March Events in Hawaii

February 23rd, 2010

For those of you that may be visiting Hawaii or live there, March is filled with colorful festivals, events and fun things to do.  Hawaii Aloha posted a March list of festivities which span all over Hawaii.

Maui
March 13th – Hear the sounds of Lima Wela,  located in the McCoy Studio Theater at the  Maui Arts/Cultural Center (Kahului), and listen to a musical fusion of Latin, Hawaiian, Jazz, Rock and R&B.

March 13th-14th – Ocean Arts Festival, which is celebrating the migration of Humback Whales, will feature presentations, marine themed art and more.

March 27th- Maui Start! Heart Walk and health Fair.  Join in a beautiful 1.5 and 3 mi walk around Keopuolani Park to promote good health.

The Big Island
March 4-25th- Sweet Bread Baking at the Traditional Portuguese Oven.  Thursdays 10am-1pm, learn about the tradition and how to bake sweet bread.

March 1st-29th- Visit one of Hawaii’s rainforests at the Hawaii volcanoes National Park for a nature walk.

March 13th – Kona Brewer’s Festival

Kuai
March 28th- Kauai All-Girls Rodeo.  CJM Country Stables Koloa.

march 26th-27th: 2010 Kauai Orchid and Art Festival.  See beautifully and extravagant flower arrangements, while also enjoying music, food and art.

Oahu
March 13th-14th – 16th Annual Honolulu Festival which should bring in over 5000 participants and visitors.  One of the biggest cultural events in Hawaii that will feature a Grand parade through Waikiki.

March 18th-20th – A showcase of Tahitian and French Polynesian dance fused with the up-beat drumming style of the South Pacific.  Heiva | Honolulu.

There’s lots to do this March and we hope you find yourself among great company and enjoying all the wonderful things Hawaii has to offer.

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The “It” Spring Handbag for Less

February 8th, 2010

Chanel "coco country" bag

image via “BagSnob.com“

Here at Maui Dean one of the things we believe in most is that style can come at any price, and that you can often get the latest trend at an affordable cost.  While looking at a lot of the spring lines, and handbag blogs online, we came across this spring Chanel “Panier en toile tisée” raffia braided and woven tote.  It’s refreshing from the typical heavy materials, structural leathers and complicatedly designed bags we saw throughout last fall and winter.

This “Coco Country” bag, has that unpretentious feel with accents that are classic to Chanel such as the woven emblem and the traditional leather handles.  Though with a $5,400 price tag, it’s definitely a hefty investment and not for the feint of heart.

So to offer you a casual woven bag for less, here is the Napili Beach Bag.  At only $21.90, it leaves your wallet with extra money to dress up the bag with your favorite accessories.  You can carry this bag by itself or treat it like a blank canvas that you can accessorize depending on your outfit or mood.   Just like the Chanel bag above, rather than having a logo emblem, you can pin on your favorite broach or adorn a beautiful necklace/bracelet around the handle to act as a purse charm.

For those looking for a similar shape to the Chanel bag, you can also go with the “Coby Coco” bag in a variety of colors.  This bag not only has a similar shape but also a similar size in the top handles along with a front pocket.

This spring, when you finally put away your winter wear and bring out your fun prints or summer dresses, get creative with your favorite fashions and mix up accessories to achieve the look without breaking the bank.

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Valentine’s Day Tropical Gift Ideas

February 2nd, 2010

With the new year now settled in, it’s time to embrace February the month of love!.  Valentine’s day (Feb. 14th) is only a couple weeks away and instead of opting for the traditional flowers and chocolates we wanted to give you our top 5 gift ideas that will be thoughtful long after the day and month has passed.

Mango Flame-less Candle

It is said that most memories are not just traced back through vision senses but also through the sense of smell.  With this gift, everytime the candle is turned on, they will be sure to think of you!

Island Starfish Necklace

Like snowflakes, it is said that no two starfish are exactly alike.  Let her know how special she is with this intricately unique, Mother of Pearl starfish pendant necklace.   Now on sale!

Bamboo Picture Frame

Insert a photo that captures a special moment and give the gift of a special memory.

Wind Chime

This Hawaiian hand painted wind chime, made of wood and shells is the perfect addition to any patio or backyard to give a tropical feel every time a gentle breeze passes.

Mother of Pearl Necklace

Timeless and classic, a pearl necklace never goes out of style and is something that can be handed down through generations.  Now on Sale!

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The Handbag Look for Less

January 12th, 2010

Welcome to the MauiDeanOnline.com Blog, where we bring you fashion, fun and tropical flare to your everyday life!  For your “shopping excursion” we want to show that you can look fabulous without breaking the bank.

Whenever tying a look together, women often forget that it’s the accessories that actually complete a look.  The handbag is one of most important accessories.  Not only does it house all of our daily necessities, but it’s a fashion statement in itself.

Michael Kors Santorini

images via MichaelKors.com

Tropical influences in fashion is nothing new.  From florals to natural textures and bold colors, each element is infused in accessories and clothing to express the carefree and jet setting styles.  Whether your destination is an island in St. Barths or just to work or dinner with a friend, you can zest up your look with a bit of island infusion.

One of the biggest re-occurring trends over the past couple seasons are handbags made from wicker or other natural materials.  Michael Kors created the straw woven Santorini Tote for a day at the beach or even as an on the go tote to carry anything you could possibly need.  Though it’s beautifully constructed with eye-catching accents, at $695 the price point is definitely not for the faint at heart.

Just as cute and for a great value of  $34.00, our Pandanus Coby Coco Bag in Natural can be paired with jeans and a t shirt, or dressed up with heels and a skirt. You can even add a bit of sophistication to this handbag by tying a handy scarf to one of the handles, that could also come in use if you become chilly.

For those that aren’t a fan of carrying too large of a tote and prefer something a bit more composed, we suggest the Pandanus Grass Pagoda Clutch which is still large enough to carry everything you need, but is sleeker and unlike most clutches, also has a handle.  At $19.00, you have a quality clutch that will go with almost anything and still allow you money to splurge on other accessories.

Check back for frequent updates on fashion, everyday living and how to’s on all things tropical!

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