Jetset Style :: Aloha Wear

[trip style = beach + sun]

Who's to blame for the Hawaiian shirt's bad rep? Tommy Bahama? Magnum P.I.? Dads everywhere for their dressed-up vacation look? Kitsch is back, and this time it's not just for dads or the tropics. If we believe GQ Magazine, Oahu might be the new capital of fashion.

Chief Trip Stylist Trish, who's currently camped out on Maui, has seen her fair share of island fashion. She met a couple on the ferry to Lanai last week who own more than 50 matching sets of aloha wear. They loved visiting the Islands so much that they moved to Kauai, where they match their palm fronds and hibiscus flowers in peace every day. And aloha, as it happens, translates to peace.

Trip Styler Tip: Look for Trish's favorite locally designed beachwear brand, Otaheite Hawaii {see photo above}, at their flagship store in Wailea, in boutiques across the Islands and online.

Now for a little history lesson: Made iconic in the 1950s when Elvis took Hawaii—and the rest of the world—by storm, the Hawaiian shirt goes further back than America's tiki craze. Hawaiians went without shirts altogether before missionaries came to the Islands and introduced them to bark cloth shirts and muumuus. Then, when the tourists came in the 20s, small tailors made them custom pattered shirts to bring home as souvenirs, and Hawaiians began to wear the shirts for special occasions. In the 30s, a native Hawaiian with a Yale business degree became the first mass producer of the shirts and gave them the name by which they're still called by locals today, aloha shirts.

Say "Aloha" to aloha wear.

Men
Clockwise from top left: Gitman 3-D short sleeve shirt, Burkman Bros hawaiian scenic printed shirt, Sandro printed poplin shirt, Gitman aloha camp shirt, Freemans Sporting Club slim-fit floral-print shorts, Ovadia & Sons palm-print shirt

Women 
Clockwise from top left: Mara Hoffman cutout tie back dress, Brave Soul hawaii tropical 2-piece set, Ted Baker tunic dress, Otaheite Hawaii hulali mini, Daisy Street crop top, House of Hackney giant canvas tote, Mikoh printed bikini

This post is written by Trip Styler's Assistant Wayfarer/Editor Heather.

Related
Jetset Style :: The New Tunic
Jetset Style :: Kimonos
Jetset Style :: Summer Swimwear Trends

Oahu's Best Shave Ice

[trip style = beach + foodie]

This post is written by Trip Styler fashion and lifestyle blogger Heather.

Shave ice is to Hawaii as gelato is to Italy: completely acceptable to eat every day. While exploring Oahu last month, Trip Styler Trish and I were on the two-shave-ice-a-day diet. What better way to enjoy the island than a shave ice tour? Follow the map for our top picks of iconic Hawaiian heaven in a cup.

Did you know? Shave ice arrived in Hawaii in the early 1900s, brought over from Japan by plantation workers.

1. Shimazu Store, Honolulu This hidden gem is no more than a small storefront overlooking the freeway. What it lacks in ambiance, it makes up for in taste. Homemade flavors include red velvet, peaches and cream, milk tea and peanut butter chocolate. At this locals' favorite, portions are large and service is no nonsense. {link}

2. Matsumoto Shave Ice, Haleiwa Any trip to the North Shore calls for a stop at Matsumoto for Haleiwa's most popular sweet treat. This 60-year-old icy institution serves up a rainbow of traditional flavors like strawberry, pineapple, lime, guava, and my personal favorite, lilikoi. On a busy day, they serve 1,000 shave ices to camera-toting tourists and barefoot locals. {link}

3. Island Snow, Kailua This delicious shave ice counter is tucked into the back of a skate shop, a block from one of the most beautiful beaches on Oahu. It's also the number one choice for Trip Styler Trish and President Obama, who stops by with the First Family every winter. Trish recommends getting one with ice cream or condensed milk on top. {link}

4. Uncle Clay' House of Pure Aloha, Hawaii Kai My top pick is also the most guilt free of the four. Uncle Clay's uses all-natural, homemade syrups that have none of the artificial flavors or colorings found in most shave ice. Flavors here include mango, coconut, green tea, lychee and my favorite, kale-spinach-apple. It was the only place we didn't get a heavy-feeling sugar buzz. Extra points for the most aloha staff on the island. {link}

Trip Styler Tip: I highly recommend paying the extra $0.50 for the plastic cup holder unless you can eat your treat in less than three minutes {brain freeze!}.

