5 Things We Love

1. Artist Roy Tabora captures the beauty of the islands in his mesmerizing oil-on-canvas seascapes with majestic mountain ranges, swaying palm trees and my favorite element: rolling, translucent waves. A 9-by-12-inch, limited-edition giclee print costs $300, or $475 for a hand-highlighted piece.

You can sometimes catch Tabora painting at Tabora Gallery, 66-160 Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa. Call 637-5520.

— Nancy Arcayna, Star-Advertiser

2. Whether you’re just starting out or are a marathoner, Runkeeper is a runner’s best friend. The free app has kept me going since the start of the year. It tracks all of your runs, including distance, average pace, elevation climb, route and calories burned. Audio cues keep you motivated as you go, and when you set a new personal record, the app releases confetti on your screen to celebrate (and of course you can share your achievement on social media).

You can also make a music playlist via Spotify and join 5K and 10K challenges with 50 million runners across the globe to earn discounts at Runkeeper’s online shop. It’s free for the basics, but upgrade to Runkeeper Go for $9.99 a month for premium training plans and more.

— Nina Wu, Star-Advertiser

3. Making cocktails isn’t just about the liquor you use. It’s also important to include high-quality mixers. Oregon bartender Blair Reynolds combines cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, passion fruit and grenadine syrups in 80-gallon batches to make his BG Reynolds syrups and cocktail mixes.

His orgeat syrup, made from almonds, is vital when crafting an authentic mai tai, but my favorite is Paradise Blend Tropical Syrup, made with grapefruit and “spicy Asian cinnamon,” based on a recipe devised by Donn “Don the Beachcomber” Beach. To re-create the Zombie cocktail Beach originated in 1934, this syrup is a must. It also pairs well with soda water for a tasty nonalcoholic sipper.

Find the Paradise Blend and other BG Reynolds products at Foodland for about $22 per 750-milliliter bottle. Reynolds also sells his syrups online at bgreynolds.com in smaller sizes for those who want a sample before picking up a full bottle.

— Jason Genegabus, Star-Advertiser

4. Lovepop greeting cards magically tuck 3-D paper sculptures into flat greeting cards. This isn’t just any drugstore pop-up card. There are dozens of designs to choose from, and each 5-by-7-inch card boasts paperwork with an amazing level of intricacy and engineering.

Lovepop combines 21st-century laser-cutting technology with the ancient Japanese paper cutting and folding art of “kirigami.” My favorites are the delicate blooms of the cherry blossom design and the spectacular detail of a ninja scene that on first glance features three ninja but on closer inspection reveals seven more tiny warriors hiding in the background design, including one that appears as a silhouette in the moon when the card is held up to a light.

Find the collection ($10 to $15 each) at lovepop.com or see the magic in person at the Castle Medical Center Gift Gallery, 640 Ulukahiki St. in Kailua. Call 263-5116.

— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser

5. Food presentation has become an art in today’s foodie culture, so why not go all the way and serve up cheese, caviar and wine on these artist’s palette-inspired plates ($36.50) and coasters ($10)?

They’re available at The Refinery Honolulu, billed as a “modern general store” that is filled with fun knickknacks for the home, with stores at Kahala Mall, Ala Moana Center and Waikiki Beach Walk.

— Steven Mark, Star-Advertiser

“5 Things We Love” is a shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. Tell us what you are loving by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.