Hawaii Vacation Gifts by Double Brush-Hawaiian Gifts & Blog

Free New Hawaii State Quarter With Any Double Brush Purchase

2008-11-12T20:41:25-08:00

Major banks in Hawaii ordered extra new Hawaii state quarters in anticipation for the official launch 2 days ago (November 10). Many banks were also limiting the number of new Hawaii state quarters to one or two rolls per customer as they expected demand to be heavy.

Not many of the new Hawaii state quarters are in circulation yet, although you can find the Hawaii quarter on ebay--of course. The United States Mint estimates it will take a few more weeks before the new highly collectible coins become widely available.

This is the final state coin needed to complete the successful 50 State Quarters Program which started 10 years ago from the US mint.

We stood in line at the Bank of Hawaii branch in Hilo today just to buy roll of the shiny new Hawaii quarters.

We thought it would be a fun customer give-away to give a new Hawaii state quarter with each order from our Double Brush site or Hawaii Vacation Gifts site. Order anything, there is no minimum purchase. We have new Hawaiian lotions, soaps, and shampoo in travel sizes that start at an amazing 1.50 each and also make great Hawaiian party favors, to custom Hawaiian gift baskets where the sky is the limit.

If you are need of a Hawaiian gift or Hawaiian party favors, Hawaiian gift baskets, fresh Hawaiian flowers or leis, 100% pure Kona coffee, Hawaiian macadamia nuts, Hawaiian candies and Hawaiian snacks, and more, please visit us:)

We also just added new wine gift baskets, spa gift baskets, and fresh baked gift baskets from the mainland that can be shipped to Hawaii with NO ADDED Surcharge!

This offer will be good until the end of this year. Just mention "free quarter" in the order's comments section.

Last Hawaii State Quarter Now in Circulation

2008-11-11T01:28:00-08:00

For the last 10 years, coin collectors have avidly waited for the release of each new state quarter from the United States Mint "50 State Quarters Program". The final Hawaii quarter was officially unveiled in Honolulu today with people standing in line waiting to buy the shiny new coins. The release of this quarter signals the end of the 50 states quarter program.

The Hawaii state quarter has the unique position of being the last coin to complete the 50 state quarters set because each state quarter was released in the order that particular state joined the Union. Our "Aloha State" was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959.

The reverse of Hawaii’s quarter features Hawaiian monarch King Kamehameha I stretching his hand toward the eight major Hawaiian Islands. Inscriptions are the state motto "UA MAU KE EA O KA

‘Ā

INA I KA PONO," ("The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness"), "Hawaii" and "1959."

King Kamehameha I is a revered figure in Hawaiian history. He unified the governance of the Hawaiian Islands into one kingdom in the early 1800s and navigated changes in Hawaii, while maintaining the native practices and traditional ways of island life. His "Law of the Splintered Paddle" guaranteed the protection of citizens from harm during war and became a landmark in humanitarian law. He is honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall.

The following information was on a full page ad from the United States Mint in the October 2008 issue of This Old House Magazine. It said to visit www.usmint.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT. I spent some time on the US Mint site trying to locate the exact page for the silver proof set but could not find it, so you may want to call. If any of our readers find the exact page please share it with everyone via a comment.

The United States Mint is the only mint authorized to make U.S. legal tender coins. For authentic collectible coins you can buy a proof set directly from the United States Mint. You are guaranteed to receive impeccable, pristine coins, never touched by human hands and sealed in a protective case.

You can purchase the 2008 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Silver Proof Set--struck in 90% silver for only $25.95

Win a Trip to Hawaii to Attend the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl

2008-11-03T01:33:00-08:00

Win a sun and fun 4 night trip for 2 to Honolulu, Hawaii to see football's best stars play. If you win you not only get to enjoy the football game, but also a tailgate party and another VIP party.

What a great way to conclude an exciting NFL season by watching the Pro Bowl at the Aloha Stadium with the AFC's and NFC's top stars on hand for one fantastic afternoon of football in paradise.

This Hawaii NFL Pro Bowl football sweepstakes is sponsored by the Santa Fe Packing Company which produces Spike's all natural Santa Fe salsa and con queso.

Enter the 2009 Hawaiian all star Pro Bowl football game with online entry form and official rules.

Enter now! This contest ends at the end of this month, November 30, 2008.

