News and reviews of made on Maui products and Maui-based companies and success stories. Also featuring island shopping guides

Posts tagged ‘Made in Hawaii’

SolKine- A New, Natural Sunscreen Made on Maui!

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here, since when I have paying clients this ‘fun’ blog gets back-burner status, but when I saw a post about this new made-on-Maui natural and reef-friendly sunscreen, I just had to interview them!

Below is my interview with Maja Liotta, CEO and Founder of SolKine

solkine natural reef safe sunscreen made on maui Maui Made: How did you get the idea for your company? 

Maja: I had been making beauty products for as long as I can remember. From sugar scrubs with fragrant essential oils to even soap made from rendered pork fat, I have always been someone whose mind is always thinking about how I can elevate a product or food and make it better. I am also a private chef so I am comfortable manipulating ingredient ratios to achieve a beneficial result. I had been making sunscreen for four years for my own family and had been sharing it with various moms on the beaches. With some encouragement and the help of my awesome packaging, branding and website designer, SolKine got a “look” and a following as we promote and share our product with tons of north shore groms and their families.

solkine natural reef safe sunscreen made on maui

MM: What are the difficulties of running a business on Maui? 

ML: Shipping costs!!! Getting materials here is a huge annoyance- nothing comes cheap to Maui and it takes forever!!

MM: What are the best parts of running a business on Maui?  

ML: We get to live in paradise AND have a successful business plus every person on the island desperately needs a reef safe suncare product.

MM: What’s next for your company? 

ML: We opened a bay area headquarters and are excited to start getting product to the west coast and the eastern seaboard and beyond!  We are also launching a high alpine product “SolKine Alpine” as the original recipe of this product was inspired by the harshest of elements while my family and I lived in the high rockies at 9000ft elevation.

MM: Where can people buy your product? 

ML: Right now, our e-commerce site is awesome as well as its available at Hi-Tech, Sailboards Maui, Mana Foods and Paia Pit Stop.  We are adding new retailers weekly so check our website to see where else we are selling!

solkine natural reef safe sunscreen made on mauisolkine natural reef safe sunscreen made on maui

 

Mahalo to Maja for taking the time to give us an interview!  

Category:

Bath and Body, Kids, Surf

Tagged with:

Made on Maui – Booze Round Up

maui beer cans beach

Booze, Liquor, Alcohol… straight up, on the rocks, or mixed with some fresh tropical fruit juice, hopefully with a paper umbrella topping it off, each one best enjoyed while viewing a beautiful Maui sunset…

Here’s a round up of all the alcoholic beverages that I could find (and please comment below if I left something out!) that are made on Maui.

Plus, as a quick sidebar – last time I was at Costco I took a couple pictures of some locally made beverages that were for sale – this may not be complete (and as you know, their stock changes daily), but just to give you an idea:

  • Old Lahaina Gold Rum –  750ml – $13.79
  • Maui Brewing Co  Bikini Blonde Lager – 24 cans – $33.55
  • Ocean Vodka – 1 L – $32.99

Maui Cello Lemon Liquer Mauicello – Mauicello is Maui’s very own lemon liqueur made exclusively with lemons and sugar grown right here on Maui.  Although inspired by and similar to Italy’s traditional liqueur, limoncello, Mauicello’s rich golden color and distinctive taste make it a uniquely Maui product. Available at several retailers around Maui, and on Oahu at the Whole Foods locations.

Ocean Vodka– Handcrafted on Maui, Ocean Vodka is certified 100% USDA organic and is the only vodka in the world distilled from organic sugar cane. As a result Ocean Vodka is naturally gluten free.   Ocean Vodka is also the only spirit in the world made with deep ocean mineral water, which imparts a unique character to the vodka and adds great depth of flavor to the traditional vodka cocktail.  Ocean Vodka can be found at distributors around the country, or can be sent to you through their many nationwide distributors.  Tours of the distillery in Upcountry Maui are available daily.  (Photo by the talented Jessica Pearl Photography)

Ocean Vodka Sugar Cane Photo

Pau Vodka Maui Hawaii Pau Maui Vodka– Handcrafted in small batches by Haliimaile Distilling Company, ultra-premium Pau Maui vodka is distilled from Hawaiian Pineapples, yet there is no hint of pineapple flavor in the finished product. Once distilled, it is mixed with crystal clear Hawaiian spring water.  Every ingredient that goes into the vodka is born on the islands, and the utmost in care is taken to ensure purity at every stage of the process.

Maui Brewing- This multi-award winning brand includes a brewery offering tours, a popular brewpub, and an extensive line of flagship and limited edition brews.  Yet another brewpub and brewery is currently under construction.  Maui Brewing Beers can be found in Maui’s best restaurants, in almost every grocery or convenience store, around the island chain, and around the country, or sent to your door from their retailers.

maui beer cans beach

Maui Wine Pineapple OrderMaui’s Winery/ Tedeschi Vineyards – Maui’s Winery, the Valley Isle’s sole commercial winery, is known for their varied selection of wines including sparkling, pineapple, grape and a delicious raspberry dessert wine.   Located at the scenic and historic Ulupalakua Ranch, they offer wine tasting throughout the day, and tours twice daily (check website for more info).  They can also ship your order to most states.

