Natural choices abound at botanical garden shop

Natural choices abound at botanical garden shop

Tucked away in downtown Honolulu, Foster Botanical Garden has a little gift shop near its entrance just steps from the parking lot. Among the treasures you might find are a Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens T-shirt with a leaf pattern ($20), ornaments made of string and shells from Micronesia ($5.50 to $7) and tree-inspired print bookmarks (just 35 cents each) featuring the cannonball and kapok trees at the garden.

Proceeds benefit the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens, a nonprofit that raises funds to support the city’s gardens. Foster is at 180 N. Vineyard Blvd.; for hours and information, visit friendsofhonolulubotanicalgardens.com or call 533-6335. — Nina Wu

HO HO HO and a bottle of rum

The history of alcoholic beverages in Hawaii goes way back before the arrival of Capt. Cook in 1778, but once English seamen introduced distillation techniques in 1790, Hawaiians were soon producing high-proof products: okolehao from ti leaf roots and then rum from sugar cane.

KoHana Hawaiian Agricole Rum is a new product distilled locally using Hawaii sugar cane. The word “agricole” identifies it as being distilled from freshly squeezed sugar cane juice rather than molasses. Sold in 375-milliliter bottles, it comes in three varieties: Kea (80 proof, $30), Koho (86 proof, $45) and Koa (110-125 proof, $75).

The limited-run Kim Taylor Reece Koho Artist Series in an etched bottle is $125. Visit kohanarum.com. — John Berger

This gift is in the bag

Tanya M. Kearns repurposes burlap coffee bags into purses, backpacks and clutches from her home in Makaha Valley. Because of limited availability of materials — Kauai Coffee Co. changes the design on its burlap bags every year — she makes only a few items in each design. Buy her bags at the Honolulu Coffee Experience Center, 1800 Kalakaua Ave., and at Tommy Bahama, 298 Beach Walk Drive in Waikiki, or check out her website at manilaextract.com. The Hobo bag above ($130) is about 19 by 13 inches. Email Kearns at info@manilaextract.com. — Michelle Ramos

Wearable waves

Zak Noyle is arguably one of the best surf photographers in the world. An avid ocean lover, his work has been featured in ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Surfer Magazine. His beautiful images capture the mysterious soul of the ocean from above and below the surface. Give a piece of Zak Noyle art with his $32 limited-edition T-shirt collaboration with the RVCA surf-skate brand. The soft, lightweight cotton shirts are perfect for isle weather. My faves include the dramatic “Closeout” and the peaceful “Underover” designs. Find his merchandise at Surf N Sea, 62-595 Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa, or online at zaknoyle.com. — Jermel-Lynn Quillopo, Honolulu

A scrub you can love

Le‘ahi Love, a new Honolulu brand started by lifestyle specialist Lacy Matsumoto, offers body scrubs and salts that exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. Locally sourced ingredients include Kau orange, aloe, vanilla, gardenia, lavender, coffee and salt. One of my favorites is the Ha‘alele body scrub, made with organic almond pulp, organic cold-pressed coconut oil and cane sugar to remove toxins from the skin. The Makewai scrub, with many of the same ingredients, works well as an after-sun product. Two 2.4-ounce tins cost $11; a 7-ounce jar is $25 at leahilove.com; or find them at the Honolulu Night Market in Kakaako on Dec. 19. — Nancy Arcayna