5 Things We Love

1. Tucked into the municipal parking lot in Kaimuki, Sugarcane Shop is a bright spot for beachy gifts, including some vintage selections, cowrie shell jewelry, Get Salty trucker caps and an alcove full of children’s clothes and accessories. Fresh, local and especially pleasing: a selection of elegantly printed, island-designed Cultivate Hawaii tea towels ($18) and Nanigirl Originals jewelry, made in Kailua from precious metals and semiprecious stones. I picked out Nanigirl earrings made with kyanite, 14-karat gold hooks and a dangling, tiny starfish for $30. Find the shop at 1137 11th Ave., No. 101. Call 739-2263 or visit instagram.com/sugarcanehawaii.

— Elizabeth Kieszkowski, Star-Advertiser

2. I may never get to Turkey, and I can’t afford a Turkish carpet, but I’ve got a soft, cotton towel that was woven there. Lightweight but warm, it’s perfect as a TV throw or to wrap myself in at the movies or while watching the sunset and moonrise on the lanai. The fresh, nautical stripes will sail nicely into spring, and if I ever do go to Turkey, it will make the perfect airplane blanket. In light gray, charcoal gray, ivory, red or navy with contrasting stripes, it’s $38 at The Holiday, 3045 Monsarrat Ave., which also carries lovely cotton/linen dresses and tops made in Japan. Call 824-9992.

— Mindy Pennybacker, Star-Advertiser

3. Wet Brush falls into the category of products I didn’t know I needed until someone gave it to me. I adore my blue snowflake Squirt brush, with bristles firm enough to detangle my hair in seconds but flexible enough to not break my strands. It works well on wet or dry hair, and while full-size brushes are available on the website, my purse-sized Squirt packs enough punch in its 5-1/2 inches to get the job done. Brushes start at $4.99 at Walgreens.

— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser

4. Growing my own herbs has been a perennial goal of mine, and I’ve had starters of basil, mint and oregano that thrived for a while in pots and then dried out when I forgot to water them. Garden-in-a-Can is my first experience growing herbs from seeds and it was amazingly easy. With the help of my kindergartner, we peeled open the can, opened the seed packet, sprinkled, watered and were done. We left two cans by the window, watering them every now and then. Basil and cilantro began to sprout in about a week, much to our delight.

Garden-in-a-Can is from Back to the Roots, a company launched by two college students who became mushroom farmers and entrepreneurs. The cans are filled with nutrient-rich soil and use biochar technology, which the company claims helps your herbs grow for months without chemicals. Find them at amazon.com for $7 to $8 per can or $29.98 for a four-pack, or backtotheroots.com.

— Nina Wu, Star-Advertiser

5. Ice is one commodity you don’t think much about until it’s too late. Whether it’s the big game, a family celebration or a weekend fishing trip, you’ll find a reliable source of the frozen stuff at Hawaiian Ice Co. Open 4 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the company factory is centrally located on Nimitz Highway and set up for grab-and-go action. A large freezer out front holds 7- and 20-pound bags of cubed ice for $1.75 and $4.50, respectively — cheaper than convenience stores. The factory also offers 40-pound bags of ice for $8 and 10-pound ice blocks (perfect for shave ice machines) for $4.50; dry ice is $3 per pound (minimum 3-pound purchase). Find Hawaiian Ice Co. at 1125 N. Nimitz Highway, just Ewa of Pier 38. Call 538-6918.

— Jason Genegabus, Star-Advertiser

“5 Things We Love” is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. Tell us what you are loving by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.