5 Things We Love is 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.
Kilani Bakery a Wahiawa must-stop
Add another stop to the list of things we love in Wahiawa: Kilani Bakery, open daily at 704 Kilani Ave. We didn’t have room to feature it a couple of weeks ago, so this neighborhood favorite for more than a half-century is getting its due now. Having grown up in Wahiawa, I have many fond memories of stopping by to pick up a Chantilly cake for Grandma’s house or some oh-so-sweet glazed stick doughnuts to munch on. But if there’s one treat the bakery is synonymous with, it’s brownies. The brownies are perfectly moist and chewy, made with walnuts and dusted with powdered sugar. A container of 15 brownies is $8.75, with smaller packages available. (A warning: You won’t eat just one). — Stefanie Nakasone
Birdbaths add to outdoor enjoyment
It always pains me to watch birds drink out of muddy or greasy pools of found water, and adding a birdbath to your yard adds to the joy of being outdoors, watching the doves, mejiros, sparrows, cardinals and finches swoop in by turn. You can find birdbaths at places like Pier 1 and Walmart, and Geobunga at 4299 Lawehana St. carries artful ceramic pots that can double as baths, as well as fountain features that invite birds to take a dip. A smaller Geobunga outpost at the old CompUSA building at 604 Ala Moana Blvd. features a fountain ($65) powered by a solar panel ($100), along with planters that can be plugged to hold water and smaller ceramic pieces starting at about $35.
But setting up a birdbath need not cost a thing. I started by putting out some of the pottery I made in a ceramics class, as well as old frying pans. Whether art or recyclables, the birds enjoyed them both just fine. — Nadine Kam
Take control of lights wirelessly
I’m not a fan of living room ceiling lights, so instead had several lamps and hopped from one to the other as dusk approached, then did it all again when it was time to turn in. Some new homes are designed with outlets controlled by wall switches, but retrofitting our old house would call for a pro — and electrician plus dollar signs equals procrastination. Then I stumbled upon the GE Wireless Remote Wall Switch. Plug in the receiver, hook your lamp into it, and you’ll have the power to control lights within 100 feet of the source. The remote can be attached to the wall and mimics a Decora-style switch. Comes with everything you need, even the 12-volt A23 remote battery. There’s also a key-chain version, which I’ve employed in other rooms. Both retail for about $16 each at Target, and Home Depot carries one by Defiant for $14.99. That’s hundreds less than hiring an electrician. — Ruby Mata-Viti
Pumice block gets pills off sweaters
Ever get pilling on your clothing? I’ve used those inexpensive electric lint shavers, but Ialways seemed to be lacking in batteries whenever I pulled on a top and noticed those fuzzy balls when I looked in the mirror. Then I saw the Hollywood Sweater Saver, $7.50 at In My Closet in Pearlridge Uptown. The handy brick is made of natural pumice stone and comes with a plastic case so you can carry it with you or leave it in your car or in your desk at work. Just lightly rub the stone over the pill-laden area to remove the fuzz. It can be used on sweaters, blankets, flannel sheets and most knits. It’s also available at the store’s Kahala Mall location. — Michelle Ramos
‘Let It Go’ mix uses 25 languages
As if “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen” isn’t already addictive enough, the hit song is available on YouTube in a multilingual sequence from Walt Disney Animation Studios. I love how it moves seamlessly from English to French, German, Dutch, Mandarin, Swedish, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. There are 25 languages, and 41 dialects in all. More obscure languages, like Hungarian, are included, and I appreciate that different dialects such as Mandarin and Cantonese are incorporated, along with Latin-American Spanish, Castilian Spanish and Catalan. There’s also a distinction between French and Canadian French. The song ends in Flemish. It’s further proof the melody and message of the Academy Award-winning song by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez transcend cultural boundaries. The only bummer is that they couldn’t wrap even more languages, including Hawaiian, into the four-minute tune. Find the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC83NA5tAGE. — Nina Wu
