F L O WÂ FOR
THE
SUMMER
ISSUE 12 | SPR/SUM 17
LETTER from
the
editor
Hi, everyone! It’s been a while since I sat down and wrote a Letter from the Editor, so bear with me if my thoughts seem scattered.
It’s summertime in the 808 (but of course, living in a one season state, summer is no stranger). Students are either working part-time jobs or enjoying their break before the new semester begins.
And for some of us adults who are cranking out the 9-to-5, summer is out of the vocabulary. At HNL Flow, we’ve been generating new content as of late and it’s been pretty consistent so far (which we hope you’re all enjoying!). An explanation of why we’ve lost touch can be found on the next page.
I'm also sad to say that this will be our last issue, (I know, so sudden!). But I thank you for all the past four years that you've stood by us. We love you guys and we thank you so much for your support!
We’ve been working on this issue since the beginning of February, and I can’t tell you how much work has led up to this moment. Thank you for your patience, for sticking by us, and for always going with the Flow. Chill out, cool down, and enjoy.
Best, Vina Cristobal Founding editor-in-chief, HNL Flow
where have we been? SOOOO. You’re probably wondering why we haven’t exactly been on top of our game recently.
First of all, I’d like to apologize for the wait. The past year and a half was a struggle, for sure. We were on quite a hiatus for quite a while; in fact, the last (real) issue we published was a year ago with our “Shred On!” theme. After that, we failed to deliver our 11th issue on time (you can now read that on our Wordpress blog). For me, that just hit hard, and that led up to the hiatus we announced in October.
During that time, it gave me some time to think about the future of HNL Flow. I had no business partner at the time, and I knew little to none about the business world. With the changing tides, the magazine flowed along with it (no pun intended). A lot of talented people have left our team, so some of the familiar faces that you’ve come to recognize as Flow staff members are now working on creative projects on their own, or just focusing on their personal lives in general. You’ll find them collaborating with various local businesses and artists, and a lot of them have stayed true to their Flow roots.
So with that, not everything turned horrible. I’m still in touch with a lot of these people. You’ve also been seeing a lot of great content on our social media and Wordpress blog lately, which can be accredited toward our second group of Flow Interns. They’ve been doing incredible work (read: slaying it) and I’m inspired at the talent they harness at such a young age.
I know it'll be hard to close the doors on a passion project that we put our blood, sweat, and tears in, but this is definitely for the best. HNL Flow has been a huge part of everyone's lives, and I'm thankful for the journey we went through together.
We’re still young, human and learning, and we appreciate you being there. If you’ve been an avid reader or social media follower, I just want to take this time to say thanks on behalf of the Flow Fam. Your love and support means so much to us.
Best, Vina
MEET OUR
STAFF & INTERNS We asked some of our team members:
"What's your idea of a perfect summer?"
Vina Cristobal (@vina.cris) FOUNDING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sage Battad (@sagekeely) CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HEAD OF MARKETING, WRITER
"Getting to travel somewhere new. It's so satisfying to explore an unfamiliar place, especially if you're around great company."
W R I T E R S Lalaine Ignao (@theambitionmovement) "My ideal summer consists of nonstop creative flow and an endless amount of traveling, financial stress free."
Tasha Mero (@itsmeetashaaa) "All I need for a perfect summer: salty hair, sandy toes, sunshine and ocean breeze. Summer, here we come."
Jady Ojiri (@jadyrei) "My dream summer would definitely be full of traveling and adventures. If I got the chance to try something new everyday with a cool bunch of people, that would definitely be a perfect summer in my eyes."
D E S I G N Rose Julian (@r.zzl)
Amixa Calzado (@afcalzado)
P H O T O Jenny Paleracio (@jenanpal)
Jason Perez (@jasonprzphotography)
Sydney Ro (@sydneymasakophotography)
Marleen Tana (@mar.leen)
V I D E O
[
Alex Allen (@alley.portraits)
Kari Lau (@hahahahakari)
"Sitting on the beach, in some
"My dream summer would be
exotic part of the world."
traveling the world with my family!"