Hawaiian Grand Prize Winner Receives:

A trip for two (2) to Honolulu, Hawaii to attend the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl All star game held on February 08, 2009.
One standard hotel room for 5 days and 4 nights
Round trip game transfers, tailgate party ticket, VIP party, Lower Level game tickets, and round-trip hotel transportation. Approximate retail value is $6,000.00

Want more?! See our other Hawaii sweepstakes listings and sign up for our Hawaii blog by RSS feed or email while you are at it. We post a new legitimate win a trip to Hawaii sweepstakes every Sunday.

New Design: Kona Coffee Candles in Donkey Stamped Gift Bag

2008-10-24T04:50:34-07:00

Living on the Big Island where the world famous Kona coffee is grown and being a candle maker, it wasn't long before I invented Kona Coffee Candles to honor that heritage. I thought it would be so cute to package our fragrant coffee candle votives in drawstring cloth bags hand stamped with an original design. It would be a miniature version reminiscent of the burlap coffee bags that Kona coffee beans used to be packed in by the many small family Kona coffee farms.

Back then I chose to draw a sweet donkey portrait and had it made into a rubber stamp that served us well through the years, but the stamp got warped and it was time to draw a new design. This time I drew a new donkey wearing a flower lei around her neck, and had it made into another rubber stamp.

Mixing acrylic paint and using a brayer and palette, I hand stamp the front of each cotton sack with our new donkey stamp design.

Why a donkey? The donkey has a deep historical significance in the history of Kona coffee production on the Big Island of Hawaii. Between 1900 and 1945, sure-footed donkeys were used to haul the heavy 100 pound burlap bags filled with ripe coffee beans, up and down the steep rugged hillsides. Wild herds, escapees from coffee farms still roam the Kona coast; at night their not-so-melodious braying sounds have dubbed the noble donkey "Kona Nightingales."

Our handmade soy candles are better than paraffin candles and scented with a really intoxicating coffee aroma. It smells so good our Kona coffee fragrance candle has been called a fake out candle.

Besides Kona coffee scented soy candles, we also carry 100% pure Kona coffee, and 100% Kona Instant Coffee. These authentic products are great for Hawaiian gifts, coffee gifts, or to add to our custom Hawaiian gift baskets where you choose what goes into your custom coffee gift basket.

Win a Hawaiian Vacation--NFL Pro Bowl in Hawaii 2009

2008-10-19T22:34:34-07:00

The famous Campbell's Soup company is sponsoring a Campbell's Chunky 2009 Pro Bowl Sweepstakes.

The Grand prize winner will receive a 4 day and 3 night Hawaiian vacation for two. This Hawaiian prize package includes round trip air transportation, hotel accommodations, and 2 tickets to the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl. Trip must be taken on February 6-9, 2009. Approx. retail value is $5,500.00

How to Enter: Go to www.chunky.com at any time during the Promotion Period. Participate in the Click For Cans promotion by voting for your favorite NFL team. After voting, consumers will be given the opportunity to enter the sweepstakes as a thank you for participating in Click For Cans and helping to fight hunger. First time entrants will complete the registration page including their name, address, birth date, email address, and telephone. Once completed, click “submit” and you will receive an entry in the sweepstakes. Returning players will simply enter their email address. Entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM ET on 12/31/08 in order to be eligible.

Contest ends on December 31, 2008.

We try our best to find you a new and legitimate sweepstakes to Hawaii contest that we post here on our blog every Sunday. Don't miss out on the action, sign up for our Double Brush blog by email or RSS feed.

See our current and past listings for Hawaiian sweepstakes here.

When is a Green Candle a "Fake Out" Candle?

2008-10-15T05:04:36-07:00

Our original soy candles and beeswax candles are considered "green candles" because they are non toxic and eco friendly (made with only natural renewable waxes). Our handmade candles have been called lovely, beautiful, clean burning, well made, and other nice descriptions from our customers and friends, but I had to hear the explanation when someone called our green candle a fake out candle today.

I had to go to Island Princess to pick up more Hawaiian macadamia nuts (party favor bags & wasabi macadamia nuts) and Hawaiian candies (chocolate covered Kona coffee beans and Mele Macs). While there I was introduced to Steve the production manager who had been given our Kona coffee scented soy candle by Tracy who handles my orders.

