1. Henry Kapono has enjoyed one of the longest gigs in Honolulu — 22 years — as the featured Sunday performer at Duke’s Waikiki in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort.
From 4 to 6 p.m. most Sundays, fans descend on Duke’s for an afternoon of music with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head. Kapono has even written a song about the gig (“Duke’s on Sunday”) and released two live albums (“Duke’s on Sunday” and “Duke’s on Sunday 2”) recorded at the restaurant.
To celebrate its partnership with “The Wild Hawaiian,” Duke’s has issued a commemorative T-shirt available at the gift shop for $26 (tank tops $22). Call 922-2268 or visit dukeswaikiki.com.
— Jason Genegabus, Star-Advertiser
2. Deneen Sakugawa believes even everyday necessities deserve some bling. She transformed a cigarette case into a business card holder/wallet using Swarovski crystals and also embellishes flower clips, baseball caps and coin purses.I love the sparkly ones with flower embellishment on top.
Find her Maui Bling accessories at the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays and the Westin Maui Resort and Spa from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Thursdays, or call 808-344-6575 or email Mauibling@icloud.com.
— Nancy Arcayna, Wahiawa
3. Just in time for Halloween, Ripley’s is back with a collection of all that is unique, extreme and just plain creepy. “Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Shatter Your Senses” (Ripley Publishing, $28.95) is 245 pages of oddities, from grasshopper tacos to the woman with 12 fingers and 12 toes who gave birth to a boy with 15 fingers and 16 toes.
I’ve never been one for horror movies, so this is just spooky enough for me. There’s the typical Ripley’s fare, such as the 2-foot-long sea slug found on the California coast, but I prefer to marvel at the Lowry family wedding dress passed down to 11 brides from 1895 to 2015 and the pedal-powered, 12-foot hamster that roams the streets of London.
— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser
4. Plastic wrap can be a hassle, not to mention how wasteful it is to use once and throw away.So Melia Foster of Kauai created Meli Wraps, a reusable food wrapper made of organic cotton impregnated with beeswax, making it malleable yet airtight.
Just rub your hands together to create some warmth for molding the slightly stiff wrap around a sandwich, a bowl or plate, or loose vegetables. It can be washed in warm water with a little detergent, and depending on use, a sheet should last a year or so.
The wraps come in artfully designed squares that can be cut to custom sizes. Multipacks are priced from $8 to $26 at meli-wraps.myshopify.com.
— Steven Mark, Star-Advertiser
5. In search of a reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreen free of oxybenzone, I was happy to stumble across the Little Hands Hawaii product line launched by Honolulu mom and registered nurse Rosalyn Ardoin and husband Michael Koenigs.
The list of ingredients includes non-nanoparticle zinc oxide, organic coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, unrefined beeswax, raw shea butter and organic essential oils.A 4-ounce tin of regular or tinted Little Hands SPF 35+ sunscreen is $20, while a 1-ounce, SPF 40+ face stick is $12.
Find the line at Down to Earth and Hawaiian Island Creations. Call 381-4930 or visit littlehandshawaii.com.
— Nina Wu, 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.