HONORARY MENTION
[
COVER CREDITS:
Clayton Nelson (photographer/Flow Senior)
Model: Rhiannon Perry
Jenelle Ho (photography intern)
Photo: Kari Lau
Coby Shimabukuro-Sanchez (contributing photographer)
Design: Vina Cristobal
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS CLICK
(OR
7
ICE
TAP)
ON
THE
ICONS
FOR
EASY
ACCESS
TO
OUR
10
KOPA
HNL
14
LANE
TANNER
SENIORS
BAR
DESIGNS
20 FLOW
ARTICLES!
28 2017
SUMMER
EDITORIAL
BLOG FEATURES: THE REFINERY HONOLULU
PLANTSAX
A TO
GUIDE WAIKIKI
BLACK
SHEEP
CREAM
CO.
ICE, ICE, BABY
with its unique blend of fruity drinks, this beverage pop-up is quickly taking the Insta-world by storm (or should we say smoke?)
words: jady ojiri | photos: vina cristobal
Looking for an Instagram worthy drink that’s sure to
The smoke, which resembles that of Nitrogenie, is
get people talking? I might just have exactly the thing
placed into a larger plastic cup that holds the actual
you’re searching for - but be warned, it’s a bit of a
drink cup. From there, the smoke comes out of
smoke hazard.
small holes in the larger cup, which gives it the illusion of being a ‘smokin’ drink’. The smoke factor makes the
This up-and-coming local drink company that’s been
drink cooler in temperature and to add a little pizzazz
all the rage lately is known none other than “Ice HNL.”
to customer photos.
The masterminds behind the business are Sandy Bach and Ridge Hayashi. The two were inspired to create
As of right now, the company offers three flavor options:
these ice cold concoctions by Hawaii’s constant
“Love Potion,” “Black Magic” and “Liliko’i Lovin’.” They’re
warm temperatures and blazing summer heat.
planning on introducing new flavors, but you’ll have to keep an eye out for those in the near future.
“We wanted to introduce drinks that are as cool as ICE! This led us to create Hawaii’s first smokin’ drink,”
But for now, the business just released news of its most
they shared.
recent menu addition - bucket drinks. The featured bucket drink flavors include “Ice, Ice Baby” and “Melona.”
With their business idea slowly coming together, the two wanted to add a little edge to their drinks that
All the drink flavors come packed with a
set them apart from the competition. With the help of
refreshing flavor that gets all of your taste buds
a few secret ingredients and techniques, Bach
tingling. It’s a truly perfect combination for those
and Hayashi were able to create a drink that emitted
grueling sunny days.
smoke from beverage cups. “Ice HNL is an experience. It doesn’t matter what age you are," the pair says. "Once anyone gets a hold of Ice HNL’s smokin’ drink, it will bring you together."
Ice HNL is definitely packing a punch with their latest invention and it’s definitely been getting a lot of attention from curious onlookers. If you want to get a taste of the magic, all that you have left to do is try it, but don’t get lost in the fog.
Keep up-to-date on Ice HNL’s latest announcements through their Instagram or find them at a local “Eat the Street” event.
@icehnl
words: tasha mero | photos: jenny paleracio
staying clean & going green you'll definitely appreciate soap more with this eco-friendly brand.
Even without packaging, shoppers can easily spot KOPABAR items, as all bars are hand-stamped with the name “KOPABAR” on them.
Irene notes that it took a while for her to come up with the brand's name, but after some brainstorming, she realized that KOPABAR would be the perfect name (“Kopa” is the Hawaiian word for “soap,” so the company's name literally means “soap bar”).
Each bar comes with a convenient strap, which is made of jute, a biodegradable plant fiber. In order to extend the shelf life of bars, KOPABAR suggests that customers either stand bars upright or hang them up to air-dry when they're not being used.
