Nadine Kam photos
A model in one of the creations by Jaclyn Mae Santos, featuring her manipulated fabric.

RAW: Natural Born Artists-Honolulu is part of a national community of creatives across the world, with 77 regional communities.

The independent arts organization's mission is to provide emerging independent artists, within the first decade of their career, with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity.

The organization welcomes all genres of art, including independent film, fashion, music, visual art, performing art, hairstylists, makeup artists, and more, giving the artists a venue to show their work to the greater community.

In Honolulu, that means hosting a series of monthly showcases bringing musicians, visual artists and designers together for a diverse evening of shopping and entertainment.

The most recent showcase brought together a half dozen visual artists, musicians and designers, highlighted by a fashion show featuring recent University of Hawaii APDM graduate Jaclyn Mae Santos, Birdie Girls Creations Roberta "Robyn" Gray-Newman, Glass Eye Arts Shayna Nichols, and Project P Bowties.

Santos was parting with pieces from her cool girl "Alien 2 Alien" collection (if only I were 20 years younger), while also introducing her new direction, which involves dyeing, printing and manipulating fabric. She's just getting warmed up, and showed three pieces, plus a tote bag featuring her hand-block printing. All the designers staged brief, but sassy shows, emceed by Sean Douglas.

The next event takes place 7 to 10 p.m. April 13 at Aloha Beer Co., 580 N. Nimitz Highway. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $10 pre-sale online at http://www.rawartists.org/honolulu, or $15 at the door.

Designer Jaclyn Mae Santos with her models.

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Monterey Atuatasi in Project P Bowties by Kathy.

Birdie Girls Creations Roberta "Robyn" Gray-Newman with her knit hats and berets. Slouchy and rasta caps are $20, chunky knits are $10, and headbands are $15. Her felt flowers are $5 each, with bulk discounts. Kid's caps are $20.

These boys admire the lampwork pendants of Glass Eye Arts' Shayna Nichols.

Heiko Greb's somewhat sinister-looking tabletop wood-block sculptures.

Nadine Kam photos
Guests at the Kahala Hotel Veranda's Girls Day Tea showed up in their Sunday best.

By Nadine Kam

It was all about the young and fashionable set when the Kahala Hotel's Veranda hosted a Girls Day Tea and informal fashion show featuring designs from its keiki boutique L'ill Nell's, styled by Cora Spearman, creator of Coradorables. True to her diva style, she delivered a picture-perfect finale, with all the girl models dressed in hot pink wigs and frothy tutus that had some of them twirling like prima ballerina.

Little girls in the crowd came dressed to impress, causing one adult to remark, "I feel so shame, kids today dress better than I do."

Guests were greeted by a buffet of tea sandwiches and sweets, lots of sweets, so much so that the children in the audience were bouncing off the walls, and it took a while to corral some of them for a group photo. In between shots they were running around, dancing, and yes, fighting when one of the girls popped in front of the others for a diva-like turn front and center, was called out and duly outcast, before the swirling began again seconds later.

Ah, Girl World. So glad I was never part of it, choosing instead to observe from a safe distance while doing my own thing.

Boys were given equal opportunity in the show, showing up in crisp aloha shirts by Coradorables and grownup-quality knits from Masala Baby.

The event also marked the launch of HI Tea Shop's Keiki Haute Tea for Coradorables, a fruity caffeine-free blend of lilikoi, mango, orange and marigold in green Rooibos.

For those of us merely enjoying the show and setting, it was a pleasant and relaxing way to spend an afternoon. I do enjoy being a girl!

Event coordinator and Coradorables creator Cora Spearman with her family, hubby Chris Chang and daughter Izzabelle.

Raspberry truffle pops were among the sweet treats awaiting kids of all ages.

There was also pink mochi to mark Girls Day.

A very pink finale with wigs and candy colored crinoline pettiskirts.

Kiyomi liked her Coradorables dress so much, she danced her way around the Veranda.

Dozens of Coradorables dresses and separates are available at the Kahala's L'ill Nell's boutique, which opened last fall to make it convenient for vacationing parents to shop for resort apparel for their kids.

Two more Hawaii-style looks from Coradorables.

More styles reflecting Cora's vision.

Kiyomi in a Juicy Couture swimsuit, with mom Tracie Asayama.

