Hot Hot Hawaii. Super Refreshing Mist.

These days, even though the tradewinds are blowing, it does seem a bit hot. In fact, one of our weatherpeople said that the two weeks at the end of August, and those at the beginning of September are the hottest. For me personally, the hot months head all the way through October, and last year, they even got into November.

At Lanikai Bath and Body, we have the perfect refresher in our aromatherapy mists -- Air, Earth, Ocean and Fire. Our Lavender line also has a face mist -- essentials oils, too... and there is a Pikake Mist in our Lanikai Home line.

Hope to see you soon ... at Lanikai Bath and Body!
(pictured here is Fire)

Little League Moms Deserve Lanikai Breeze!

Hugs, Kisses and congratulations to all of the Waipio little leaguers in their win over Mexico for the Little League World Series Championship! How exciting for them, and for the state of Hawaii!

We women know they couldn't have made it without their Moms --and that the hardworking Moms deserve some kudos too. Lanikai Breeze Pikake Body Wash and Bubble Bath from Lanikai Bath and Body would be wonderful, don't you think?

MeBath for Michelle!

Michelle Obama looked lovely, and did a great job with her speech at the Democratic convention tonight.

Whether you are a republican or a democrat, you really have to acknowledge how far this country has come, that we are even considering a black family for the WHITE house. It is very hopeful, I think, and I hope it lifts people up everywhere.

So I am sure that all of this stuff has been exhausting for her and she has sacrificed a lot for her husband's dream. However it turns out, I wish her the best, and lots of warm and relaxing baths after all of this is over.

With MeBath of course! From Lanikai Bath and Body.

Cindy McCain Uses Lanikai Home in All 7 Kitchens

Probably not. But she should. Lanikai Home Pikake Mist, hand soap and hand sanitizer are among the most popular products at Lanikai Bath and Body.

And, they aren't expensive. So we are encouraging her to throw out that expensive stuff she got from Williams Sonoma and replace it with Lanikai Bath and Body Pikake Home products.

After all, the home line was named with one of Hawaii's favorite princesses in mind...and everyone who visits her home(s) will be glad she is supporting Lanikai Bath and Body!

Barack Obama Said "I Nominate Joe Biden"

I told you he would announce it on this blog.

Right Behind Bryan -- Kahuku's Natasha Kai

Drive just a little further down the road from Kaneohe, starting in Kailua (where Lanikai Bath and Body is located) and you will reach the hometown of Natasha Kai, UH standout who played on the women's soccer team that JUST WON THE GOLD!! in Beijing.

That's our Natasha in the pink running bra, pulling a Brandi Chastain at the end of the one goal winning game with Brazil!

MeBaths and Body Butters all around!

World's Greatest Athlete is from Kaneohe!

Imua Brian Clay! Another one of Hawaii's athletes gets gold.

Bryan Clay lives in Kaneohe. the town right next door to Kailua, where, as our readers know, Lanikai Bath and Body is located. Bryan is exhausted, according to the press, and so we will have to get him some Hawaiian Healing Salve as soon as he gets home.

Apparently, the Decathlon determines "the world's greatest athlete" -- so take that Michael Phelps -- a Kaneohe boy takes home the title!

Makana

Makana means "gift" in Hawaiian --- and it is, like so many Hawaiian words, a very special word.

At Lanikai Bath and Body, we look at each and everyone of the items in our store as makana. We lovingly wrap soaps so they can be a perfect gift-to-go. We call our products necessary luxuries. Blue satin ribbons adorn MeBath. Votive candles are boxed in perfect fours.

Special soaps are carved to perfection : sitting buddhas, buddha heads, venus de milo,three little pigs, hear-no-see-no-speak-no little monkeys, laboradors, golden retrievers, and even Our Lady of Guadalupe. Perfect makana, every one.

We gather several 2.2. ounce lotions in a garden "slider" -- perfect gift. We will
wrap anything you want, and we have complimentary gift wrapping.