Some of the ingredients that make up KOPA BAR products are detoxing clay, shea butter and various natural oils (coconut, soy bean and macadamia, to name a few). Local soap entrepreneur Irene Liang has big goals for herself — and for the environment.
With a variety of ingredients, KOPA BAR offers shoppers with quality soap that is sure to remove dirt and oil from one's skin.
KOPABAR, which made its debut late last year, offers sleek bars of soap made from only the best ingredients. Available in various colors, these bars make great gifts for those who simply love soap and staying clean.
“I've played around with the oils a lot to try and find the most cleansing, but also the most moisturizing,” Irene notes. “Soaps that lather a lot are actually really drying. I try to get a mixture of lather—because people love
As an advocate for the environment,
that—but also [make it] moisturizing.”
KOPABAR, strives to ensure its products are as eco-friendly as possible by using natural ingredients and being package-free.
Irene's journey to become a soap maker began two years ago when she stumbled upon a blog by Mark Manson, an American
“I'm really big on the environment,” Irene explains. “I was having a hard time about [creating] the packaging because I just didn't like the idea of waste.”
entrepreneur. She came across a quote that discussed how people need to be willing to sacrifice their time, work hard and persevere through any storms in order to be successful.
This blog post struck a chord with Irene
Before perfecting the soap making process,
and made her reflect on what she was
Irene went through a period of trial and error.
passionate about and what she wanted
Initially, she experimented with floral soap
to do, regardless of its ups and downs.
with dried petals in them. However, this process wasn't what she had anticipated
After considering her options, her interest
and she wasn't satisfied with the results.
in health and beauty is what brought on
Nevertheless, Irene persisted.
her passion for soap. The Honolulu native took it upon herself to learn about
KOPABAR products are all carefully made
the creation of soap through rigorous
by hand — right in Irene's home — and are
online research.
created using the cold process. This technique consists of mixing natural oils with sodium hydroxide and allowing the final product to cure for four to six weeks. Although the process takes a bit of time, Irene enjoys it because she loves working with her hands. Another motivating factor in all her hard work is KOPABAR's customers.
“The most satisfying thing is someone enjoying something that you created,“ Irene says. “When you create something, you put your heart and your soul...your sweat and tears into it. It's like they're buying a piece of me.“
Customers can shop for KOPABAR products at Lily Lotus, which is located in Kaimuki. Irene also hopes to expand KOPABAR even further and to one day, have products available in Down To Earth or Whole Foods stores. Looking toward the future, Irene hopes to continue her current eco-friendly efforts. She dreams of partnering with an environmental foundation and have a portion of KOPABAR's proceeds go toward establishing sustainability projects.
@kopabar
ART YOU CAN WEAR
lane tanner designs
aims to make a fashion
statement that is truly a work of art.
words: tasha mero | photos: jason perez
Lane Tanner Designs aims to make a fashion statement that is truly a work of art. The Honolulu-based jewelry line
ʻ
showcases Hawai i's beauty through images of mountains, sunsets, palm trees and more.
These jewelry pieces are much more than souvenirs; they're wearable art. The design
TAP OR CLICK:
team behind the unique jewelry line is wife Morgan Lane-Tanner and husband Josh Astern. With Morgan's love for design and Josh's zeal for photography, the two bring
Press play to watch
their respective passions together in order
Morgan make jewelry!
to create photo jewelry.
The company strives to offer shoppers with pieces of jewelry that will forever resonate with them. Customers are able to carry a
ʻ
reminder of Hawai i in the form of necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
“Our process, it's very separate—and then it comes together,” Morgan explains. “Josh will wake up super early and he'll do sunrise photo missions. I'll choose the photos that I really get inspired by [and usually, they're really colorful ones].”
The intricate jewelry line features small-scaled photos which are framed in either gold or sterling silver wire. The images, which are printed on translucent rice paper, are coated in resin, making the pieces water resistant. The product's durability ensures that they may be worn in any type of weather.
