1. When I told my daughter I’ve been using Biki bikes to get around town, her response was: “Are you wearing a helmet? I worry about you.”
Since I was a safety nut when my kids were growing up, I could hardly justify my reckless behavior. So I walked straight to The Bike Factory in Kakaako and picked up a bright-pink Bontrager Solstice helmet for $39.99.
Unlike the helmets my kids used, I didn’t have to fumble with foam pads and a tangle of straps to get the proper fit. You can wear it right out of the box: Just snap the chin buckle and twist a knob in the back to tighten.
It’s lightweight and comfortable, and as bicycle helmets go, I think it’s pretty stylish too.
— Christie Wilson, Star-Advertiser
2. It may look like it belongs on a desk, but this item is far from a regular stapler. Designed for people who love to play music, the Guitar Pick Punch ($24.95 at coolmaterial.com) will create a guitar pick out of any plastic material.
Have an old, Starbucks gift card in your wallet? Perfect! Use the Guitar Pick Punch to stamp out a standard-size pick and you’re ready for your big guitar solo.
It’s a great gift for a friend who is always trying to find their guitar pick.
— Erin Smith, Kailua
3. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I surveyed the colorful array of pearls and gemstones at Lucoral Museum in Waikiki, where owner Flora Lu makes you feel right at home designing your own baubles.
Her do-it-yourself workshops take place 2 to 4 p.m. weekdays, with the cost ranging from $25 to $50 for bracelets or necklaces you can make for yourself or as a gift. I added shells to embellish a bracelet that already included starfish, pineapple and turtle charms ($25), and used turquoise and neutral-colored gemstones to create a multistrand necklace ($45 per strand).
You can also schedule private sessions with your girlfriends or bridal “Pearl Parties.”
The Lucoral Museum, 2414 Kuhio Ave., also has displays of corals, pearls, gemstones and fossils from Hawaii and around the world.
Call 922-1999 or 922-5381.
— Nancy Arcayna, Wahiawa
4. KoBo Glass Studio dishes are one-of-a-kind, glass-fused creations that would add beauty to your home or office.
Glass artist Brenda Prevost’s designs are mostly inspired by the nature and beauty of Hawaii: a beach scene with turquoise waves and bubbles above the word “Aloha” on a concave plate, or colorful starfish, flowers, swirls and pineapples. One dish is shaped and textured like a delicate pink sea urchin.
Small dishes (4-by-4 inches) start at $18 while the larger ones (6-by-6 inches) and sea urchin designs start at $25. Or learn to make your own at KoBo’s workshops; create two pieces in the two-hour beginner basics class for $52.
Get more information at KoBo Glass, 744 Kapahulu Ave.; call 277-2535 or visit koboglass.com.
— Nina Wu, Star-Advertiser
5. The U.S. Postal Service embraced a tradition important to generations of island residents when it issued its first Lunar New Year stamp in 1993.
The first series of 12 stamps — one per year for each sign in the Chinese zodiac — was so popular that when the cycle ended, the agency continued on with a second series of designs. The latest was officially released Jan. 11 and celebrates the upcoming Year of the Dog, which begins Feb. 16.
The design, by Chinese-American artist Kam Mak, shows three stalks of “lucky bamboo” and other items associated with a fortuitous and prosperous new year.
A single stamp sells for 49 cents; a souvenir sheet of 12 is $5.88 at your local post office or usps.com.
— John Berger, Star-Advertiser
Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. The information presented represents the author’s opinions and experiences; your results may vary. Tell us what you are loving this week by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.
