Go Warriors!

For everyone here in Hawaii, it is not only New Year's Eve, but it is the eve of the Sugar Bowl ~ the biggest sporting event in the history of Hawaii, even though it is held in New Orleans. Our University's football team, the Warriors, are in their first BCS Bowl ever, and they are playing a tough team ~ No. 4, Georgia. The Bulldogs, I believe.

Everywhere in town the Warriors green "H" -- looking both tribal and pinking-sheared -- is posted. At the entrance to Kailua, on Kaneohe Ranch's lawn, it is posted with Go Warriors! and lights up at night.

Just saw an ESPN crawl that says that 70% of America (polled on the net, I guess) calls Georgia the winner. Out here, we are certainly part of the 30% that knows Hawaii will prevail.

When 2008 dawns, it will be a new day for Hawaii. Thanks to Coach June Jones, Quarterback Colt Brennan (and backup quaterback Tyler Graunke), Jason Rivers, Davone Bess and all the others for a great and inspiring year for all of us!

Go Warriors!

Children ARE the Heart of the Holidays

If you are anything like me, you're sitting around thinking that maybe Nostradamus was right, and that things aren't about to improve in the coming year ...

Even though we had a great Christmas with our Canadian and Hawaii grandchildren, who filled our house with joyful noises, hopping in and out of the pool with little concern for blue lips and shivers. Well -- that was the Canadians. The Hawaii foursome put a toe in th water, informed me that it was too cold and went inside to decorate gingerbread men.

Here in Hawaii we suffer with a typical Hawaiian winter -- the temperature is in the low 70s and really cold at night (mid 60s sometimes!), the skies are often grey and the ocean is definitely warmer than the backyard pool. We shudder to think we could be on the mainland, where snow drifts are higher than the houses -- but still, we miss the sun and are grateful when it peaks out from behind the clouds.

Now the kids are gone and the house is remarkably quiet. The stress of the holidays -- and indeed they are stressful -- is behind us. Looming ahead are the stresses of the New Year. Thank heavens for holidays with children (and of course for the wonderful, relaxing products of Lanikai Bath and Body!

Keeping Kailua Kailua Kailua Kailua ...

I was surprised to get a comment from a reader who evidently thought, by the Whole Foods blog posted on this site, that I intended to invite people to move here, and to have Safeway build a gigantor store in Kailua.

First of all, I want to say that this is NOT what I intended, and that that particular blog item was written, at a minimum, tongue-in-cheek, and was actually intended to be ironic. I apologize!! But you have to agree, dear reader, that here in Hawaii we rush to the new, else we wouldn't have the world's most profitable Costco, Walmart, etc. but that wasn't my point.

The reader said we don't want to be another Carmel, California (although it would be funny to have Clint Eastwood as our Mayor had we ever succeeded at seceding when Frank Fasi ran the City & County). With no offense intended to the gentle folk of Carmel, I completely agree!

The reason we opened Lanikai Bath and Body in fact was to help keep Kailua as local as possible. The owners and their families have lived in Kailua for over 20 years(one was even born here and grew up in Enchanted Lake when you could still buy a house for under $20K), made our business in Kailua, sent our children to school in Kailua and as the reader noted -- supported the local community in ways too numerous to mention. Our store employs people who live in Kailua, and all of our Lanikai Bath and Body products are made in Hawaii with local ingredients. We have invested oola moola and we believe strongly in our product and our community.

I hope the reader who decried my whole foods post will read this -- because this is
the truth. We love this place, and we don't want it to be Carmel, or Westport, or Newport(East or West Coast) or any other place that is crowded with national retailers that we can access easily elsewhere on our beautiful island. For instance, we could just as easily drive to Whole Foods in Kahala ...

It's All Good

We are super proud of our products and our people. And it's always nice to get confirmation. A special thank you to all of our customers, and to Pat Henriksen, who wrote the note below:

"I don't normally write to someone after I have received their product, but this had to be an exception. I received your products this morning, and just had to let you know how I felt.The care in which you packaged your product was very much appreciated; it was quite obvious that you really cared about how I would feel when I opened it. Your lotions are more than I ever expected them to be; I can't even begin to tell you how very special I felt when I opened them up and was able to experience the unbelievable aromas of Hawaii. This was the first time I had ordered from you, and I promise it will not be the last. Thank you so very much.

A very appreciative customer..."

Pat Henriksen
Draper, S.D.

Tower of Flower (soaps) Power

It's still raining here in these islands, with the looming memories of 40 days and 40 nights of rain two years ago. not gonna happen again, but the thought is alarming!

To cheer ourselves up, we jump in the shower or bath and wash up with our favorite Maiden Hawaii soap ~ made by our favorite sistah Kaina Gomard. We've stacked 'em and packed 'em so you won't run out -- or so every sink in your house can sing with the joy of great soap.

Going to the Dogs

It's pretty wet and soggy here in Kailua, and they say it will be raining most of this week. Which means our dogs will be soggy ~ not just when they go in the ocean or take a dip in the pool, but when they go outdoors to check out the neighborhood.

Just in time for the rain, we have great Soggy Dog towels ~ for large and small dogs.
They're a great complement to our Poi Dog Shampoo and even our fast drying micro fiber doggie towels. The Soggy Dog towels are great for dogs who try to make that fast get away when you want to dry them before they jump on the furniture. You can dry your dog quickly and easily with these super-absorbent, double-stitched pocket towels designed around your dog's body. Two sets of pockets allow you to hold your dog with one hand and clean their paws, noses, bellies and ears with the other.

For quick cleanups, we have doggie towelettes -- made with essential oils, no less.
Those of you with Boxers and Bulldogs will really appreciate these Allure magazine favorites.