1 and 2. You can still shop local even if you shop warehouse stores. Just head to ChefZone, 288 Ualena St., near the airport.

I went there for the first time after my sushi-rolling son requested a special chef’s apron. I wasn’t sure what I would find — or if I could get in the door; I had always assumed access was restricted to members of the restaurant industry. Although the inventory is aimed at commercial cooks and kitchens, I was pleased to discover membership is open to all — and it’s free.

In addition to high-quality cooking tools and supplies, the locally owned ChefZone, a division of Y. Hata & Co., has many of the same kinds of items found at other warehouse stores, and many that aren’t — like the 2-pound bag of cooked, sliced tako my husband snagged for $11.20.

ChefZone is also stocked with La Tour Cafe’s bakery products, diverse ethnic foods and specialty items like mochi doughnut mix, taro hummus from Hanalei, gluten-free pizza dough mix and those tiny mochi cubes for garnishing frozen yogurt.

I like that you can buy produce, gourmet cheese, cartons of chicken broth and other ingredients individually or in smaller portions, not just in bulk, to minimize waste. ChefZone even provides cozy coats for cruising the cavernous chill room.

The barista aisle caught my attention, featuring everything you’d find behind the counter at your neighborhood Starbucks. I’ve never been a fan of using soy or almond milk as creamer because it gives my coffee an off taste, so I was stoked to discover Pacific’s Barista Series nondairy vanilla soy milk ($2.95 for a 32-ounce carton) and Blue Diamond’s Barista Collection unsweetened Almond Breeze ($3.87), both designed for use in coffee and lattes.

Hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays; call 852-6700 or visit chefzone.com.

— Christie Wilson, Star-Advertiser

3. We still haven’t been to Italy, but my Italian-made black linen pants provide more than a little consolation.

The wide-legged trousers have deep pockets and a fitted waist, with hidden, forgiving elastic at the back. I wore them on a trip to New York and Paris and felt pretty swift.

Made by Inizio and also available in red, pictured, they’re $148 at Echo & Atlas, 1 N. Hotel St., a Chinatown boutique that also sells Inizio tops and dresses. Perfect for daily Hawaii wear, the fabric feels cool and lightweight yet has a substantial hand, washes in cold water and quickly hangs dry. That’s amore.

Call 536-7435.

— Mindy Pennybacker, Star-Advertiser

4. With one son who loves the roar of the crowd and another who hates it, what’s a mom to do? Buy a HearMuffs Trio, of course.

While the noise-canceling device can function as normal headphones with the included audio cable, the real magic happens when you switch it to Soothe Mode. This setting allows kids to hear the noises they want, like Mom’s voice, and block the noise they don’t, like the cacophony of the crowd as the volleyball ‘Bows serve up an aloha ball at the Stan Sheriff Center.

HearMuffs Trio, for kids ages 5 to 10, is $39.95 at lucidaudio.com.

— Donica Kaneshiro, Star-Advertiser