This Juicy Couture swimsuit was so adorable, but the model was actually having a meltdown. Which I don't really understand. When you're a kid, life is all fun, new and carefree. I never had meltdowns or threw tantrums until I became an adult.

Courtesy photo
Brandon Maxwell in a Masala Baby ensemble.

Watching the show was Chloe with mom Thea Schwartz Johnson. Chloe is in her own Twills and Twigs jumpsuit with leopard flats. Mom is in Trina Turk. (more...)

SoCozy.com photo

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, you can dress up your little one and show the world how you feel about love with this heart braid design by children's hair expert Cozy Friedman, as featured in "Cozy’s Complete Guide to Girls' Hair."

What you’ll need: Wide-tooth comb, fine-tooth comb, decorative hair clip, ponytail holders

1: Starting with damp hair (either towel-dried or misted), use a wide-tooth comb to detangle. Then, using a fine-tooth comb, part the hair down the middle of the head. Clip one side up right above the ear.

2: On the other side of the part, use the fine comb to gather a thin section of hair from the crown.  This section should measure about 2 inches from the hairline to the top of the head.

3: Divide this section into three, and begin a French braid starting at the crown and curving toward the temple, then toward the back of the head, like the top lobe of a heart.  You will be lifting hair into the braid only from this side of the part. Leave no loose hair in front of the ears.

4: When you reach the center part at the back of the head, secure the braid with a ponytail holder.  If hair is very long, end the braid about mid-ear; the ends will hang down the back.

5: Unclip the hair on the other side of the part and repeat the process.  Secure with a ponytail holder.

6: Join the ends of the braids together in the center of head and secure with ponytail holder. Finish with a decorative clip.

There's a lot of braiding being shown on the New York runways for adults as well. Here are images from the Rodarte show:

John Frieda photos

Added Feb. 13:

From the Badgley Mischka Fall/Winter 2013 Collection preview:
Hair by Peter Gray for Moroccanoil

Photos by David Webber for Moroccanoil

Nadine Kam photos
Joe Bock gravitated to one of Nemo's pals at L'ill Nell's: Clothes for the Curious Kid, which just opened at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. Read on to find out how to win a $100 gift certificate to the kidwear boutique.

If you've got little ones at home, you might want to check out L’il Nell’s: Clothes for the Curious Kid, an upscale children’s boutique that opened earlier this month at The Kahala Hotel & Resort.

During a tour of the store Dec. 19, the Kahala's general manager Roseann Grippo said they noticed vacationers were leaving the premises to shop for beachwear, resort attire and fashionable play togs. After all, why should adults have all the fun in dressing up in breezy, casual local style?

With that in mind, L’il Nell’s was created, managed by Melissa Rocha, who also manages The Kahala Boutique. With resort buyer Barbara Cipro, they've stocked the store with apparel by a mix of local and national brands, swimwear, pool and bathtub toys, mermaide dolls and other toys, plus age-appropriate and beach-inspired jewelry.

Aloha shirts in miniature from Coradorables.

One of the mainstay brands is local kidswear designer Cora Spearman's Coradorables. Other brands include Juicy Couture Baby, Jannuzzi, Kissy Kissy, Neptune Zoo, Makena Surfwear, Hula Star, Island Heritage, Hurley, Diesel, and Roxy.

L’il Nell’s is open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., just off the grand main lobby and front desk area, across from The Kahala’s famous Celebrity Wall. For more information, call (808) 739-8709.

To win a weekend stay in a Kahala family suite and a $100 gift certificate at Li’l Nell’s, join The Kahala’s Facebook page at at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahala-Hotel-Resort/24225416915 and submit a photo and brief description of your greatest Kahala family memory for the resort's "Oh What Fun Favorite Family Photo Moments" contest. If you're too bashful to sign up for Facebook, you also have the option of emailing your entry to marketing@kahalaresort.com. The entry deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 7, 2013.

Photos of the finalists will be posted for all The Kahala’s Facebook fans to vote for their favorite from Jan. 7 through Jan. 20, 2013. (Voters must “Like” The Kahala Hotel & Resort Facebook page prior to voting.)

The winner will receive a complimentary two-night stay in a family suite (partial ocean view) with breakfast for four at The Kahala Hotel & Resort (subject to availability and black out dates), and a $100 gift certificate for a shopping spree at the newly opened Li’l Nell’s: Clothes for the Curious Kid. The winner will be announced on Jan. 21, 2013 on The Kahala’s Facebook page.

