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

Posts tagged ‘Made on Maui’

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

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Two Chicks in a Hammock

Once upon a time, two chicks were hanging out in a hammock. Today, Michelle Jones and Katherine Crosby are taking over the island with their Backyard Juice, Hawaiian Salt, Hawaiian Chili Pepper Pickles, Bread and Butter Pickles and Dill Pickles and even a new food booth!

backyard juice maui Backyard Juice Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water is the original product from Two Chicks in a Hammock, and according to their website, it’s their version of traditional Hawaiian chili pepper water. “It goes well on all kinds of fish, dried, cooked or raw, grilled steak, grilled veggies, noodles, seafood such as shrimp, opihis (limpits) and oysters, as a marinade for any protein, including tofu, as well as in stir-fry’s or on eggs or rice to add a kick of spiciness. Our chili water is made on Maui from mostly all local ingredients and sold in locally made bottles.” In 2014, they also unveiled a gluten and preservative-free version made with non-GMO, low sodium San-J brand tamari that sells at natural food stores.

I kept hearing about Two Chicks at last month’s Startup Weekend with the Waikapu Pickle Team (more on that one later) – “Those ladies are killing it!” I heard. “I think they’ve even quit their jobs!” was the rumor… turns out that’s only half true… And they were kind enough to donate to my basket of Made on Maui items for the Carden Jamboree, so yes, it was time to the Two Chicks blog post.

So here it is…

Maui Made: There’s a rumor going around that you’ve quit your jobs and this is now your full time gig… any truth to that? 
Michelle Jones: It is my full time job as of December 2014. Kat is still working for the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. I was a case coordinator for Easter Seals Hawaii before this. We started this company in January of 2013 and bottled our first round of Backyard Juice Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water (the original recipe) in June 2013. It just got to the point where I was working on Two Chicks stuff until 10 at night and I had to take the risk and do this full time.

Kat preps for the food booth
The Bottling begins!

MM: Where are you making your products? 
MJ: We make our products and food at the Lokahi Pacific Kitchen

MM: Tell me more about the new food booth!
MJ: We started our Pork, Chicks N’ Picks food booth in December 2014 selling our smoke pork, rosemary chicken, spicy, dill and bread n butter pickles, seasoning salt and Backyard Juice. We are at the swap meet, Kihei 4th Friday, the Ag Festival, and various concerts and festivals. Soon we will have a set roadside spot each week as well. It is going well. People are getting to know us and come back to tell us how much they enjoy the food.   We are also offering our smoke meat, rosemary chicken, pickles and garlic brussel sprouts for parties in advance!

Maui Spicy PicklesMM: What’s the hardest part of running a small business in Maui?
MJ: I would say that shipping costs from Oahu and back is the worst thing. Having our printing done locally costs more than it would on the mainland but we strive to use all local businesses when we can’t do something so that is one of the hardest things financially. There are lots of rules when making food for stores and the public and you have to be super on it to make sure everything is done legally and safe.
MM: How was the Made in Maui County Festival?  Are you going again this year? 
MJ: We had a great experience at the Made in Maui festival last year as well as the Made In Hawaii festival on Oahu. Great exposure to local people and tourists as well and a great chance to talk with store reps and distributors. Yes, we are going again this year! I would recommend any local company to attend because of the exposure and sale opportunities.
MM: What’s next for Two Chicks?
MJ: Getting into more and more stores with our products now that we have a distributor. We won Second Place for our Hawaiian Chili Pepper Salt at the Ag Fest and will soon be selling our salt, pickles and Backyard Juice to stores and restaurants wholesale. Our food cart will be going full time (probably Tuesday-Friday) in Haiku in the next month or so. We just got accepted into Foodland and Safeway statewide so will be delivering to them this month. At that point we will be in 92 stores all together.
Kat and Michelle win Second Place at the Maui Ag Festival 2015 for their Hawaiian Chili Pepper Salt Recipe
Hawaiian Chili Pepper Salt
Kat and Michelle at the Maui Ag Fest
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To Order your Backyard Juice or Hawaiian Chili Pepper Salt online, check out their website, or check out their extensive list of locations here!
Congrats, and mahalo to Michelle and Kat for sharing their story! I hope that you two get some time to relax in that hammock!!! 