Old Lahaina Rum– Built the distillery inside a 100 year old building on the site of a former sugar mill on Maui’s North Shore. The silver, gold and dark rums are made with Maui grown sugar cane and molasses hand blended from mixed aged rum stocks.   Currently only available in Hawaii. Recently spotted at Maui’s Costco.

Haleakala Distillers – Creaters of Maui Dark Rum, Maui Gold Rum, Braddah Kimo’s Da Bomb Rum, (77.5% alcohol by volume), Maui Pineapple Flavored Rum, and Maui Okolehao, made from East Maui ti root.  All Haleakala Distillers products are distilled on Maui from 100% Maui-grown natural ingredients.    Click here to see the list of retailers in Hawaii OR here to see the retailers on the mainland or order through an online retailer.

Maui Rum Made Maui Hawaii

Which Maui Made Brew is your favorite?

Category:

Food and Beverage

Tagged with:

Maui Made Treasures at Maui Ocean Center Store!

Maui Ocean Center Store Shop

For the last ten years I have shopped at one store for just about every birthday, shower and Christmas gift that I have purchased.  The gift shop at Maui Ocean Center (aquarium), now called Maui Ocean Treasures, is a 6,000 square foot store featuring an unbelievable assortment of ‘treasures’.  There are the typical aquarium gifts: t-shirts, stuffed sharks, a wide assortment of logo-items, plus quality items that you would never expect in an attraction gift shop.  There is fine jewelry, hand-blown glass, beautiful artwork, home and kitchen wares, and more.  It would literally take hours to pursue all the sections at this store.

I went today to get gifts for a baby shower, a baby luau (first birthday party, a big deal here in Hawaii), and a birthday/care package for my family on the East Coast (sorry everyone to ruin the surprise!).  I also figured I’d take a few pictures of some of the made on Maui items.  First, let me just say that if I had taken pictures of each made on Maui item my phone would have run out of memory.  Second, I have to say that I go to the shop fairly often, and each time I am pleasantly surprised by all the new items.  Third, the store has filled the void recently left on Maui in two different genres- It has a wide variety of books and music, including a great children’s book section, which is awesome since the only book store on the island is all the way in Lahaina.  The shop also has a great children’s/toy section, and since there is (currently) no baby stores on the island, this is a great place to buy toys, books, and the ever important kids beachwear (including the hard-to-find reusable swim diaper)!

Before we get into all the great made on Maui items I found at the aquarium today, here’s some important information to know beforehand : Admission to the store is complimentary, just check in at the Front Gate and let them know you are going to the store!  Also, aquarium members get a 15% discount on all purchases at the store.  And, while the aquarium doesn’t have an online store, if you see something you like, they’ll help you out over the phone or email, and can ship stuff all over the world!  Maui Ocean Treasures has the same hours as the aquarium : 9am to 5pm, with hours extended until 6pm in July and August. Plus, its open every day of the year, including Christmas, for really last minute gifts…

Need A Bag to carry all your purchases home?  How about a bag made from recycled kite sails, made by Sailbags Maui:

A beautiful display of ‘Sailbags Maui’ bags at the entrance – made from recycled kite surf kites!
Various Sizes of Sailbags Maui available

Gifts Galore, including foods, bath and body products, kitchen wares and pet gifts:

NUTS! No Ka Oi Nut Company’s nuts look good enough to eat!
Jams, Cookies, Coffees, Candies and more…. Made in Hawaii!
All kinds of lotions, soaps, sunscreens… made in Hawaii…
Find the perfect gift for your pet and your pet sitter!
Pottery, Plates, Perfect for Presents….
handPrinted in Hawaii dish towels

A great assortment of Hawaiiana, Environmental, Ocean-Related and more Books and DVDs, and lots and lots of Hawaiian music:

Books of all kinds….
Books on fish, sharks, etc.

Need a gift for a baby luau, baby shower, or kids birthday party?

A wide selection of baby and children’s gifts and toys.
Hard-to-find iplay hats, rash guards, sun suits and reusable swim diapers!
Children’s book with a fun reading area…

Or get a child’s name hand-painted in fun, tropical letters!

Hand-painted tropical letters by Mark!
A perfect, one of a kind gift for any child!

Do you want to contact Mark by Facebook and order your Name Art online?  Click here for his new Facebook Page as of 2015 – 

 

Gifts for someone you REALLY like (or if you’ve been VERY, VERY good this year…)

Hand-blown glass by master artist Rick Strini
Pandeia Watches – Follow your Inner Compass with this Compass Sundial Watch!

And if all that shopping makes you thirsty, don’t forget about the Roselani Ice Cream at the Reef Cafe, or the Maui Brewing Company beers at the Seascape Restaurant (all, of course, made on Maui).

What gift would you get?

Category:

Bath and Body, Clothing, fine art, Food and Beverage, Gift Guide, Home Decor, jewelry, Kids

Tagged with:

Tag Cloud