We can make special orders -- even giant makana -- and ship to just about anywhere you want. Lanikai Bath and Body -- the perfect place for makana.

Hawaii Players Shine at The Olympics

Beach Volleyball may belong to biniki-ed beauties from Southern California, but court volleyball belongs alot to Hawaii. Perennial Coach Dave Shoji has been tremendous at recruiting outstanding volleyball plays for the UH Women's team.

Today (or yesterday or tomorrow, I am not sure because what we watch here is definitely not live) The USA Women's team beat Poland in "pool play" at the Olympics.
It was so much fun to see former UH stars Kim Willoughby and Heather Bown, and other familiar names including Logan Tom and Robyn Ah-Mow Santos in the mix.

So from all of us at Lanikai Bath and Body to the U.S. Women's Team -- congratulations and hana hou!

John McCain Ordered Online

Just giving equal time in the arena of the unbelievable (and also not true).

But he should have ordered online. We have lots of stuff that Cindy McCain would like, and he could use some of our Pohaku for men sandalwood toner, lotion, shampoo and wash.

Lanikai Bath and Body is a great place for everyone who loves Hawaii and things natural. All natural, much of it organic, made on Maui in the cool of Kula, and totally Hawaii. Smells great. Feels great.

Yay! Natasha!

Lanikai Bath and Body sends a big shout out to Hawaii's Natasha Kai -- who got the goal against Canada that sends the U.S. team into the semi-finals at the Olympics.

Hana Hou U.S. Women's Soccer and Natasha Kai!

Barack Obama Visited Our Store

Nah. Just kidding. But Barack Obama should have visited our store. He was recently in Hawaii on vacation, and he went to Boston North End Pizza and Island Snow, basically triangulating with our store -- but did not make it there as far as we know.

This teeny tiny picture of him and his kids and his friends shows them eating shave ice at Island Snow which is a really cool thing to do when you visit Kailua. So is a visit to Lanikai Bath and Body ... too bad Barack missed it.

Scrub a Dub Dub

In the hot and sticky summertime, a relaxing shower is often just the thing.

You can improve on it -- especially if yu skin is dried by sun and ocean -- with one of our wonderful scrub a dub dub Lanikai Bath and Body exfoliating scrubs.

Pictured here 00 Mango Coconut, mixed with macadamia nut oil and Hawaiian Sea Salt, it is sure to make you feel zingy and smelling like summer.

If Mango coco is not your tihing, try Kamuela Rose, Tahitian Gardenia, Plumeria or and of the others---wonderful, light and relaxing.

Refreshing on a Hot Summer Day

Although the trades have been fairly steady, they are interupted by the occasional humid day -- that's when it is good to have some Lanikai Bath and Body Home products nearby.

Sticky hands? Our Pikake hand sanitizer is a perfect solution,especially if you are on the go -- it fits perfectly into purse or pocket.

At home, the Pikake fragrance mist freshens the air around you, the linens on your bed -- just about anything you can think of.

And the handwash is handy, in kitchen or bath with the same lovely Pikake scent.

You can always stop by the store at 600 Kailua Road for a cool respite from the hot Hawaiian summer. We'd love to see you!

Perfect Trip Size

Our wonderful Naupaka (coconut lime verbena) for kane (men) and wahine (women) now comes in a 4 ounce size for the lotion, wash, shampoo and conditioner.

It is perfect to take on trips -- the scent appeals to a broad audience of both men and women -- and we find that more and more people are doing just that.

The picture above is of our whole Naupaka collection -- but we wanted to let you know that this popular best seller is now available in two sizes: 8.5 ounce and 4 ounce.

Hope to see you soon at Lanikai Bath and Body.

San Mateo Tree House

You may think this has nothing to do with Hawaii or Lanikai Bath and Body, but it does, because it is a picture of my nephew Gregory, after his recent trip to Hawaii and visits to Lanikai Bath and Body (and some stunning spur-of-the-moment merchandising there).

