1. YETI coolers are a hot commodity, with somewhat of a cult following; but the line of outdoor lifestyle gear featuring ice chests and insulated cups is also quite pricey! A colleague quipped YETI’s coffee cup was “the BMW of mugs.” Yet you don’t have to dish out $200-plus, the cost of a six-pack-sized cooler, to get on team YETI.
With the 1-pound reusable ice block ($14.99), my packed lunch stays chilled all day. The 2-pound version ($19.99) is handy for grocery runs, keeping produce happy in a thermal bag while I do a quick errand or two on the way home.
Plus the drinkware ($24.99 and up) makes a cool gift. All your friends already have some sort of thermal cup? Then they may not spring for a YETI and you’ll get kudos for the option. I gave a beer Colster koozie to one who reports “all my buddies are jealous;” a 20-ounce Rambler tumbler to another who filled it with an iced drink, forgot it in the car and next morning there was still ice left. And my son deemed his gifted 14-ounce Rambler mug worthy enough to pack for a monthlong mainland camping trip.
The drinkware and ice blocks are available at Town & Country Surf Designs, West Marine, yeti.com and other sports retailers.
— Ruby Mata-Viti, Star-Advertiser
2. A local touch for dry, chapped lips and other spots, Surfer’s Salve is a fragrant, soothing beeswax/olive oil balm to dab or spread on with fingertips. Its fresh, appealing fragrance comes from a mix of all-botanical ingredients with healing properties: rosemary, lavender, comfrey, plantain, aloe and tea tree oil.
Perfect neutralizers for sunburn, minor rashes and bug bites, made on Kauai by Island Soap & Candle Works, Surfer’s Salve comes in a handy .5-ounce stick ($5.49) and, best of all, reusable metal tins: The .8-ounce tin ($5.49) is perfect for pocket, purse or carry-on bag and can be refilled from the 4-ounce mother tin ($9.99).
Available at Whole Foods markets or at surfersalve.com.
— Mindy Pennybacker, Star-Advertiser
3. Everyone knows the Kona region on Hawaii island produces some of the best coffee on Earth. Now, thanks to Kona Coffee Purveyors, you can explore the finer differences between beans grown in different areas within Kona.
The company’s new Kona Collection Box ($50) offers a taste of three types of Kona coffee via beans sourced from Konawaena (Central Kona), Hualalai (North Kona) and Mauna Loa (South Kona).
All three are grown at high elevations and are characterized as “smooth” with notes of chocolate flavor. And since each coffee is grown in a different type of soil —including volcanic rock — those with trained palates should be able to discern the unique traits in each of the three 4-ounce bags in the box.
Kona Coffee Purveyors is located at the International Market Place in Waikiki. Call 450-2364.
— Jason Genegabus, Star-Advertiser
4. What I did on my summer vacation: Bought a knife. OK, really I went on an Alaskan cruise and bought a knife.
It’s called an ulu knife, which I initially thought meant they grow breadfruit in Alaska, but no, wrong language. The knife is a traditional tool originally made with a stone blade and a handle of wood or bone. It was put to all manner of uses, from skinning animals to self-defense, although as a practical matter most modern uses involve cutting meat and vegetables.
Mine is the inexpensive-type sold in gift shops at all the cruise-ship ports, easy to dismiss as touristy bric-a-brac. But I watched a video (YouTube has many) and decided it would be worth the very moderate investment ($8.99).
The ulu’s curved blade is great for chopping herbs, using a rocking motion. Having the handle above the blade means you can really lean into each cut. I’m working on other uses, and probably will invest in a better blade some day.
If you’re not headed to Alaska, ulu knives are sold through many online sources (start with the alaskafurexchange.com) at prices from less than $20 to more than $100. I’d suggest one that comes with a “chopping bowl” — a cutting board with a concave center fitted to the blade, which allows for speedy chopping and keeps cut pieces contained.
— Betty Shimabukuro, Star-Advertiser
Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. The information presented represents the authors’ opinions and experiences; your results may vary. Tell us what you are loving this week by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.