Category:

Food and Beverage, Swap Meet

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Haliimaile Distillers Tour and Tasting Room Grand Opening!

haliimaile.distillery tours

Congratulations to the staff of Haliimaile Distilling Co on hosting a hugely successful grand opening of their tour and tasting room!  Hundreds braved the rain to check it out and of course sample some locally made liquors!  Halliimaile Distilling is the maker of Pau Vodka (their flagship brand), Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, the new Paniolo Whiskey and Maui Moon, their flavored vodka.

Here’s the basic information about their new tours, and of course for more information, click here for the website:

The tour operates Monday-Friday and lasts about an hour.  $10 USD per person. Children under 12 are free. Tastings of products are available to guests 21 and over.

And some pictures from today’s event!

The People:

Kainoa Horcajo, Benny Uyetake, Maui CookieLady, Mark Nigbur (Master Distiller) and Tommy Russo

Kainoa Horcajo, Benny Uyetake, Maui CookieLady, Mark Nigbur (Master Distiller) and Tommy Russo

Kainoa Horcajo, Mark Nigbur, Kelii and Kara Heen

Kainoa Horcajo, Mark Nigbur, Kelii and Kara Heen

Benny Uyetake and Mark Nigbur

Benny Uyetaki and Mark Nigbur

Michelle and Cory Nigbur

Michelle and Cory Nigbur

The Process:

those are some big tanks!

The Tasting Room and Such:

 

 

And while you are up in Hallimaile, you might as well stop in right next door to check out the master glass blowers at Makai Glass!

 

Category:

Event, Food and Beverage, Tours

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Tamara Catz New Collection and Bridal Sample Sale!

Anyone needing a fashion fix must run, not walk, over to Tamara Catz’s Paia boutique to see the new Lifestyle Collection which just arrived!  The new styles include “bubble jersey prints in stylish yet comfortable styles like strapless jumpsuits, 3/4 sleeve short dress, and wide pants with crochet inserts at hem, sunset colored chiffon kimono jackets and long maxi hand batiked dresses. So many styles to choose from, all timeless and gorgeous…”  They encourage shoppers to come by to see it in person, they are all limited collections and may not even make it to the online store!

Here are a few of my favorites, view more on the website or follow the designs on Pinterest!  

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tamara catz sample sale bridal paiaIn addition to the new collection, Tamara Catz is having another of their popular sample sales on Friday, September 12, and this year it’s a Bridal Sale, with gowns up to 75% off!  According to a Tamara Catz spokesperson, “We will be celebrating with fresh local kombucha and champagne!  For ladies that are not get married, they are welcome to stop in and have a beverage and check out the new collection!”

Tamara Catz Bridal represents a romantic, beachy bohemian style. Elegant, sophisticated and not overwhelmingly full of fabric, Tamara Catz bridal silk gowns are perfect for beach, island and resort weddings.

Tamara Catz began her collections in 2000 on Maui, with immediate success, selling to boutiques and department stores all over the US and Japan. Continuing on with her success, in 2005 Tamara opened her first boutique in Paia, and 2 years later she launched her Bridal collection.

Tamara Catz Boutique is located in Paia at 83 Hana Hwy (near Flatbread).  The store is open from 10am – 6pm on Sunday – Thursday, and 10am – 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday.

tamara catz boutique maui hawaii

The Tamara Catz boutique is as dreamy as the clothing!

Category:

Clothing, Wedding

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Maui Made Valentine’s Day Gift Suggestions

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, a perfect opportunity to show your sweeties some love and buy local at the same time!  We’ve scoured the island from Wailea to Wainapanapa to find some gifts for everyone on your love list.

For your Jewelry Lover: 

These three pieces (each currently available on Etsy) will warm any lucky lady’s heart…

Gold Love Script by Nina Kuna
Kealoha Jewelry’s Kuuipo Gold Heart with Initial
Magenta Earrings by Aina Kai

(top to bottom) ‘Gold Love Necklace’ By Nina Kuna 

‘Kuuipo Gold Heart with Initial’ by Kealoha Jewelry

 ‘Magenta Earrings’ by Aina Kai 

For the Lady who needs a Fun Night with the Girls: 

wrappily event valentines craft paia

Make an origami heart and more fun paper crafts with Wrappily’s Pop Up Events

Sign her up for Wrappily’s Ladies Love Valentines event at Pearl Butik in Paia, for crafting stations, sparkling wine and of course, chocolate! Make and take origami boxes filled with chocolate kisses, heart cards, and little love notes will have you all ready to spread the love on Valentine’s Day. Ages 21 and older, only. Saturday, February 8, 5-7 pm

For your little princess: 

pink heart shirt girls dress maui hawaii

The Avaleigh Dress by Happy Honu Maui!