He is sitting on a bridge he and his sister, Michele, built as part of their giant tree fort -- with power tools -- all on their own. Putting it to good use, Gregory is reading, one of his favorite things to do.

Could the title of the book be "How to get back to Aunt Gloria's in Hawaii?"
I hope so.

Bartender, Masseuse & Entertainer

Mahina, daughter of Mihana Souza and granddaughter of the late Irmagard Aluli, spends Fridays and Saturdays as a masseuse at wonderful Hina'ea Spa in Kailua.
Today, she told me that she loves our Naupaka massage oil, and usually uses it for her clients, but she had run out. (Naturally, I went and got her some more after my wonderful massage).

You may recognize her as the bartender on weeknights at popular Buzz's steakhouse, and she also sings with her mother's group Puamana.

So we recommend that you book a massage by Mahina from Hina'ea Spa. It's terrific.

July's Favorites

Topping the sales at Lanikai Bath and Body in July were: Hawaiian Tap 22 ounce bottles, followed by 2.2 ounce Pikake, 2.2 ounce Plumeria, and 2.2 ounce Pineapple Coconut lotions. Tied with the Pine Coco lotion was slipper soap.

Just thought you'd like to know...

Watch Out For Falling Cannon Balls

No kidding! This incredibly, compellingly weird tree is called a Cannon Ball Tree because of the large fruit it bears which look remarkably (no, exactly) like brown cannon balls.

It also has some lovely flowers, and a strange,hairy-looking trunk. It's at Foster Botannical Gardens in downtown Honolulu, and next to it there is a sign, which warns: "watch out for falling cannon balls."

Buddha Sat Here

The beautiful Bo Tree in the center of Foster Gardens grew to its commanding size from a cutting that was from a tree that was from a cutting of the original Bo Tree
or Bodhi Tree, a large and very old Sacred Fig tree, located in Bodh Gaya (about 100 km/62 mi from Patna in the Indian state of Bihar.)

It was under the Bodh Gaya Bo Tree that Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism later known as Gautama Buddha, achieved enlightenment, or Bodhi. In religious iconography, the Bodhi tree is easily recognizable from its heart shaped leaves.

Buddhists come and sit under Foster Garden's Bo Tree, connecting themselves back to Buddha, seeking their own enlightenment. Nearby the famous old Bo Tree is a very small Bo Tree that is growing to keep the line alive, in the event the old Bo Tree gives way to mother nature.

Beauty in the City

Foster Gardens, which sits right on the edge of downtown Honolulu, is a beautiful bontannical garden full of the most amazing trees. It is one of five botannical gardens owned by the City and County of Honolulu, and is definitely worth a visit.
If you call ahead, you can reserve a spot on the dialy 1:00 tours led by volunteer docents. Hearing the stories of the garden from them will really enhance your visit.

Dennis Kim, of Native Plants, arranged for our Rotary club to have an off-site visit to this incredible place, less than a mile from our usual meeting place on the 20th floor of The Plaza Club. Along with a wonderful continental breakfast, we received special tours from one of the botanists and the head of Foster Gardens.

A little bit of history from the C&C of Honolulu's website:

Foster Garden traces its beginning to 1853 when Queen Kalama leased a small area of land to William Hillebrand, a young German doctor. A botanist as well as a physician, he and his wife built a home in the upper terrace area of the present garden. The magnificent trees which now tower over this area were planted by him. After twenty years in Hawaii, he returned to Germany and produced the excellent botanic treatise, Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (1888).

The Hillebrand property was later sold to Thomas (Captain) and Mary Foster who added to it and continued to develop the garden. Upon Mrs. Foster's death in 1930, the 5.5 acre site was bequeathed to the City and County of Honolulu as a public garden. The Foster Botanical Garden opened to the public on November 30, 1931, with Dr. Harold Lyon as its first director. Over a span of 27 years, Dr. Lyon introduced 10,000 new kinds of trees and plants to Hawaii.