Steve said, "Oh, you're the one who makes the fake out candles!" I said, "Pardon?" and he told me this funny story. He went home and put our coffee candle on the table in his house. The next morning he awoke to the delicious smell of fresh Kona coffee brewing and was happily thinking that his wife had got up before him and was making the coffee. He was disappointed however to find that his wife was still sleeping next to him, and then he realized that it was the coffee fragrance from the candle that he was smelling. Ever since then, they call it the fake out candle.

It has been weeks since he was given the Kona coffee candle, and he still gets faked out!

Soy Candles vs Paraffin Candles-May the Best Candle Win

2008-10-13T05:24:28-07:00

I was surprised to read in Brand Week Magazine recently that most American consumers are still not familiar with natural soy wax candles, or that the majority of candles made and sold today are produced from paraffin wax, a by-product of the industrialized oil refining process.

So what is the difference between soy wax used for soy candles and paraffin wax used for paraffin candles?

Soy wax is produced from harvested soybeans from green living soybean plants. Soybeans have been enjoyed as a vegetarian high protein food source world wide for thousands of years, but the oil from soybeans have only recently been used to make soy candles and other non food soy products. Harvested soybeans are crushed and pressed to separate the soy oil from the soy meal. The soy oil goes through a process called partially hydrogenation to turn it into a soft wax. This is the reason why you probably see so many soy wax container candles. To make free standing soy candles, other harder natural waxes like palm and beeswax, or paraffin has to be added to the soy wax.

The benefits of soybean wax is that it is non-toxic, bio-degradable, an environmentally friendly unlimited renewable resource, and supports farmers. (At Double Brush we use soy wax made from American farm grown soybeans. Our soy wax is also organic, vegan, and kosher.)

Paraffin wax is a byproduct of the industrialized petroleum crude oil refining process. Other petroleum products include diesel fuel, gasoline, asphalt, and kerosene. All of these oil products may be manufactured from foreign oil and contribute to our dependency on crude oil, which as everyone knows is a limited resource.

Now that we know about the difference between soy wax and paraffin wax, what about the differences in the waxes used for candles?

A soy wax candle is a true "green candle" that burns at a lower temperature than a paraffin candle and therefore with a candle of the same size, the soy candle will burn slower and last longer. An important benefit of soy candles are that they are non toxic and less likely to cause an allergic reaction as the soy candles are cleaner burning and don't release any carcinogens (cancer causing agents) like petroleum based candles do. Also with soy wax candles there is none to little black petro-carbon soot which can blackening of walls, ceilings, furniture, and contaminate ventilation ductwork in your home which happens all the time when burning paraffin wax candles.

The Dangers of Burning Paraffin Candles:

If you burn paraffin candles, you might as well be inhaling diesel fumes. “The fine particulate matter collected from candle emissions was similar to that of diesel engine exhaust in particle size, morphology, elemental carbon content, and absorbed chemical constituents” says David Krause. Krause is an air quality engineer and former employee of the Florida Department of Health. He also adds, “These similarities point to a similar potential for adverse health effects.”

These chemicals are also normally found in paraffin candles:

Acrolein, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde exceeding EPA safety thresholds, dibutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, didecyl phthalate, toluene, styrene, benzene, styrene, toluene, ethyl benzene, naphthalene, benzaldehyde, benzene,ethanol, and 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone) and acetone.

With the craze for gel candles you can add in mineral oil, terpene-type chemicals, modified hydrocarbons & viscosity increasing chemicals.

If you are considering buying soy candles, make sure that you read the label and it says 100% natural wax or else you may end up with a blended wax candle of 75% paraffin and only 25% soy wax! (Our soy candles are 100% natural wax.)

The wick should be made of natural fiber with no metal core. Lead core wicks have been banned in candles manufactured in the United States, but imported candles from other countries may still be using lead core wicks. (We use hemp fiber wicks with no metal core.)

Most fragrance oils that are used for candle making is made from a mineral oil base with solvents and other chemicals like dipropylene glycol in them. (Our soy candles are made with high quality custom blended fragrance oils in a soy oil base with little or no additives in them.)

Our soy candles do not contain added chemical additives such as UV light reflectors and chemical wax stabilizers that are common in paraffin candles!

And the winner for the best candle goes to a soy wax candle, or other all natural wax candle.

We invite you to please check out our handmade unique looking and wonderfully fragrant soy wax candles, and original beeswax candles.