This cute little dress by Happy Honu Maui is available in size 12-24 months

For the girl who has everything, and now just needs something cute to carry it around: 

pink cosmetic bag floral print hawaii maui hawaiian

The pink cosmetic bag by IslandMedley

The pink cosmetic bag by Island Medley

For your main squeeze: 

be mine pillow cover maui hawaii handmade

Be Mine Pillow Cover by GinghamMedley

The Be Mine Pillow Cover by GinghamPicnic

And of course, all you chocolate lovers out there: 

Valentine’s Day Cake Pops by Liz
The Classic Valentine’s Gift, with a GIANT upgrade – handmade Chocolates, made on Maui!

Valentine’s Designs by CakePopsByLiz and Chocolates by Sweet Paradise Chocolatier

Note: Cake Pop special orders for Valentine’s Day due by Feb 10, or Feb 7 for large orders.  

And don’t forget to wrap all your gifts in the new, eco-friendly Wrappily wrapping paper (featured in the most recent post)!

What are you hoping for this Valentine’s Day?  Anything missing from this list?  And do you go out to eat (and where?) or do you stay home, enjoying a more intimate setting at home?  Plus, most of these gifts are meant for girls, what should we get the guys this Valentine’s Day?

Category:

Accessories, Activity, Clothing, Food and Beverage, Gift Guide, Home Decor, jewelry, Kids

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Kissed by Maui – A Made on Maui Lipstick

I’m not really a big makeup person – if I’m going somewhere nice I’ll put on some lipstick, if its really nice I’ll add some mascara.  (Maybe this is why I live in Hawaii.)  I usually just apply lipstick at home, since one of my favorite lipsticks has a habit of loosing its cap in my bag, and glosses like to attract my hair with the help of Maui’s tradewinds.

made on maui lipstick natural

So when I got a proposal to sample Kissed by Maui, a made on Maui lipstick, I decided it was time to start wearing lipstick on a more regular basis.  I ordered two shades and did a road test with one in the purse for a week to see how it holds up.

The two lipsticks arrived in beautiful packaging, with substantial tubes (read= you can find it in the bottom of your purse), made out of bamboo.  They both apply smoothly and seem more moisturizing than most of the lipsticks that I have tried, without the hair  sticky-problem of a gloss.  The Pink Passion is a kind of sheer darker pink, great for daily use, and has survived a week in my purse, without melting (I didn’t leave it for long in the hot sun though) and without the cap falling off. Island Girl is a nice reddish brown that is good for fancy evenings.   (I was going to post some pictures of myself wearing them but it turns out my face and lips are not symmetrical, and my mother reminded me that most people that post lipstick pictures have professional makeup artists and a lighting crew – this may or may not be true but I get the point)

Pink Passion – A sheer dark pink
Island Girl – a darker reddish-brown color

After passing my road/lip test, I interviewed Robin Kory, the founder of Kissed by Maui, to find out more about her made on Maui creations.

Maui Made: How did you get the idea to go into the lipstick business? 

Robin Kory: I became concerned about the toxins in cosmetics and cleaning products so I decided to make lipstick for myself and family and then decided that it would be a great product to share with everyone  – locals and visitors.  I did a lot of research on the internet and in books regarding how to make natural cosmetics.  Kissed By Maui lipstick is 100% natural and made with high quality ingredients, many of them organic, that have not been tested on animals.

MM: What’s the challenge for manufacturing on Maui? 

RK: I guess the main challenge was finding all of the ingredients.  All of my ingredients come from stores on the mainland, except for the Pikake essential oil that I get from the Big Island.  I am going to look into sourcing the beeswax locally once I use up all that I have, but I am not sure if it will be pure enough.

