Kira Hawaii, a little shop in Mililani, has some of the cutest items that any fashionista would want for herself and for her mini-me. I absolutely love the gold X cuff, simple yet bold, for $66. This boutique has wonderful locally made baby items, such as a Sticks and Stones “Aloha made” onesie ($28) and an array of matching bibs and diaper covers from Hi‘ilani Hawaii, $12 to $14. Kira Hawaii is at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway, Suite 111; call 623-7330. — Jermel-Lynn Quillopo, Honolulu

European group’s raw sound has unique appeal

Switching stations on the radio, I heard something that sounded like semistoned middle-school girls experimenting with alt-rock garage band guitar licks in someone’s bedroom. It turned out to be the Hinds, a cosmopolitan European girl group. The song, “Garden,” was from the group’s debut album, “Leave Me Alone” ($7.99 on iTunes), which was released in January. The quartet’s raw, not-quite-ready-for-prime-time sound was an instant draw.

Several of the songs have the same feel of an improvisational jam session. Others sound a bit more polished and are reminiscent of early-1960s surf guitar rock or the pop-friendly Go-Go’s. Check out the Hinds’ “Garden” music video on YouTube at bit.ly/1Tz3XXI. — John Berger

Durable notebooks boast waterproof pages

From the rainy Pacific Northwest come Rite in the Rain notebooks, made from waterproof paper to survive conditions that turn normal paper into mush. Sold in a variety of sizes, they’re great for first responders, boaters, hikers — even newspaper reporters who can’t seem to avoid spilling drinks while trying to conduct interviews. Just be sure to use the right type of writing instrument (i.e. pencils, wax markers, crayons and special pens sold by Rite in the Rain) when the paper is wet to avoid smudges.

I prefer the top-spiral notebook, which sells for $3.98 at City Mill. Limited-edition styles and additional binding options are available via Riteintherain.com. — Jason Genegabus

Mug keeps brews nice and cold

No one likes warm beer. But if you drink a cold one leisurely, then it’s bound to lose the frosty temperature it arrived with. Glass just doesn’t offer any insulation. A recent gift — a 16-ounce, stainless-steel Hydro Flask mug — offered a solution. Anything you put in it — beer, margaritas, gin and tonic — stays cold thanks to the double-wall insulation that has made the brand popular among water drinkers. Available in seven colors, it sells for $24.95 at hydroflask.com. (By the way, if any of your Hydro Flask products lose their ability to keep your beverage cold, the company will replace them.) — Mike Gordon

Facial scrub rejuvenates and cleans gently

I don’t know how my skin survived facial scrubs that contain rough bits of ground apricot pits and the like. So when I tried Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub, I was instantly in love. Just a small dollop of the deep-green scrub — made of sea kelp, organic chlorella algae, green clay, lily stem and lemon peel — and I could feel a tingly freshness as I scrubbed. And when I got out of the shower, my face looked rejuvenated. At my age this is a great thing.

Acure products are free from animal testing, parabens, sulfates, phthalates and artificial fragrances and colors. A 4-ounce tube is $10.99 at Target or $10.29 at Down to Earth. — Joleen Oshiro