Win a Trip to Hawaii--Pass and Snack in Paradise

2008-10-12T04:20:35-07:00

Enter to win this new Hawaiian sweepstakes sponsored by Kraft Foods. The winner will not only receive a trip to Hawaii for her or himself, but you can also take 3 other people with you and get a nice chunk of cash. While in Hawaii, you and your guests will be to attend a private event with lots of snacks on hand. It is sponsored by Kraft so I am guessing cheese on Ritz crackers and Planter's peanuts!

Hawaii Sweepstakes Grand Prize:

A 5 day/4-night trip for four (4) to Hawaii. Prize includes four (4) round trip economy air travel from the International airport nearest winner's home to Hawaii, round trip ground transportation to and from airport in Hawaii, hotel accommodations (based on quad occupancy) for four (4) nights; four passes to attend the private Kraft "Pass & Snack In Paradise Event" in Hawaii to be held February 2009 and $1,500 spending money.

Enter the Kraft Pass and Snack in Paradise Hawaiian sweepstakes contest here with link to official contest rules. Contest ends on December 1, 2008.

See all of our Win a Trip to Hawaii contests and sweepstakes here. While you are at it, sign up for our Hawaii blog via email or your favorite feed reader so you will know about a new Hawaiian sweepstakes (posted every Sunday) that you can enter.

Enter the "Win More Summer" Hawaiian Sweepstakes to Maui

2008-10-05T19:19:00-07:00

Dreaming of taking a relaxing sunny vacation to Maui? Give your dream a chance by entering the "Win More Summer" Hawaiian sweepstakes to Maui sponsored by the American Beverage Corporation.

The Grand Prize includes round-trip air transportation for you and a guest, plus 8 days and 7 nights at the beautiful Westin Maui Resort and Spa. There is no rental car included, but the prize includes ground transportation to and from the airport and hotel, and also $500.00 in spending money.

This Maui vacation Hawaii contest ends on December 31, 2008. It is open to legal residents of all 50 United States who are 21 years or older.

Enter the "Win More Summer" Hawaiian Sweepstakes to Maui and read official contest rules.

Don't miss out on any of our weekly Hawaii sweepstakes posts published every Sunday--sign up for our free Hawaii blog now with your favorite feed reader or by email.

Enter more Hawaii contests to win a free trip to Hawaii here.

Trick or Treat-Get Your Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Now!

2008-10-03T04:56:34-07:00

Trick or Treat? Of course at Double Brush we only give out good treats or tell you where to get good treats. I was watching TV tonight and a commercial came on that said you could get a free cookie by visiting Kashi.com

After visiting the Kashi site and signing up to receive my free chocolate chip cookie in the mail, I thought, for my readers who may have missed the television commercial, I am sure they would love to know where to get a delicious free cookie, I mean really, who wouldn't want a free Oatmeal Dark Chocolate cookie?

Kashi is a health food company that makes great tasting health food without highly refined sugars, artificial additives, or preservatives. I have seen their products at our local health food stores for many years. Kashi produces hot and cold cereal, snack and bars, frozen meals and waffles.

What makes their Oatmeal Dark Chocolate chip cookie healthy and good for you is that they add whole oats which contain fiber, protein and healthy fat. They also add dark chocolate chips which is a tasty way to get your antioxidants.

Allergen Info: Contains wheat, almond, pecan, soy, and milk ingredients. May contain other tree nuts.

* Limit one per household. Offer valid until October 15, 2008 or while supplies last. Available to U.S. residents only. Must be 18 or older to receive sample. Limit one sample per family, household, address, or email address. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Gifts from Hawaii--Everything Arrived in GREAT Condition!

2008-09-30T22:52:15-07:00

Aloha Everyone! Today is Testimonial Tuesday, my favorite post of the week. Thank you for your continued patronage during this time. Our company could not exist without the support of our customer-friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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Aloha, Cheryl,

The gifts were very well received. I ordered them before I made my visit to Oahu earlier in September so I wouldn't have to carry them back in my luggage. This worked out well, as all the items were in excellent condition when I mailed or handed them to friends and family. I have passed on your website name to those who were curious where they, too, could order such wonderful crafts.

Mahalo.