MM: Tell me a bit about your background- 

RK: I am originally from Akron, Ohio and we moved to Hawaii about 1 ½ years ago (first Oahu for 5 months and then Maui since October 2012) after our daughter, Maya, graduated from high school.  Once she graduated we knew that we wanted to move somewhere warm and beautiful – Hawaii was the perfect place!  I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and have worked as a Registered Sanitarian (Health Inspector) at two local health departments in Ohio.  I then became a Paralegal and worked at a large law firm in Columbus, Ohio for 4 years.

natural organic hawaiian lipstick MM: Where can people buy Kissed by Maui? 

RK: Kissed By Maui lipstick is currently available in six stores  – Collections in Makawao, Green Ti Boutique & Massage in Wailuku, Biasa Rose in Paia, Maui Ocean Treasures (Maui Ocean Center Gift Store- free admission to gift store) in Ma’alaea, Local Store on Moloka’i and Happy Feet in Kihei.  I also have an online store. 

MM: What’s next for Kissed by Maui? 

RK: I hope to add more retail stores on Maui and other Islands and I hope to increase online sales.   I am also working with a business man from Oahu that is going distribute my lipstick to Japan via a Japanese website and directly to stores in Japan.

Mahalo to Robin for sharing her story and her lipsticks!  We see big things happening for Kissed by Maui in 2014!  

 Follow Kissed by Maui on Facebook 

Disclosure: Complimentary lipsticks were provided for this review.  

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Accessories

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Bring Home a Jar of Maui – Maui Preserved

Maui Preserved was started by two chefs, transplanted from New York City, with the goal to take Maui’s height of season produce and crafting pantry items to make the harvests last.  The company was launched in June 2010 by Maleta Van Loan and Anthony LaBua, with the goal of creating products and flavors that are both traditional and extraordinary.  Their products range from pickles and hot sauce to jams, syrups, whole vanilla beans, and more!  In the June 2013 issue of Sunset Magazine, Maui Preserved’s Sweet and Spicy Pineapple was featured in the article ‘100 New Reasons to Love the West’.  Maleta LaBua, owner and operator of Maui Preserved, tells us how that mention came about, and shares a bit more about her sweet company.

Sweet Spicy Pineapple Sunset Magazine

The Sweet and Spicy Pineapple is one of the Reasons to Love the West

Maui Made: How did the write up in Sunset Magazine happen?  

Maleta LaBua: Our press really comes about from someone from a magazine tasting our products that are either gifted to them or they pick up at one of the many events we participate in, farmer’s markets or state-wide retailers.  All of our printed press was local until this article.  It’s important to get your product out there because sometimes one person can make a big difference in sales. We always make sure to stay connected with writers who support us.

MM: Did that increase sales for you? 

MB: Yes, it increased online sales and of course increased our fan base for future sales as well.

pickled beets maui fresh jar

Maui Preserved’s Pickled Beets make a unique and delicious burger topping

MM: What are your top selling products? 

MB: Hot Hot Sauce, Vanilla Powder, Sweet & Spicy Pineapple, our Pickled Beets are up there as well.  We started selling Pickled Pohole Ferns this year and it is steadily growing in popularity!

MM: Are all your products online?  

MB: Our selection depending on seasonality and availability.  We also offer seasonal gift packs.  Our retailers (currently on Maui, Kauai, Oahu and in New York) are listed on our website so customers have the option to visit a shop that carries Maui Preserved near them! Customers are always welcome to send us an email  if they can’t find one of their favorite products.  We provide excellent customer service and are always happy to help our fans out!

MM: What sets your product apart from others? 

MB: I think it’s our intention.  Maui Preserved is deeply rooted in the idea that eating well and sustainably is also delicious.  Many customers keep telling us that our hot sauce is the best they have ever had.  I think that also comes from Maui Preserved’s ability to modernize the classic cuisine and ingredients of Hawaii.  There are so many climatic zones in Hawaii and we select the best ingredients from a region.  We work on a recipe until its a winner!  You can’t fake passion and we love to cook and most importantly eat!

Mauw Grow Some Good non Profit Group

Chef Anthony LaBua teaching a cooking class to students at Kihei Elementary through the nonprofit organization Grow Some Good.

