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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, December 25, 2009

Mahina opens Oahu boutique at Waikiki Beach Walk


By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Courtesy of Mahina

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Photo by Jerry Mayfield

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Mahina means moon in Hawaiian, and the moon is rising over Waikíkí with the opening of a new boutique called Mahina in Waikiki Beach Walk. It's the third Mahina boutique, but the first on O'ahu. Its predecessors are in Pä'ia, Lahaina and Kíhei on Maui. Maui News readers voted Mahina "Best Boutique" for 2009.

Owners Jody Curtin and Joe Wilmot, who live in Maui and L.A., make weekly trips to the L.A. market to buy "whatever's hot at that moment," Wilmot said. They insist on buying only what they can touch and feel in the showrooms, and they only buy a few of each style.

Curtin describes the boutiques' aesthetic as "effortless beachy chic," with lots of flowy, soft, comfortable dresses. Although they select from a plethora of different lines and like to switch up the merchandise all the time, a few designers that are often found in Mahina are Honey Punch, Lush, Audrey 3+1, Lani, and jeans by Miss Me and Machine.

Dress prices start at $19 and average about $44. Sizes run small, medium and large and for jeans, 0 to 12.

BITS OF THE OLD TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING NEW

L.A. artist Jamie Dietrich takes vintage bottles from the 1900s that have been dug up from old dump sites, adds shells and other beautiful objects, and makes art pieces from them.

Dietrich's concept began when she was an interior designer using antique bottles as accents in her clients' homes. Her designs later segued into one-of-a-kind necklaces. She selects interesting, eclectic shells, crystals and stones, soldering them together in the style of a stained-glass window. A strong but subtle style statement.

We found them at Riches Kahala. Bottles range from $64 to $410, necklaces from $110 to $175.