Clint C

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Everything arrived in GREAT condition!
Thanks, Cheryl.
I did appreciate the extras...
I'm using my petroglyph bookmark in my subway reading these days.
The Kisses & jam are wonderful and will be parts of Xmas gifts this year.
Thanks again
Jay

How to Grow Orchids on Trees in Hawaii

2008-09-29T03:43:47-07:00

Growing beautiful orchids on trees is an easy and rewarding thing to do. Of course it really helps if you live in a famous orchid growing region (east side of the Big Island of Hawaii) where the temperature and humidity are so perfect that your orchids can grow on pure neglect! But please read on as I will also include a link to growing orchids on trees for people who live in other states.

For the past 13 years I have been growing all kinds of orchids on the native Hawaiian Ohia trees which surround our home. (Read how we saved hundreds of Ohia trees on our Big Island rainforest property.)

First carefully take your orchid plant out of its container or pot. Gently loosen the roots and shake off most of the potting soil. Next, look at the tree you have in mind for where you want to place your orchid plant. Try to position the plant where you will be able to see and enjoy it in bloom. The orchid flower blooms will last for weeks! It's nice if you have a crook where the branch comes out of the tree trunk so the orchid plant can nestle in it. If not, you can tie it directly to the side of the trunk securing the orchid plant to the tree with string. Make sure the string is tied snugly around the the plant and secured to the tree so it is not loose and could move in a breeze or fall, but not so tight that the string cuts into the plant. It is better to use natural string or twine so it bio-degrades naturally after some time. You can also add spaghum moss or a piece of hapuu fern bark if you live in a dry area. I did this at first but it rained so much here that it rotted the orchid plant roots and also attracted lots of ants that made a nest in it.

Observe where the direct sunlight hits your tree during the day. Do not place orchid plants in places with lots of full sun unless it is the type of orchid that likes a lot of sunlight. Some of my plants shriveled up and died with the leaves burning and turning black. Most orchid plants do best in areas with filtered sun light or partial shade.

It is important in the beginning to spray your orchids with water (using a water misting bottle) completely everyday so it does not dry out, unless it is raining every day.

Every few months you can spray an orchid fertilizer over the whole orchid plant, according to the manufacturer's directions.

I have over a dozen different varieties of orchids in different sizes, colors, and fragrances, that bloom at different times throughout the year. Cattaleyas, oncidiums, eppidendrums, miltonia, dendrobium, dendrobium nobile, and some others that I forgot the name for.

The top photograph is of a cattaleya orchid plant, and the bottom photograph is of a "chocolate" orchid or brown oncidium orchids, both of these plants are a few years old and have been doing well in our yard.

Most orchids are epiphytic. Epiphytes which literally means "upon the leaf" are sometimes commonly known as "air plants". This means that they grow on trees or other plants and get their moisture from the air. Nutrients are obtained from rain carrying decaying matter over the roots.

Visit the American Orchid Society for all kinds of information on orchids including how to grow orchids on trees in your area.

Hawaiian Pineapple Pepper Dip Recipe--Made with Pineapples from Hawaii

2008-09-26T06:10:22-07:00

Our last customer who ordered pineapples from Hawaii raved about how sweet the pineapples we sent him were, he told me it had something to do with how close we are to the equator line. I don't know if that is true, but I do agree that Hawaiian pineapples taste sweet and wonderful.

With winter coming soon, fresh tropical fruit from Hawaii would be a welcome treat to warm up anyone's tummy, and with this Hawaiian pupus recipe for Pineapple Pepper Dip, there is plenty of pineapple flavor to go around for everyone.

I came across this delicious sounding Hawaiian pineapple recipe for Pineapple Pepper Dip in a recent magazine. It is a great pupu recipe to stretch and share your exotic pineapples at your next party or special occasion. Half a pineapple is enough to make 3 cups of dip, but you could easily use the whole pineapple and double the recipe if you are entertaining a larger party of friends, family, or business associates.

Having delicious and memorable Hawaiian pupus or appetizers helps to make any special event that much more special. If you are planning a special event in the near future, keep this pineapple recipe in mind.

Hawaiian Pupus Pineapple Pepper Dip Recipe

1 cup chopped assorted bell peppers (red, yellow and green)
1 cup sour cream
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 fresh pineapple, chopped very fine with juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
2 teaspoons finely chopped seeded Hawaiian hot pepper (or jalapeno)
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
1 teaspoon lime juice
Platter of assorted fresh vegetable sticks (and crackers)

In a small mixer bowl, combine chopped bell peppers, sour cream, cream cheese, crushed pineapple, salt, cilantro, green onions, jalapeno, grated lime peel and lime juice. Beat at medium speed, scraping the bowl often, until well mixed (1-2 minutes).

