'Ekahi ... 'elua ... 'ekolu ... ku'ai hele!

One ... two ... three ... go shop!

Today is the busiest shopping day of the year. But, hey, try wait. Before you hele out to shop, let's think about the mom-and-pop entrepreneur or crafter who makes things by hand at home in the Islands.

For those who are committed to buying locally made gifts, it's often helpful to shop at craft fairs and in stores where the owners are committed to buying local, such as bibelot and Wabi-Sabi in Kaimuki, Island Treasures in Kailua and Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i in Ward Warehouse. Of course, these items also may be available in your neighborhood. When shopping in other places, ask if an item was truly made in Hawai'i. Sometimes it's hard to figure out.

Here's what we found while shopping for our 10th annual Made in Hawai'i gift story.

HOMESTYLE FINDS

Wabi-Sabi is full of small-kine finds: A "Swifty slippa for small kine spills" is a terry cloth slipper you can slip on and use to wipe the floor; it comes with a matching appliqued dish towel at $15 a set.

Bernie James, a teacher at McKinley High School, thought an entrepreneurial project would help students learn about life in the real world. The result is Po'okela Pillow Productions, a project in which her class partners with Junior Achievement. Students created the kapa-inspired graphics, silk screened the fabrics, sewed them up and stuffed them. Riches Kahala is selling them for $20.

At Nohea Gallery, glass blower Geoff Lee recently introduced votive candle holders in ocean colors and earth tones ($14).

Irene Kawaguchi's shoe bags, called Toe Jams, look like a pair of aloha-print swim trunks with one pocket for each shoe ($12.50, Wabi-Sabi).

Island artists continue to create beautiful greeting cards and gift tags, so there's no excuse not to buy local. We found a gorgeous selection at Kaimalino Designs, Nohea Gallery stores, Island Treasures and Na Mea Hawai'i.

DA NEIGHBORHOOD

Anyone with aloha for the neighborhood will appreciate Colleen Kimura's map of old Mo'ili'ili, screen-printed on a 36-inch square rayon furoshiki (fabric used as a bundle wrap). Based on a map drawn by Charles Furuya, it spans the nostalgic years of 1900 to 1950. It's $22 at Mango Season on South King Street. The little shop also has fun new T-shirt designs from the fertile imagination of Grant Kagimoto.

FOR 'OHANA

The cat lovers on your list will appreciate Esther Nowell's porcelain cat ornament (her expression is endearingly feline) which sells for $15 at bibelot.

What to buy your hula sisters? Nake'u Awai has an answer: his tank tops embroidered with "e hula mai" or "Do you wanna dance?" sold at Na Mea Hawai'i for $16 to $18.

Tutu won't want to share one of Jake Wroten's ceramic rattles ($15) with her grandchildren; these beauties at bibelot gallery, carved and textured like kapa, make a lovely sound but are art pieces, not toys.

FOR KEIKI

When Douglas Britt of Kaua'i broke his ankle and couldn't surf for several months, he turned his thoughts to words, resulting in "Tropical ABC's," a set of 26 alphabet flash cards from aloha to zori ($14 at bibelot in Kaimuki).

Jennifer Sheridan of Kailua created Itty Bitty Baby's First Bikini just for friends at first. Now the company has expanded to all islands and the Mainland. The cute bikinis and mini rash guards come in sizes 1 to 12 and sell for around $17 to $25 at Splash! Ala Moana Center, Shasa Emporium Kahala Mall, North Shore Swimwear in Hale'iwa, Back Door on Kaua'i, High Tech on Maui and Big Island Surf Shops in Kona, Hilo and Waimea.

A charming keiki stocking stuffer is an Aloha Chick from Hanapepe, Kaua'i, calico critters we found at Na Mea Hawai'i in Ward Warehouse for $7.

IN THE KITCHEN

Hand-painted items for the table make great gifts. Mango Season in Mo'ili'ili has salt and pepper shakers by Sandy Sawin ($21). Martin & MacArthur in Ala Moana Center carries Sawin's shoyu dispensers ($18.50) and votive candle holders ($14). Island Treasures in Kailua also has a large selection of hand-painted, Hawaiian-themed glass items. Kaimalino Designs in Chinatown stocks wine glasses with laua'e fern paintings.

There's a certain cachet that goes with a gift from Neiman Marcus, and of course the packaging is always a work of art. Now the store is offering plenty of made in Hawai'i gifts for foodies, from the ultra-trendy MaHaLo Deep Sea Water bottled in Kailua, Kona ($2 and $4.50) to Clara's Confections, including my favorite food gifts, chocolate-dipped mango ($11.50), green-tea balls ($18) and a lovely lauhala cube with cookies ($10).

Wood worker Tom Stoudt found a way to make his Mauna Koa koa rings hold up longer: He placed a band of sterling silver around the curly koa. We found them in many widths at Nohea Gallery, starting with one priced at just $22.

A hand-painted lau'ae leaf cup from Kaimalino Designs ($20) adds a nice island touch.

BATH AND BODY

The burgeoning bath-and- body industry in Hawai'i offers dozens of gifts that are within our budget, and fragrance is always a gentle reminder of the beauty of our Islands.

Soap-making has become a popular craft in home kitchens from Waimea to Waimanalo. Kalihi-based Indigenous Soap Company carefully crafts all-natural super-fatted soaps and places them in cool, easily wrap-able boxes; 'Aina, Rosemary/Peppermint and Tea Tree Patchouli are among my favorites. They sell for $5 at Kokua Market in Mo'ili'ili, the Source in Kailua and Kale's Natural Food Store in Hawai'i Kai.

Double Brush Company on the Big Island has just introduced Solid Hawaiian perfume glace. It is tiny enough to tuck in a handbag and sells for just $10 at A Gift for All Seasons in Kaimuki and Nohea Galleries. They come in plumeria, mango, gardenia and my fave, pikake grapefruit.

You can't go wrong at Lanikai Bath and Body on Kailua Road. Their made-on-Maui products are nearly all under $25, and they have lines especially for men, women and tweens.

Island Treasures carries Kula Herbs soaps from Maui and right now they have holiday scents, cranberry fig and pumpkin spice ($8).

Ka'a'awa Soap Company's puakenikeni line may be perfect for someone who loves the fragrant flower. I found it at Na Mea Hawai'i in small sizes good for mailing ($4.95 to $5.50)

Hawaiian Bath & Body in the old Waialua Sugar Mill has packaged its unusual soaps (including ginger, kukui nut and camping soap) in threes in a cute raffia tray for $16.50 at Na Mea Hawai'i.

Reach Paula Rath at prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.