moon Collective, Reyn Spooner, Roberta Oaks, Salt Liko, Sig Zane and Tiffany Chou.

Also, the same crew who made the magic happen last year will be back — Lynne O’Neill fashion show producer NYFW, Don Sumada stylist for magazine editorials and fashions shows, Roman Young Creative Director, Wilhelmina International, Bobby Gutierrez Image/Celebrity Manager, Wilhelmina NY, Keke Lingard international model, Gordon E.W. Link lighting and set designer, and Eli Schmidt photographer. Artists John Koga and Lawrence Seward will be leading the design and construction of the Pop-up Boutique during the event week.

Calling all aspiring models, Sunday from 12-2 p.m. there will be an island-wide model search led by Young and Gutierrez. Both are originally from Hawaii and have more than 35 years of fashion industry experience combined. In addition, O’Neill will be offering tips on how to walk the catwalk.

What: HONOLULU Fashion Week Presented by Hawaiian Airlines
When: Nov. 20-22
Where: Hawaii Convention Center
More: For additional details on scheduled events, visit honolulufashionweek.com

(from FrolicHawaii.com 8/26/15 – Amanda Stevens)

Reyn Spooner unveiled its Hawaii Food & Wine Festival collection Wednesday night at its Ala Moana Center store. Original prints from two Hawaii Island artists, Dietrich Varez and Eddy Y, were used to create men’s and women’s tees in a design called Au , as well as Island Feast and Na Kanaka I Ka’aina, both limited edition aloha shirts.

HFWF co-creator Roy Yamaguchi and his crew served up delicious sushi and poke, while mixologist Chandra Lucariello offered up fun versions of the Paloma and Moscow Mule. With food, drinks, music and fashion, this was the ultimate pau hana.

(from FrolicHawaii.com 8/21/15 – Amanda Stevens)

Royal Hawaiian Center presented its RSTYLE Enchanted Garden Party and fashion show Thursday night, showcasing this season’s hottest fashions. Apparel, jewelry and accessories were selected from a number of popular boutiques: Anteprima Wirebag, Allure Swimwear, Aloha Aina Boutique, BaliHai Hawaii, Calypso St. Barth, Island Slipper, Kobe Jewelry, Furla, Island Fashions, Royal Hawaiian Boutique, Royal Hawaiian Golf Shop and Western Classics.

Stylist Tyson Joines stayed true to the colors of the season and brought a cohesive vibe from toasted almond and aquamarine shades in swimwear, to tangerine and strawberry ice hues in the dresses and wraps. I especially loved the fun golf wear from the Royal Hawaiian Golf Shop and handbag selections from Furla. Jeanne Kapela, Miss Hawaii 2015, was one the models in the show along with other finalists and contestants from the pageant.

Lady Gaga tribute artist from the Rock a Hula show and back-up dancers ignited the crowd before the fashion show.

Scenes from the RStyle 2015 Enchanted Garden fashion show:

Here’s some shots we snapped before and after the fashion show:

Royal Hawaiian Center Enchanted Garden Party Pics

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-Photos by Eric Baranda

(from FrolicHawaii.com 8/16/15 – Amanda Stevens and Tracy Chan)

It was hot at this month’s Honolulu Night Market, themed Summertime Blues, but there were lots of opportunities to cool off. A new feature this month was the Summer Sips VIP section, a pop-up offering samples of cocktails and beer from local beverage companies, plus food samples, for just $30.

On Cooke Street, Milk Tea Hawaii had a steady line, serving up refreshing tea and coffee drinks. Flavors of the World food booth was slammin’ all night, with many finding it hard to resist the giant meatball sandwiches or BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.

Clothing and beauty booths this month included The Dandy Boutique, Moon Collective, Culture Club and My Aloha Post. This month’s fashion show was by Kira Hawaii, a new boutique that opened in Mililani last month. Kira Hawaii is also a jewelry line, and the pieces featured on the runway included unique geometric rings, cuffs, earrings and necklaces. The jewelry was complemented by sweet yet sultry swimwear by Indah and Somedays Lovin, plus light, flowing day and night looks from brands like Show Me Your Mumu.

Kira Hawaii fashion show: