vamos a la playa

Hello! It's almost the end of summer for me; school will be starting soon, so why not post a beach themed photo?
 
Here's some music to get you in the mood:
Marathon/ Tennis
Make A Wave/ Disney's Friends For Change
Folding Chair/ Regina Spektor
Brighter Than The Sun/ Colbie Caillat
One Sail/ Meg & Dia
August Is Over/ We The Kings
Boys In The Summer/ Jessie James


Now I want to go out and hit the beach again...

This is how I'll be living out the remainder of my summer:
sand, surf and sun :)


From Top To Bottom:
Hat: Capelli
Earrings: Handmade
Necklace: Pirates of the Caribbean at Claires
Shirt: Mossimo
Crops: Mossimo
Bag: Forever 21


stay sandy,
Kiana

in full bloom

Happy Friday, everybody! Sorry I haven't posted in a while— I've been busy. So here's a post to catch up! However, I'll be leaving for the largest Hawaiian island in our chain, Hawai‘i island (also known affectionately as the Big Island) today... don't expect any posts for a bit.

To celebrate my garden's success, I decided to incorporate my sunflowers into today's theme. They're my favorite flowers! :)

Also, in keeping with today's theme, I am *not wearing any makeup at all— no retouching either.* Let's hope it didn't come out too bad ;)

So here it is:

From Top To Bottom:
 Headband: a birthday gift from a friend
Earrings: The Hunter
Long-sleeve shirt: Converse
White tank: Aeropostale
Shorts: Xhilaration

stay natural,
Kiana

think pink!

Girls who think pink are colorful. They probably played with Barbies. And they definitely listen to bubblegum pop!

 Let's celebrate the art of thinking pink with this playlist, all songs I find very poppy.) :)

Thinking Pink Playlist
Accessory/ Jordyn Taylor
Stupid Love Letter/ The Friday Night Boys
As A Blonde/ Selena Gomez
Crush/ David Archuleta
Super Bass/ Nicki Minaj & Ester Dean
Like A Virgin/ Madonna
Keep Your Head Up/ Andy Grammer
Pretty Girl Rock/ Keri Hilson
Xoxoxo/ Black Eyed Peas
Loving You Tonight/ Andrew Allen
Fashion/ Lady Gaga

From Top To Bottom:
Earrings (they're strawberries!): Claire's
Necklace: Forever 21
Polo: Aeropostale
Skirt: Tres Chic
Bag: Franco Sarto
Shoes: I dunno, but I love them! They are so comfortable... I used them in Europe :)

stay hot (pink),
Kiana

a walk in the park

*Note: Today's post is more a story, not a fashion dissertation.*

So yesterday I visited a playground that I haven't been to since I was little. I used to play there with my friends all the time— there was a seesaw, a tire swing, a giant dragon made out of tires, even four wooden houses! Aikahi Playground used to be one of my favorite places.

Anyway, it was so weird to be there, years later, watching little kids squeal and chase one another. It was like watching a younger version of myself. However, the playground I had known was no longer there— they had torn it down for safety reasons and remodeled it in 2009. The painted tire-dragon and wood structures had been exchanged for turf, fake wood, and a concrete dragon with glazed tile inlay decorated by students.

The new and improved Aikahi Playground of my youth

The new concrete dragon...

Tiles painted by students at the nearby elementary school

This structure is painted to look like a honu, a green sea turtle.

One of the last remaining tires of the old playground...

From Top To Bottom:
Sunglasses: Marc by Marc Jacobs
Long sleeve: Converse One-Star
Dress: Old Navy
Slippers*: Old Navy

*Now, you might have noticed I did not write 'flip-flops'. In Hawai‘i, locals use the term 'slippers'. I know that on the Mainland (continental U.S.) and otherwise, many people refer to them as 'flip-flops'. However, I have grown up my whole life in Hawai‘i calling them 'slippers', and that's how they'll be referred to in this blog. :)

stay sentimental,
Kiana

the boy who lived

 As I'm sure you all know, Friday was the opening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2! I was super excited to go with my friend and even more excited to wear my Deathly Hallows necklace and Time-Turner (my other friend bought it for me from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando).