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve this festive looking dip with a platter of fresh vegetable sticks and gourmet crackers. Makes 3 cups of dip.

This Hawaiian pineapple pepper dip pupu recipe is courtesy of Edible Hawaiian Islands Magazine.

View our other blog posts about Hawaiian pineapple recipes and other cool things you can do with pineapples from Hawaii.

I also Love the Gardenia Candle--My Favorite Scent

2008-09-24T03:31:28-07:00

Tuesday is the nicest day of the week for me when I am able to share our customer thank you emails for our blog feature called "Testimonial Tuesday." Mahalo to everyone for helping to keep our little company going.

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Hi Cheryl,

When I wrote earlier, I was actually thanking you in advance. Today is Tuesday and I am thanking you now from the bottom of my heart. Everything arrived perfectly and it's all WONDERFUL!
The perfume is lovely and mahalo nui loa for the lovely earrings, postcard, beautifully -smelling plumeria candle and Live Aloha brochure and sticker! I love it all! You really took me down memory lane!

Thank you,

Karen

Hi Cheryl!

I am very happy to have found your site!  I need to give a little background
info.  My husband and I lived on Oahu from 1985-89 and 1992-99 while he was
stationed at a variety of military bases all on Oahu!  The Foster Botanical
Gardens was one of my favorite places to visit and I remember purchasing
fragrant solid perfume in their gift shop.  I was reminiscing about the
perfume and decided to google 'solid Hawaiian perfume' and that's how I came
upon your site!  At first I clicked on another site for the perfume but
found they required overnight shipping which was exorbitant.  Thank you,
thank you for the extras!  I know I will be in Hawaii, mentally at least,
when I smell your perfume!

Karen Z.

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Cheryl,
Thank you so much for being patient with me. I got behind in reading my e-mail, but my husband told me about your phone call. The Mac nuts arrived today and they are wonderful! I also love the gardenia candle; it is my favorite scent and I can't wait to use it.
Thanks again for everything and I will probably be back in touch soon because I am getting low on the mac candy kisses; the kids come home from school every day and eat them.
Thanks again,
Sherry

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Aloha Cheryl,

I got the shipment and everything arrived perfectly! Thank you so
much for the plumeria candle. It smells amazing! Do you sell those on your
website? If so, I would definitely like to order some.

Thank you so much!
Jennifer

Enter the Garden in Paradise Sweepstakes and Win a Trip to Maui

2008-09-21T07:29:26-07:00

The Garden Smart television show celebrates its 10th season this year. Garden Smart is a weekly gardening program shown on the PBS stations. Topics each week are varied and interesting for the experienced or novice gardener.

Garden Smart is sponsoring a Hawaiian Sweepstakes aptly named "Garden in Paradise Sweepstakes and Win a trip to Maui". The grand prize is a 6 day 5 night trip for two to the beautiful Hawaiian island of Maui in March 2009. Prize includes round-trip coach air transportation from major airport nearest winner's home, hotel accommodations (double-occupancy) and a rental car.

Enter this Hawaiian sweepstakes to Maui and see official rules here. Online entries must be received by December 31, 2008. Limit one entry per person per day.

Every Sunday we list a new legitimate sweepstakes to win a trip to Hawaii. See our current sweepstakes to Hawaii list here.

Best Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Dessert Recipes from Hawaii

2008-09-18T06:35:51-07:00

I was extremely happy to find over a dozen delicious sounding authentic Hawaiian dessert recipes that use Hawaii macadamia nuts as a key ingredient, all in one place. Macadamia nuts are not only delicious and add a tropical exotic touch to any dessert dish, but macadamia nuts are also packed with nutrition.

The best tasting mac nuts are grown on the Big Island. We recently added a large 12 ounce bag of Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts by Hamakua Farms to our online Hawaii stores. This big bag of mac nuts are a economical choice in the kitchen for chopping or dicing and adding to your dessert recipes and other main dish or pupu's (appetizers) recipes.

