1. The west side of the island finally has a trendy place where both me and my other half can get our hair done. The Parlor opened at 840 Kakala St. No. 201 in Kapolei last fall. For the men, it offers both traditional and modern haircuts, custom designs, beard trims and more. There’s a separate section of the shop just for women, and keiki haircuts are offered, too. The Parlor is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays. Call 773-7370 for an appointment; walk-ins welcome. Prices start at $25 to $35. Visit facebook.com/theparlorllc.
— Jermel-Lynn Quillopo, Honolulu
2. Jazz up your lapel, bag or even your office cubicle with a bit of artwork via collectible enamel pins by Yesterdays. What sets this company apart is its willingness to produce designs by artists with ties to Hawaii. Partnerships with people like OG Slick, who lives in Los Angeles but grew up in Hawaii, and Steve Nazar, who created the popular T&C Surf cartoon characters from the 1980s such as Thrilla Gorilla and Primal Urges Caveman, result in pins that not only look cool, but have a local connection. Pick one up for $12 at Big Bad Wolf in Kakaako’s South Shore Marketplace, 1170 Auahi St.; call 687-1042 or visit bigbadwolfkids.com.
— Jason Genegabus, Star-Adveertiser
3. I’m like a zombie from “The Walking Dead” without coffee. Arvo in Kakaako offers my perfect cup of joe, a Flat White made from equal parts coffee and milk. The mix balances out the bitterness of the coffee, but, unlike a latte, it has very little foam. Baristas create art in the foam surface as they pour it into cups designed by local artists. Also on the menu is the Loaded Avocado Toast ($7), which comes piled with toppings like edible flowers. The outdoor seating under large umbrellas provides a little sanctuary amid the rampant construction in the neighborhood. Arvo (Aussie slang for “afternoon”) is in Paiko botanical boutique, 675 Auahi St.
— Lacy Matsumoto, Liliha
4. Many shower caps are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a nonrecyclable material that can release toxic chemicals called phthalates. So I’ve been showering sans cap, putting my hair up out of the way. When our ancient shower head started throwing wild spraying fits, I bought a Goody shower cap after calling the company to learn it was made of polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA). Studies indicate this plastic is less harmful to our health and the environment than PVC, according to the Healthy Building Network, a nonprofit organization of green-minded architects and environmental health advocates. It keeps my head dry and comes in cheery tutti-frutti colors. From 99 cents (on sale) to $2.49 at Longs.
— Mindy Pennybacker, Star-Advertiser
5. Goodie bag crayons, last school year’s crayons and restaurant handout crayons all add up to a giant can of used crayons. And though many of them are worn down or broken, I haven’t had the heart to toss them. Surely we will find a use for them someday. Someday has come with Crayola’s Crayon Factory. The kids feed all the colored bits into the electric gizmo, which melts and molds them into a 1-inch car, heart or puppy. Mixing colors produces marbled crayons that leave a trail of swirled color tracks across an art project. The entire process takes just a few minutes, and watching the melting wax drip into the clear silicone molds is mesmerizing. Safety features include an auto-off function and a latch to keep the contraption sealed until the recycled crayons cool. Available at Target or Toys R Us for $34.99.
— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser
