Vans Vault x KICKS/HI

KICKS/HI, your source for sneakers in Honolulu, just released their latest collaboration with Vans Vault. It features canvas "Authentic" and "Sk8-Hi" models embroidered with the retailer's mynah bird design.  

Bridge & Burn x Makelike | Hawaii 503 Collaboration

Two Portland companies, clothier Bridge & Burn and pattern design studio Makelike, teamed up to create a few Hawaii-inspired pieces. The interesting twist is that the prints feature natural elements from the Pacific Northwest--rhododendrons, dogwood blossoms, and Douglas fir trees among others.

Holoholo

John John Florence in HI

Interview: Jack Uesugi of a1000x

a1000x (A Thousand Times) is the brainchild of Hawaii high school junior Jack Uesugi. The goals are simple: to showcase and promote artists, to produce interesting products, and to highlight and help good causes around the world. As if you needed another reason to check them out, a1000x is kicking things off by giving away an iPad 2. Just ‘like’ them on Facebook for a chance to win. Mr. Uesugi recently took some time to sit down with Things Is Cool to discuss being a young entrepreneur, his love of art, and the desire to give back.  

THINGS IS COOL: All right. Let’s get into this. What is a1000x?

JACK UESUGI: a1000x basically means that whatever you do, you want to do it big. When we came up with the idea, we wanted to say, “Whatever you do, do it a thousand times better. Put a thousand times more effort in.” It’s a website that will allow us to promote artists and spread local [Hawaii-based] art throughout the community, to market the artists, and to print and sell shirts that the artists design. The idea of the whole project is that I love art, but I’m not much of an artist myself. I prefer the business side of it, and I know a lot of artists and am fortunate to have a number of resources. My family has a screen-printing business and my mom is a photographer. It just seemed dumb to not jump on the opportunity.