These Hawaiian dessert recipes are brought to you from the island of Kauai courtesy of Kauai Menu Magazine. They are the Garden Isle’s premier guide to the best Kauai restaurants, dining, art, shopping, entertainment, things to do, activities, hotels, resorts, accommodations and travel.

Hawaiian Dessert Macadamia Nut Recipes

Chocolate Dipped Hawaii Macadamia Nut Shortbread Recipe

Macadamia & White Chip Cookies Orange and Macadamia Nut Biscotti Recipe

Chocolate Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Fudge Dessert Recipe

Macadamia Nut Cheesecake Brownie Dessert Recipe

Melt In Your Mouth Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies Recipe

White Chip Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Bars Recipe

Black Bottom Coconut Cream Tart with Macadamia Nut Crust Dessert Recipe

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Macadamia Nut Gingersnap Crust Dessert Recipe

Hawaii Macadamia Nut Pumpkin Crunch Dessert Recipe

Macadamia Nut Pie Dessert Recipe (Southern Style)

Macadamia Nut Kauai Coffee Brulee Dessert Recipe

Iced Lemon Macadamia Nut Pound Cake Dessert Recipe

Chocolate Hawaii Macadamia Nut Wontons Recipe

Chocolate Hawaiian Macadamia Truffle Torte Recipe

Macadamia Nut Cheesecake Dessert Recipe

Click here to go directly to the Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Dessert Recipes from Hawaii page.

Fresh Baked Hawaiian Rum Cake-From the Big Island to You

2008-09-09T06:28:11-07:00

The secret is out. For the past several years the Kona Gold Rum Company has been busy at their Big Island Hawaiian bakery producing the most delicious yummy rummy cakes! Their signature Hawaiian rum cake is made from a modified rum cake recipe found in an old recipe book from Kona. The defining ingredient that makes this bundt style cake unique is the addition of lots of diced Hawaiian macadamia nuts.

Tortuga rum cake, Jamaica rum cake, Caribbean rum cake, golden rum cake, and Bacardi rum cake may be more well known than our local delicious rum cake from Hawaii, but that should change as more and more people taste this Hawaiian delicacy for themselves. What makes this gourmet rum cake special is the use of the finest ingredients like fresh eggs, butter, real sugar, Hawaiian macadamia nuts, and dose of premium dark rum.

Our rum cake is based on a Hawaii style rum cake recipe and has a lighter rum taste than the Caribbean style rum cake which is more soaked in rum. Most people including children like our Hawaiian style rum cake.

This gourmet Macadamia nut Hawaiian rum cake passed our taste test review and we are now offering these Hawaiian baked goods at our online stores.

Hawaiian Rum Cake Taste Test Review:

The first thing you notice after cutting open the thick plastic vacuum sealed bag, is the heavenly fresh baked aroma. A mouth watering sweet and exotic smell that makes you anticipate getting your first bite. We sampled this cake at room temperature right out of the box, and the next night we ate it chilled, direct from the fridge. Chilling enhances the cake's rum flavor and the Kona Gold Rum Company recommends serving it this way. The cake tasted excellent both times. I also read that people serve and enjoy rum cakes warm. And no matter what temperature you like to eat your cake at, this cake is excellent paired with vanilla ice cream.

The Hawaiian rum cake has a nice perfectly baked brown color on the outside with lots of macadamia nuts embedded on the top. The inside of the cake is a lovely golden yellow color. The cake is very moist with a fine texture and rich buttery taste. It is not super light and fluffy like a chiffon cake, but it is not heavy and dense either. Paraphrasing Goldilocks, it is just right.

The cake is delicious, and again it is just right--not too sweet and not too overpowering with rum. The original addition of tasty mac nuts compliment this cake perfectly.

These bakery fresh rum cakes are made in small batches in order to retain a home-baked taste. Each cake is vacuum sealed and packaged in a beautifully elegant black hexagonal box. The shelf life of each cake is about 6 months (rum cake actually tastes better as it ages and the rum acts as a natural preservative), but will last indefinitely in the refrigerator or freezer. I however doubt that your cake will remain uneaten for long!

We carry the small Hawaiian rum cake (4.5 ounce) which is like a miniature bundt cake and can serve 2 people or 1 person who really loves dessert. The small gift box is perfect to add to our lauhala custom gift baskets, where you can choose among all of the Hawaiian products we carry to create your own Hawaiian gift basket.