Watching the movie was like watching the last piece of my childhood...
Here's a few songs to think about.

What Kind of Name is Hermione?/ The Parselmouths
My Dad Is Rich/ Draco and the Malfoys
Wizard Rock Twist/ The Remus Lupins
Snape Vs. Snape/ Ministry of Magic
Prefects Are Hot/ The Moaning Myrtle
Post Potter Depression/ Lauren Fairweather

My friends who went to the midnight premiere on Thursday brought me these cookies...

My Time- Turner :)

From Top To Bottom:

Collared long sleeve shirt: Converse One-Star

Deathly Hallows necklace: Hot Topic

Time Turner necklace: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, FL

Owl shirt: I Love H81

Blue ribbed tank: American Eagle

Jeans: somewhere in L.A.

Flats: American Eagle

Sorry for the smaller images this post; I used my iPod to take pictures cause I didn't have my regular camera.

stay magical,

Kiana

tropicana

It's summer and the heat is on... so because I live on an island, why not go tropical? Tropics is the topic today, and all I need is a smoothie and fresh fruit to make it no ka 'oi (the best).

I got this necklace from Aotearoa (New Zealand)...

From Top To Bottom:
Flower: handmade from Moloka'i
Necklace: from Aotearoa
Dress: Wet Seal
Bracelets: Old Navy, Aeropostale, handmade
Handbag: Hilo Farmers Market
Shoes: Calypso St. Berth

stay sunny,
Kiana

wild wild west

Had to share my love of my boots by doing the traditional Western standby— the Wild West. Also gotta love the belt— it's probably one of the most-used items in my wardrobe.

Tuesday's Playlist
Wanted/ Jessie James
Rhythm of Love/ Plain White T's
Liar Liar/ Christina Grimmie
Storm Warning/ Hunter Hayes
I Got You/ Train
Machine Gun/ Sara Bareilles

From Top To Bottom:
Hat: Mexico (no, seriously)
Necklace: Forever 21
Dress: Paper Heart
Belt: Forever 21
Bag: Forever 21
Boots: Charles Albert

Short post today— got lotsa stuff to do and people to see.

stay wild,
Kiana

hope is the thing with feathers

"Hope is the thing with feathers, / That perches in the soul, / And sings the tune-- without the words, / And never stops at all." —Emily Dickinson

Mix-matched prints and colors aside, I feel quite hopeful for today!

Here's today's playlist (upbeat and fun):
Stay The Night/ James Blunt
Say You Like Me/ We The Kings
Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)/ Katy Perry
Black and White/ Royal Tailor
Brighter Than The Sun/ Colbie Caillat
I Am Woman/ Jordin Sparks
Young Blood/ The Naked and Famous

I love my blueberry Kipling bag! It's great for travel and on-the-go errands...
The purple blueberry-like thing attached next to the standard monkey is from a trip my sister took to Japan (thank you!)
And the shoes always get appraising looks on the street. ;)

From Top To Bottom:
Earrings: The Hunter
Necklace: Forever 21
Short-sleeved jacket: Jezebell
Shirt: Nollie
Skirt: Forever 21
Bag: Kipling
Shoes: Dollhouse

stay hopeful,
Kiana

country chic

It's Friday and I'm ready to greet the weekend! Let's relax in the countryside...

As E. A. Barnes once wrote in the poem Softly,
"Softly comes the sunset hour, / With its fading light; / Softly steals a sweet repose / O'er the coming night."
This sums up the time of day these pictures were taken, and the beautiful lighting.

