If a generic wall calendar doesn’t hang right with your New Year’s ambitions, you might like one of these unique, local selections, some of which even support local artists and nonprofit organizations.
1. Native Hawaii: Bold, colorful cutout flowers and expressive line drawings make Laurie Sumiye’s 13-month calendar a keepsake work of art. Her simple shapes are reminiscent of Matisse, with a young, contemporary island flair. The brightness underscores the urgency behind Sumiye’s idea: All of these native blooms are threatened, endangered or extinct. However, most can be bought in nurseries and grown in our gardens — a worthy New Year’s resolution. Printed in vegetable inks on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper with presses powered by wind. $20, lauriesumiyestudio.com — Mindy Pennybacker
2. Year 2016 Ancient Hawaiian Moon Calendar Related to Fishing & Farming: Get in step with the cycles of nature and traditional moon phases for planting and harvesting crops and catching fish from the sea. The Hawaiian lunar year is synchronized with our Western solar calendar in an ingenious wall poster created by Bobbee Mills and produced by the Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club. “The moon phases were so important that Hawaiians referred to time by nights and not days … for example, ‘I will see you two nights from now,’” notes editor Kalei Nu‘uhiwa. We are now in the wet season, Hooilo, and the lunar month of Kaelo starts Jan. 9. Fresh leaves appear on vines, and migrating birds are “fat and greasy.” $15.95 at Na Mea Hawaii, nameahawaii.com, 596-8885 or email pkhcc64@gmail.com — Mindy Pennybacker
3. Hika‘alani Celebrates Halau Mohala Ilima: The fresh-faced, gracefully athletic hula dancers of kumu hula Mapuana de Silva’s Halau Mohala Ilima are photographed in action from the summit of Mauna Kea to the Solomon Islands, as well as onstage, in a lively, colorful calendar. Sales benefit Hika‘alani, a nonprofit organization dedicated to re-establishing Waiauia in Kailua to its former status as a “center of stewardship and learning” of Hawaiian culture. Moon phases and alii birthdays are included. $12 at Na Mea Hawaii, nameahawaii.com, 596-8885 or email halauhikaalani@gmail.com — Mindy Pennybacker
4. Hawaiian Historical Society: This was a “love at first sight” item for me and is a perfect gift for anyone who is interested in the history of Hawaii. The theme for this calendar is “School Time in Hawai‘i — The Nineteenth Century.” The photo for each month shows Hawaii schools and schoolteachers in the 1800s. The calendar lists something of historical note for almost every day — from the printing of the first Hawaiian language lesson (Jan. 7, 1822) and the first delivery of ice to Hawaii (Sept. 14, 1850) to the first bank robbery (Feb. 3, 1934) and the closing of the Oahu Sugar Co. in Waipahu (April 9, 1995). $10, hawaiianhistory.org. Shipping to U.S. addresses is $3; international shipping is $7. — John Berger
5. Buzz’s Steak House Lunar Calendar: In a world increasingly cluttered by digital devices, Buzz’s Original Steak House offers a decidedly low-tech gift option that provides valuable insight for the year ahead — and it’s pleasant to look at, too. Every year, the restaurant features a different local artist on a poster-size lunar calendar that tracks the phases of the moon to let local fisherman, surfers, photographers and others know exactly when the skies over Hawaii will be at their brightest (and darkest) each month.
This year’s calendar showcases a 1991 painting by McGovney Hansen; all proceeds from sales of the $10 calendars will be donated to the Hawaii Foodbank. Call 261-1738 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays to order by phone, or email buzzsste@gmail.com. Calendars can also be purchased at Buzz’s Lanikai (413 Kawailoa Road) and Pearl City (98-751 Kuahao Place) locations. — Jason Genegabus
6. Pets in Paradise: The Hawaiian Humane Society invites the public to submit photos of their pets each year to be chosen for the 12-month “Pets in Paradise” calendar. The 2016 calendar cover features a happy canine at the beach wearing several lei, with the inside pages offering an assortment of animals. Cost is $12, with proceeds benefiting the Hawaiian Humane Society. Find them at the Hawaiian Humane Society adoption center, 2700 Waialae Ave. Call 356-2222 or email kkoss@hawaiianhumane.org or to have calendars shipped to you for an additional $5. Visit hawaiianhumane.org/CalendarSales. — Nina Wu
7. State Historic Preservation Calendar: The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources’ State Historic Preservation Division offers a 12-month wall and tide calendar featuring a journey into the state’s past. The 2016 edition highlights the evolution of Hawaii’s agricultural field systems, from the first Polynesian voyagers to the modern, revitalized systems of today. The cover features Haena Kee Beach and the peak of Makana on Kauai’s north shore with recently restored loi terraces. Find it at the Hawaii Heritage Center, 1040 Smith St., BookEnds in Kailua and Na Mea Hawaii at Ward Warehouse. Prices vary, starting at $8.95. — Nina Wu