We also carry the medium Hawaiian rum cake which is one and a half pounds! (24 ounces) It is good value for your money and makes a charming and unique gourmet gift or to serve for any special event.

Your Box is Making Me Miss Hawaii Terribly!

2008-09-09T03:59:36-07:00

We love sharing the wonderful notes we receive from our customer-friends:) It seems that everyone appreciates getting free surprise gifts with their order from Hawaii. Just our little way of keeping the aloha spirit alive with gifts and a personal touch. A big mahalo (thank you) to everyone.

Don't just say, "I miss Hawaii" and not do anything about it, let us send you some Hawaiian goodies and gifts from the islands to to enjoy now.

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Cheryl,
I have officially been back from your island for 1 week and your box is making me miss Hawaii
terribly!
It arrived in great condition and I really appreciate the "extras" you included; my girls will too!
The plumeria scented candle is heavenly. Thank you!!
The wasabi macademia nuts are good but I think I like the Mauna Loa Wasabi and Teriyaki ones
better. I did not see those on your website but for future reference, do you think I would be able
to order them from you?? *NOTE: I made a special trip to get some for her:)

Thanks again for everything,
Sherry Donovan

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Cheryl,

The Hershey kisses are wonderful. They arrived on Monday, one of the hottest days this summer. They were a little melted. I put them in the refrigerator and they are fine.

Thank you for the free gifts. I am going to give them to my Hawaiian friend. She misses home. It has been about 35 years. She will go back next year for her honeymoon and a family reunion.

It must have been your blog that made me look at your site. I am sure I will order again. I will need to wait until it cools down in Maryland.

Thank you again for your kindness. Linda

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Please forgive my slow response. The candy was in excellent shape when I received it. I gave to my granddaughter last weekend, @ which point everybody enjoyed. Thanks so much for all the extra gifts, I've already used the votive, It smelled so nice.

Wanda B.

Escape to Paradise Hawaii Sony Open Golf Tournament Sweepstakes

2008-09-08T01:04:00-07:00

You and a friend or family member could be watching the Sony Open Golf Tournament in Hawaii next year if you win the Sony Open Hawaii Escape Sweepstakes 2009.

Besides passes to the golf tournament on Oahu, this grand prize also includes air transportation from the mainland, hotel accommodations at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa in Honolulu for a week (7 days and 6 nights), 3,000.00 in spending cash, tickets to a Pro-Am awards dinner with performance by a Sony BMG artist, advance screening of a Sony Pictures Entertainment movie, the opportunity to play one round of golf with a PGA Tour player in the Hawaii Satellite Pro-Am segment of the Sony Open, and ground transfers to and from the Honolulu airport to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa, and transportation from the resort to the Sony open golf tournament.

To enter the Sony Open Hawaii Escape Sweepstakes without a purchase, only mail in entries will be accepted and must be received by December 5, 2008.

We post a new legitimate sweepstakes contest to Hawaii every Sunday. See our current Hawaii Sweepstakes listing. Better yet, sign up for our Hawaii blog by email or with your favorite feed reader to be up to date on all the new free trip to Hawaii contests.

Kona Coffee with Original Hand Crafted Coffee Latte Art

2008-09-03T05:41:55-07:00

Last week I blogged about a guy who invented a way to rig up a coffee latte art printing machine with free directions. Although it was an innovative technological invention, personally I love things that are handcrafted and show the art and originality of the artist or crafts person. The handmade touch is something I appreciate because we make our living from our hands. For our business we produce handcrafted soy candles, beeswax candles, natural soaps, and solid perfumes. For my artwork, I enjoy painting and drawing.

Traditional latte art refers to patterns made in the foam topping espresso drinks. A barista (expert in coffee preparation) may have a signature latte art design or style which can take her or him years to master.

Check out this coffee latte art site where baristas from around the world share their ephemeral coffee creations in a cup of coffee. There are dozens of coffee latte art designs with many different themes. Besides hearts, leaves, foliage, and abstract designs, there were also several animal faces (the monkey shown here is my favorite), and a galaxy theme complete with moon, sun, stars and planets.

WikiHow has directions with photographs on how to make coffee latte art. You can also see several coffee latte art making videos on YouTube.

You may not always be able to make your cup of coffee look this good, but you are in control when it comes to how good your coffee taste. For guaranteed wonderful coffee, try our 100% pure Kona coffee direct from the Big Island where we live.