5 Things We Love

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.

Express routes let riders chill

Traffic jams are way less annoying when someone else is doing the driving — yet another reason to ride TheBus. And here’s one more: the 80 and 82 express routes between Hawaii Kai and downtown that zip along H-1 to deposit commuters within 30 to 40 minutes in most instances. (I just discovered the morning-only 80B for folks who live in Aina Haina.) There are always plenty of seats, free copies of the Star-Advertiser on some buses and quiet time to check email, read the paper, manage your playlist or simply watch the world go by from a new vantage. I’ve often found myself at the end of the line wishing I had an extra 10 minutes to finish an article or play a few more hands of Word with Friends. And with the TheBus’ HEA app providing accurate arrival times, there’s really no excuse not to park your car and get on board. Monthly bus passes are $60; see www.thebus.org.

—Christie Wilson

Pearls, coral, crystals, jade fill the bill for crafty necklaces

This delicately crafted necklace from Pineapples Boutique in Haleiwa is made by Sun Sales USA of Los Angeles using jade, freshwater pearls, crystals and a 14-karat gold-filled chain. The same style is available for $75 in a variety of materials including coral, amethyst, agate and other semiprecious stones. The store is at 66-200 Kamehameha Highway, 637-8477; look for the new Pineapples Boutique at Ko Olina Station opening Nov 19.

—Nancy Arcayna

Kiawe Grill makes mandoo the main event on the plate

Many Korean restaurants serve mandoo that are cold, soggy afterthoughts, a bit of plate-lunch filler not worthy of the fried calories they represent. But at Kiawe Grill B.B.Q. & Burgers, the tasty dumplings take center stage. They come in miniplates of six for $8.25, but spring for the full-size plate of 13 for $9.45 and you won’t be sorry. Kiawe Grill is at 1518-C Makaloa St.

—Donica Kaneshiro

Hand and dish soap bottle made from recycled stuff

The new Method Dish + Hand soap comes in a cool bottle made from recycled consumer plastic and plastic debris collected from Hawaii’s shorelines over the past year and a half by Method employees, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. The result, manufactured by Envision Plastics, is a gray resin bottle. Even cooler, it’s hand and dish soap in one, made from a naturally derived, biodegradable formula. It’s great to see San Francisco-based Method making an effort to raise consumer awareness about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in a creative way. Buy it for $5.99 in "sea minerals" or "sweet water" fragrances at Whole Foods Market and www.methodhome.com.

—Nina Wu

Chips offer guilt, bloat-free taste

If you’re gluten-intolerant, wary of GMOs and require nutritional bang for your chip, snack time can be an isolating experience. While others are gathered around the chips and dip, you’re holding up the wall, hoping nobody will hear your stomach growl. But no more! Beanitos, a crunchy chip that resembles blue-corn tortilla, is made from non-GMO pinto and black beans — never corn, potatoes, wheat or soy. A 1.25-ounce serving offers 6 grams each of protein and fiber as well. The chips comes in four flavors: Black Bean, Pinto Bean & Flax, Black Bean Chipotle BBQ, and Pinto Bean & Flax Cheddar Cheese. Find Beanitos at Down to Earth stores, where a 6-ounce bag goes for $4.39. The snack is also available at Gift & Gourmet, 212 Merchant St., 528-5818.

—Joleen Oshiro