If you don't have photos to back your Kahala memories, there's still time to snap away. For instance, while still in holiday mode and welcoming family and friends from out of town, you might want to get together over afternoon tea at The Veranda. Learn more about the tea service at my other blog, Take a Bite.

The store entry, complete with mini shopping carts for kids.

I wanted one of these hand-embellished, vintage fabric T-shirts for myself. Alas, these are in keiki sizes only.

A penguin backpack.

The Kahala rashguard for little girls, bracketed by resort tunics and tops.

These mermaid dolls are $16 each.

A little play area keeps keiki occupied while parents shop.

There's still time to visit a lobby tree, dressed in candy colors for little ones.

Nadine Kam photos
Alyson Kintscher, center, is in a dress by Tiare Hawaii, with models in Gillia dresses, during a celebration of Aloha 'Aina's second anniversary Oct. 19 at Royal Hawaiian Center.

Aloha 'Aina Boutique's celebrated its second anniversary at Royal Hawaiian Center on Oct. 19, with a showcase of designs by local designers Noelani, Tiare Hawaii, Gillia, MauiMari Ocean Jewelry and Luce & Me.

The boutique will also be among those participating in the holiday edition of “R Style Social” taking place Nov. 16, and you can look forward to Aloha 'Aina offering a 10 percent discount storewide.

The center's R magazine-inspired open house event, running from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will showcase outfits and accessories from participating stores.

Guests are invited to pick up the magazine and an R Socialite Pass at the check-in desk between bebe and the Apple Store on level 1 of Building C. The first 200 customers will receive a complimentary Royal Hawaiian Center water bottle or vanity bag.

Visit each of the participating shops and boutiques to receive R Socialite Pass stamps. Completed passes may be turned in at the end of the night to enter a drawing to win the grand prize of a $500 Royal Hawaiian Center gift card or a $250 gift card. No purchase is necessary to receive stamps.

Other participating stores and specials:

Allure: Complimentary Georgette solid color pareo with purchases over $75

Anteprima: Complimentary limited edition Anteprima tote with any purchase over $450.

bebe: Receive a 20 percent discount on regular priced items. (Must present discount
card that will be handed out in-store during the event. Discount card valid
through Dec.31, 2012.)

Da Kine: Complimentary Da Kine T-shirt with purchases over $75.

Honolulu Cookie Co.: Enjoy a complimentary cookie .

Juicy Couture: Receive $50 off purchases of $200 or more.

Love Renaissance: Receive a complimentary Love Renaissance shoulder bag with any purchase and try the Swaness series cosmetics to receive a trial gift set.

Mocchin: Receive a 50 percent discount on select items.

Princesse Tam Tam: Get a free “tweeker” bra accessory with purchases over $50.

Ranger Sports: Receive 10 percent off the entire store .

Royal Hawaiian Golf Shop: Receive a 5 percent discount on purchases of more than $100.

RHC’s validated parking promotion offers one hour free parking with validation and $1 per hour for the next three hours for a maximum of four hours. After four hours, standard parking rates apply of $6 per hour. Special event parking validation rates are available at $5.

For more information, visit www.RoyalHawaiianCenter.com or call Lei ‘Ohu Guest Services at (808) 922-2299.

Aloha 'Aina boutique owners Gina Fukeda and Seyon Chan, right, said they never had to alter their local product mix since opening. Customers just "got it." Oddly enough, they're one of the few businesses in Waikiki that show a diverse local product line. Other stores are devoted to single brands or imports from East and West.

Gillia designer Saori Santo was taking pre-orders for her fall/spring clothing collection. I fell in love with it right away and especially the dress she's wearing, though in the dusty rose color up front.

Mari Diller, of MauiMari Ocean Jewelry, flew over from Haiku to be at the event.

Noelani, of Haleiwa-based Noelani Designs shows some of her sunrise shell jewelry. Below, she pairs them with colored stones that match the vibrant colors of the shell's interiors. She said the shells definitely don't look like this when she gets them from diving friends. They're dull and covered with ocean crud and need cleaning and polishing to bring out their vivid color.

Jane Hoskins, right, launched her fall collection for Tiare Hawaii, with model Alyson Kintscher.

Jane was thrilled to see this little one in Tiare Hawaii for keiki.

Some of the edibles that still looked good. Beef skewers, spring rolls and other heavy pupu were decimated.

Desserts from Panya.