[map by @heatherlovesit, photos by @tripstyler & @heatherlovesit]

Fashion Friday :: Surfer Style

[trip style = beach]

Fashion Friday posts are published on the last Friday of every month by fashion and lifestyle blogger Heather.

Puka shell necklaces are back, y'all! Just kidding---thank goodness---but surfer style is alive and well and living on Oahu. Last month, I took my first trip to Hawaii, where I rediscovered my high school love for all things surf. Once you get past the Tommy Bahama shirts and the wear-it-30-different-ways sarongs of Waikiki, there's a whole island of beach style to embrace---lest you look like a Haole.

Now What To Pack? Women (clockwise from top left) Reef creamy leather sandals, Quiksilver lamrocks butler shorts, Quiksilver stavi hat, Spell cambodian tribal bag, Free People big dipper oversized tee, Billabong only good vibes blanket towel, Billabong sunset ryder hat, Free People sunkissed flora racerback tank

Men (clockwise from middle right) Quiksilver railed long sleeve shirt, Quiksilver malone sweatshirt, Reef warrior stripe, Reef suicides chino, Reef kitchi kah mi win shoes

More Fashion Friday Life's a Beach Romantic Caribbean Cabin Fever

[top photos via reef.com, collage by @heatherlovesit]

Roam+Board :: Makena Resort

[trip style = beach + sun + budget conscious]

{Editor's Note: This is the final post (for now---there's always time for Maui), in our four-part Maui Waui miniseries exploring the tropics by way of boutique hotels, budget stays and big-name resorts.}

What
Makena translates to “a land of abundance and plenty” in Hawaiian, and this 1800-acre version of Hawaii is on full display at Makena Resort, a quiet, lush and sprawling ode to super natural Maui. Within minutes of arriving at the removed resort, I hit the beach {priorities, right?} and true to the translation, spot a turtle as I'm snorkeling just offshore.

Reinventing the face of the 80s-built Maui Prince, the hotel’s new owners graced the 310-room space---in the multi-millions---with retro-nouveau injections like reimagined circular pools accented by citrus-hued umbrellas and seven free-to-use cabanas, and restored mid-century furniture throughout.

One feature that makes the hotel really special is its shape and uber use of indoor-outdoor space. Every room has a lanai and from every lanai there's an ocean view. At night I take advantage of my seafront setting and fall asleep with my balcony door open to the sound of the wind rustling the palms and the crashing ocean waves. Ahhh.

Where
Makena, Maui, five minutes South of Wailea and a 30-minute drive from Maui’s main airport {OGG}.

When
Maui’s 25-degree C average temperature attracts visitors year-round. High season tends to revolve around major holidays/breaks like American Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break and summer. Visit in fall, Jan/Feb and late-spring for fewer crowds and cheaper rates.

Who/Why
Budget-conscious travelers who don't want to sacrifice setting or style, and score on amenities like a sugary-sand beach with super snorkeling, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course, tennis club, multiple restaurants and open-air beachfront spa to name a few.

Cost
Rates start at $209 and include self-parking, WiFi, pool cabanas, and a complimentary shuttle service that takes you to and from nearby Wailea. NO RESORT FEE! Oh, and every room has a fridge.

More Maui
Maui Waui :: What's New In Wailea
Roam+Board :: Napili Kai
Maui Waui :: Paia
Another Side of Hawaii
Finding the Modern in Waikiki

[photos taken by @tripstyler---except arial shot courtesy makena resort---while exploring Maui as a guest of the hotel]