MM: Any tips for someone starting a small business on Maui? 

MB: Do your market research in regards to the local community versus the tourist community, and start with a solid business plan.  It’s a small pool of business owners as well and its vital to work together and support each other.

Maui Hot Hot Sauce Preserved Gift Idea

Maui Preserved’s Hot Hot Sauce is made with the local Hawaiian Chile Pepper

MM: What’s next for Maui Preserved? 

MB: We are developing a co-packing side of the company which is really exciting because it furthers our mission to serve local food to as many people as possible and to continue to support our local farmers as much as we can.  This showcases our background as chefs and the skills and talent that we have worked hard to develop.

MM: Anything else you want to share? 

MB: Maui Preserved was a way for two chefs to give back and contribute to the local food shed of Hawaii.  It is the community that keeps Maui Preserved thriving.  We just want to thank everyone who supports our business and allows us to do what we love!

Follow Maui Preserved on Facebook 

grilled romaine salad beets onion maui

a grilled romaine salad topped with Maui Preserved’s Pickled Beets and Pickled Maui Onion

Category:

Food and Beverage

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Add Some Pop to your Party!

I love Halloween, because you get to dress up in fun costumes and eat things that look like this:

These little ghosts are *almost* too cute to eat!
Spooky Spider Cake Pops
Cake Pops by Liz can create a custom design just for your party!

I also love cake pops, a little ball of deliciousness on a stick, but I’ve never ventured into the world of cake pop making, and thanks to Cake Pops by Liz, I don’t have to.  And, if you live anywhere in the US, thanks to Liz’s new Etsy shop, you don’t either.  Just pick your favorite flavors and designs, and Liz will send her deliciously adorable cake pops right to your door.  Liz has made cake pops for every kind of event, including Weddings, Birthday Parties, Baby Showers, Holiday Parties, Wedding Showers, Anniversary parties and fundraisers.   She stepped out of the kitchen for a few moments to answer some of our questions:

easter cake pop four tier display

Makena Resort’s Custom Easter Cake Pop Arrangement

Maui Made: How did you get into the cake pop business? 

Liz:  When the Real Estate Business started to slow down I started making these sweet treats for my friends and family.   After getting busier and busier with more and more requests they became a sweet treat for you and your friends.   I love to make people happy!  It’s a wonderful way to show people the beauty and lifestyle of Maui through my Cake Pop art.

MM: Where can people view your creations, and what are your most popular flavors and themes?

Liz: You can shop Cake Pops by Liz at my website www.cakepopsbyliz or my etsy shop Cake Pops by Liz and browse my most recent creations on my Facebook page!  Some of the most popular flavors are Chocolate, Red Velvet, and Lemon!  Seasonal and specialty flavors such as orange, strawberry, Lilikoi, and Mango have been popular too!   Cake Pops by Liz holiday themed Cake Pops are always a popular way to celebrate the holidays!

tropical hawaiian cake pops

Tropical Hawaiian Cake Pop with Four Tier Display

MM: What other options do you provide?

Liz: Whether you need one or two dozen cake pops for a gift or small party or 100’s of cake pops to celebrate your special event, Cake Pops by Liz can display your pops in one of my gift boxes or on a 4 tier Tower for all of your guests to adore!   Let me know the special theme or occasion you’re celebrating to have a custom Cake Pop by Liz created that will reflect your celebration!

MM: Where on Maui can people taste your special treats?  

Liz: The Cake Pops can be found at The Makena Resort Barista, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in the Shops of Wailea, and Java Café in Kihei.   Or, you can contact me directly to arrange a private tasting at my location in Kai Ani Village Business Suites.

Cake Pops can be individually wrapped for your guests to take home!
It’s a Boy! Cake Pops for a Baby Shower
Baby Shower Party Favor Idea – A box of Pops to take home!
wedding cake pop maui hawaii

Hot Air Balloon Cake Pop Special Display Options

MM: What’s next for Cake Pops by Liz?

Liz: I’ve added Giant Cupcakes and mini cupcakes to my collection. My newest creation is my Hot Air Balloon Cake Pop Bouquets!    These can be purchased separately for Baby Nurseries and room decorations too.