From Top To Bottom:
Earrings: The Hunter
Necklace: The Hunter
Cover-up: Forever 21
Dress: Mossimo
Clutch: Forever 21
Boots: Charles Albert

stay chic,
Kiana

summer school

Even though it's summertime, I've still got stuff to do and knowledge to acquire. But I'd like to keep the summer spirit alive by wearing an outfit that's eye-catching and cute yet preppy. If the looks I got in the halls today was any indication, I believe this look accomplished both. It's a little simple, but that's okay— don't want to get TOO dressed up. It's just a couple of courses, after all.

I love my Harajuku Lover high-tops... they're sweet and girly but casual and statement-worthy! :)


From Top To Bottom:
Earrings: The Hunter
Necklace: Hello Kitty- Sanrio
Polo: Tommy Hilfiger
Belt: Forever 21
Skirt: Mossimo
Shoes: Harajuku Lovers

stay smart,
Kiana

independence

Hi everyone! Happy Independence Day for all of the Americans, and for anyone else, I'm just wearing a few of my favorite colors! Although the 4th of July isn't technically a Hawaiian holiday (I'll be celebrating Hawaiian Independence Day on November 28th and Sovereignty Restoration Day later this month on the 31st), I do love red and blue... not to mention firework displays and those addicting popsicles!

I'm planning to hit the beach later on— just me, a good book, and the ocean. Plus, it's a great place to watch firework displays at night! :)

I loved the 'faded' stripes on these cropped pants! Felt very nautical... can't wait to use these again!

From Top To Bottom:
Earrings: The Hunter (a total bargain- they were 50 cents)
Necklace: Forever 21
Button-down shirt: Converse One-Star
Red tank: Cinnamon Girl
Belt: Calvin Klein Jeans
Crops: Mossimo for Target
Gladiator shoes: Mossimo for Target

stay independent,
Kiana

strawberries and cake

Tea steams in dainty rose-flushed china as a colorful array of petit fours, biscuits and sponge cakes weigh down the table. The tea must begin! And this strawberry-themed dress must make an appearance!

Notice the strawberry buttons :)

From Top To Bottom:
Necklace: The Hunter
Lace cover-up: Forever 21
Dress: handmade
Rings: February 12, handmade, and Ever After Creations
Shoes: softstyle Hush Puppies

stay sweet,
Kiana

ready to rock

To me, this is what attitude looks like. Not "perky pony" kind of attitude, but "I'm feeling restless and ready... for what?" It's like a I'm ready to rock and get outta here. Hit the drums already. Of course, that's not how I was feeling today, but it's always fun to play the part.

A few songs that sum it all up:
Kiss With A Fist/ Florence + The Machine
Are You Satisfied?/ Marina and the Diamonds
Teenagers/ Hayley Williams
For You, and Your Denial/ Yellowcard
Fighting For Nothing/ Meg & Dia

From Top To Bottom:
Headband: don't remember
Jacket: Rock N' Republic
Tank: Smoke and Mirrors
Skirt: Super Low Fat
Shoes: Sweet 5•5•4 Mary Janes

stay strong,
Kiana

goin' native

I'm not part-native American. Being Hawaiian is not the same thing— on the U.S. Census and for the SATs, I checked off the box marked "Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander". But I wanted to wear the dress: it's been sitting in my closet for a week, and of course, I had to wear my cowgirl boots. So I based it off the combo of dress and boot and got: Native Americana! (This, of course, is just my own outfit opinion and is in no way intended to dishonor true native Americans or insult them with my reinterpretation of culture.)

From Top To Bottom:

Headband: Forever 21

Necklaces: a gift from a friend
Purse: Forever 21
Belt: Forever 21
Dress: Forever 21
Boots: Charles Albert

...And yes, as I type this, I realize that most of my outfit is from Forever 21...
But it just goes to show how you can buy a lot of things from the same store and they look nice together.
Besides, I just couldn't help myself! There's a big store in Waikiki that I love to haunt :)

stay native,
Kiana