One of our favorite jaunts at Ala Moana, Honolulu’s shopping mecca, is Panya Bistro. This past Sunday, after a run to Williams Sonoma for a bagel slicer, measuring spoons, and Illy coffee beans–OK, perhaps a little bougie but we all have our moments–we headed down for a little liquid meditation. While Panya’s usual happy hour is from 4 to 6 pm, happy hour is all day on Sundays and Mondays, making Panya a perfect spot to cap off  the weekend… or ease the way into a new week. The New Year’s new healthful diet (sweet potatoes, broccoli, apples, amongst other excitement) put some limits on enjoying the appetizer selection, but thankfully, there was still room for a little Tanqueray in a classic martini ($7). Paired with some steamed edamame ($5), it was ideal for catching up on the latest fashion happenings in French Vogue.

On what would’ve been a mellow Wednesday Honolulu evening, the Kaila Hawai‘i team and friends went out on the town  this past November 4 to mark the launch of Project P.E.P., a special collaboration between the house of Jimmy Choo (known for its high glam shoes and handbags) and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The night was smashing fun with drinks and nibbles from Pearl at Ala Moana and retro grooves. We were happy to see friends from local businesses, arts organizations, and non-profits, including The Place, Animo Kingdom, Hawai‘i State Ballet, the Moana Surfrider, and the University of Hawai‘i. A special nod goes to Cora Spearman of The Place Honolulu for her rocking fashions for the evening, which just serendipitously happened to match the Jimmy Choo Fall 2009 collection. (We’re thinking specifically of the Odette handbag and the Cara clutch . You just had to see her tights to understand.)

Kaila Hawai‘i sends out special mahalo a nui to Joelle Hashimoto, Rose Horikawa, Desmond Kāne Balbin, Christine Smith, and Garrett Segawa of the  Jimmy Choo Ala Moana team for a fantastic evening and supporting a great cause! Select pieces from Project P.E.P. are still available at the Ala Moana store for a limited time. (Browse collection pieces of the Jimmy Choo website.)

In the photo set above:

1. Joelle Hashimoto, Jimmy Choo; Cora Spearman, owner -  The Place, and guests
2. Friends of Jimmy Choo

In the set above:

1. Holly Kim and Erin Stickley
2. Elegant daughter and mother pair Nicole Love, Common Cause, and Kazuko Love, Japan-America Society Hawaii
3. Jragen Moki Anderson, owner – Animo Kingdom; Raquel Avila; Jessi Bruce
4. Zachary Tomashosky and guest

In the set above:

1. Kai Andersen, founder of Kaila Hawai’i; Cora Spearman, The Place
2. Céline Labrador, Matt Cavert, Lesley Ann Culver, Holly Kim
3. Friends from Hawai’i State Ballet
4. Desmond Kāne Balbin, Jimmy Choo; Sumi Omatsu, Moana Lani Spa – Moana Surfrider Hotel