hapa | hale

Anybody who's spent any amount of time in Hawaii will definitely come away with the sense that the islands have a distinctive style, all their own. Unfortunately, that style is often stereotypically represented by nothing more than a lei and a luau. Obviously, there's a great deal more to Hawaii's fashion and food sensibilities, not to mention the tastes of individual Hawaiians. That's where hapa | hale comes in. Written by an island girl living on the mainland, the blog offers "everything modern & fresh from Hawai'i" -- from surfwear to food to travel. If you're a frequent visitor to Hawaii, this is a great way to keep the islands on your mind, without resorting to humming "Aloha Oe." And if you're a native Hawaiian, make sure you check out hapa | hale's locals only category for the inside scoop.