A shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. What are you loving this week? Send a brief description of your latest favorite thing, where to find it and how much it costs, along with your name and contact info to features@staradvertiser.com.
Kiwi Crate packs tons of craft fun
Now that we’re well into summer, the eternal whine "I’m booooored" can be heard in homes everywhere. There are plenty of sources online for craft ideas, but gathering up the supplies can be time-consuming and costly, especially when you need one pipe cleaner, five sequins, three pompoms and four wooden dowels but are forced to buy a bag of each. Kiwi Crate, a monthly subscription service, provides educational craft boxes with idea pamphlets and all the supplies needed for several projects that encourage creative play and science exploration. Themes include dinosaurs, colors, gardening, medieval fun and more. Each box arrives on your doorstep packed with enough boredom-busting projects to occupy the kids for the weekend and beyond. Crates are $19.95 each, including shipping, at www.kiwicrate.com.
— Donica Kaneshiro
Discover hidden shores in new book
Perhaps the best thing about living in Hawaii is being able to stretch out on a warm, beautiful beach nearly every day of the year. But for most of us, the path to the shore is well worn by habit; we go to familiar places. Not so for beachgoing moms Katherine Garner and Carol Kettner, who turned their curiosity about hidden beaches into the book "O‘ahu Beach Access" (Mutual Publishing, $9.95). Garner, a health writer and yoga instructor, and Kettner, a party planner and playwright, explored 89 public rights of way. Some will still take you to popular beaches, but there are others you probably never heard of, and each one is described with a bit of history and instructions on how to find it. There’s no way to know how accurate they are, but my favorite surf spot, off an East Oahu right of way, was not included, and the surf spot itself was mistakenly listed several miles up the coastline, for which I am deeply grateful to the authors. The place is already crowded enough.
— Mike Gordon
Jazz up your look with jade necklaces
If you’re looking for accessories with an Asian flair but don’t want to spend a fortune, check out these jade necklaces from a Chinatown merchant. The jade is carved into flowers, Buddhas, elephants and other designs and strung on braided cords that can be adjusted for length. Available for $10 at Kingdom Jade & Jewelers, 1101 Maunakea St.
— Nina Wu
Waze app makes driving a breeze
Hate traffic? There’s an app for that! For the past few weeks, I’ve faithfully fired up Waze on my iPhone before hitting the road. The community-based traffic and navigation app helps me avoid slowdowns, road construction and even the occasional speed trap. It also functions as a turn-by-turn navigation system and is configurable to work in hands-free mode.
Want to try Waze for yourself? It’s free; all that’s required is an iPhone and a sign-up via the app. Visit www.bit.ly/wazeapp for more info.
— Jason Genegabus
Keep tots cozy in luxe Peruvian sweaters
A fabulous find at Ala Moana Center is the new Mochica kiosk, offering a taste of Peruvian culture with colorful garments and accessories handcrafted from luxurious, natural alpaca fiber. Owner Javier Bellido has been steadily adding to his inventory with regular shipments from artisans in his native Peru. My favorites include the super-cute hooded baby sweaters ($45). Each one is an original, down to the color combinations, embroidery and designs. They remind me of a sweater my grandma made for me when I was 4 years old. Nobody had anything like it, and I felt so special every time I wore it. Need another reason to shop at Mochica? Bellido donates 2 percent of sales to poor children in Peru and emails photos to customers of how their money was actually used. Find the kiosk on the second floor of the Nordstrom wing or call 392-3906.
— Darcy Shindo, Waipahu