Mahalo to Liz for sharing her sweet story!  Follow along on Facebook for your daily dose of deliciousness. 

Category:

Food and Beverage, Wedding

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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?

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Food and Beverage

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Kira Ferrer- Jewelry Inspired by Nature

When I started this journey of finding unique, quality made on Maui products and companies, Etsy was one of the first places that I would visit.  Each time I would type in ‘Made on Maui’ to search the site, this little guy would pop up:

(click on the jewelry pics to go to the Etsy listing)

kira.ferrer.bee

I had a feeling someday I would be writing about him (or her).  This sweet little bee is made by Kira Ferrer, who has a truly impressive selection of jewelry available in her Etsy shop.  Kira uses a variety of gemstones, Hawaiian sea glass and shells as well as environmentally-friendly recycled sterling silver, and most of her pieces are available for customization and made to order.

Maui Made: How did you get started with jewelry making? 

Kira Ferrer: I have always had a love for the arts, and have worked in variety of artistic mediums over the years. After working for many years as a painter and textile designer in the Bay Area, I fell in love and moved to Maui.  Working with metal and creating jewelry was a natural progression for me. The environment here is exquisite and I find endless inspiration for my craft. I’m especially inspired by the great blue expanse of the ocean, the gentle rustle of palm trees and the saturated colors of the tropics.

(MM Note: Check out the pics below from Kira’s Instagram feed – worth a follow, just for the beautiful pics alone!)

From Kira’s workbench, Baby Bangles with shells and sea glass charms
Soldering Jewelry in the workshop

MM: What kinds of materials do you work with, and how would you describe your style? 

KF: At this time I work mostly in sterling silver with some 14 karat gold accents.  I especially enjoy creating rings and use a variety of precious and semiprecious gemstones as well as Hawaiian sea glass and shells.  I use recycled sterling and gold whenever possible in an effort to minimize the effects of mining on our planet.  Recycled silver and gold are virtually identical to newly refined metals, and I feel good about being able to offer environmentally-friendly, handcrafted, heirloom quality jewelry.

MM: Are you doing this full time? 

KF: Making handcrafted jewelry is my full time job.  Everything is hand crafted by me in my Maui studio and then packaged and shipped world wide.

MM: What’s your most popular item? 

KF: My stacking rings are quite popular at this time, especially my “Ocean Blue” set, inspired by the beautiful ocean surrounding Maui:

topaz aquamarine silver ring stacking custom

Ocean Blue Sterling Silver Stacking Rings with Topaz and Aquamarine Gemstones

MM: Any Etsy tips for people just starting out?  How long have you been selling on Etsy? 

KF: I’ve been selling on Etsy for almost 5 years.  To those just getting started at Etsy, I would say refine and hone your overall vision, and emphasize a clear design style that will be recognizable to your customers.  Customer service is key in running a small business. Do your best to answer inquiries and orders promptly and always go the extra mile to communicate with customers and show that you care in your interactions.  Also, when I first opened my shop on Etsy I spent a lot of time perusing the Etsy forums.  The forums provide a wealth of information and I always found other Etsy sellers generous and helpful with information and advice.

MM: Are you in any shops in Hawaii? 

KF: Etsy is my main platform for showcasing and selling my jewelry.  You can also find my work at: The Hui No’eau on Maui and, on Oahu: Cottage by the Sea:

Personalized Bangle with
Sea Urchin Pendant in Sterling Silver

MM: What do you like to do for fun? 

When I’m not in my studio making jewelry I’m out hiking and taking long walks by the ocean (collecting shells for my one of a kind pieces) soaking up the beauty of this island.  I also love reading, gardening, cooking wholesome, delicious meals for my loved ones, traveling, visiting museums, adventures with friends and spending time in nature.

I’m continuously expanding my craft with new techniques and designs. As of late, I am really excited about the new wax cast pieces that I’m working on. I’m continuously adding new pieces to the collection so stop by Etsy to see what i am up to in the studio.

Labradorite Silver Stacking Rings
Maui Sunset Stacking Rings with Garnet, Citrine and Carnelian

MM: Where can people see more?

I can be found on etsy, Facebook, Instagram, flickr: and pinterest:

Mahalo to Kira for sharing her story with us!  

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Etsy Tips, jewelry

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