When worn outdoors, the translucency of
As Morgan's creative eye was eager to
the paper allows the sun to shine through
bring jewelry designing to the forefront,
it, making the photo's vivid colors
she committed her full-time efforts to the
illuminate even more.Â
jewelry line in order to bring her vision to life. As a result, Lane Tanner Designs was officially
Morgan has always been interested in design.
launched in 2014.
For a while, she was a theatre costume designer. During this period, designing jewelry
The wonderful aspect of Lane Tanner Designs
was more of a hobby for her, and initially, she
is that the array of photo jewelry are more
experimented with vintage photographs.
than just images of stunning scenery, the
However, after experimenting with her
jewelry pieces are designed to
husband's colorful photographs, she
capture memories and invoke emotion in
discovered that these scenic images were
individuals who view (and wear) the artwork.
perfect for the jewelry line that she had envisioned.
The brand's tagline, “Where's your adventure?
Lane Tanner Designs' newest offering is
Wear your adventure.” invites patrons to don
the Diamond Head Collection. Framed
jewelry that remind them of their adventures
in diamond-shaped wire, the collection
on the islands.
boasts a sunset view of Waikiki Beach and a silhouette of the famous
As Morgan enjoys adventuring the outdoors,
Diamond Head crater.
ʻ
she draws inspiration from Hawai i's stunning landscapes.
Each purchase comes with a photo of the entire scene reflected in the piece of jewelry,
The shop's handmade items come in
along with a reusable muslin pouch to
various shapes and sizes, with photos
protect the item when it's not being worn.
exuding vibrant hues and silhouettes. With Morgan's designing abilities and Some of Lane Tanner's best-selling items
Josh's photography skills, the duo's jewelry
are from the Na Mokulua Collection, which
line provides them with the perfect outlet for
feature Kailua's Na Mokulua Islands. The
their artistic minds to flourish. Morgan
photo, which was taken at Lanikai Beach,
enjoys being able to work with her husband
depicts a beautiful day in the sun with
and is also delighted by her supportive
blue skies and turquoise water.
customers.
“I think the most rewarding thing is getting to talk to the customers and getting to help them,” Morgan says. “They get so excited about picking out pieces for their friends, and for themselves. [It's rewarding] getting to know that I touched someone with my artwork.”
lanetannerjewelry.com
@lanetannerdesigns
facebook.com/lanetannerdesigns
CLASS OF 2017 words: jady ojiri + clayton nelson photo: marleen tana video: kari lau
CLAYTON / PHOTOGRAPHER GRAD: DEC. 2017
jady / writer grad: may 2017
jady
Before I embarked on my journey with HNL Flow, I was your typical high school teenager. I did sports and extracurriculars that would fill up most of my time, but I wanted more. I wanted to be a writer, someone who was always meeting new people, immersing myself in new things, and having a little more spontaneity. My mom was actually the person who introduced me to the magazine and encouraged me to apply for its internship program, and I believe it was one of the best decisions I’ve made thus far.
Through the magazine, I met one of my idols, Ari South, I was able to see the behind the scenes work of up-and-coming local artists, and I have made more connections in the past few months of being on the team than I could have ever imagined. With the experience HNL Flow has gifted me with, I feel much more confident in striving to become a journalist. I’m hoping to go to a school on the east coast to major in communications after I graduate, and my overall goal is to be a fashion magazine writer.
The transition I am about to make into the world is a very scary one, but no matter where the wind takes me I know HNL Flow will always have a big part of my heart, especially after everything it’s done for me.
TAP OR CLICK:
Watch the "Flow Seniors 2017" BTS video!
CLAYTON
Originally when I applied for HNL Flow, I was just a dude with a smartphone camera.
Through HNL Flow, I was able to grow as a photographer and creative individual. By working with HNL Flow and being apart of the Flow Fam, I had a life changing experience through growth, friendship, and teamwork.
A particular event, which required the entire fam, was covering Pow! Wow! Hawaii for two years in a row. This experience was by far one of the more exhilarating ones. Being able to meet and talk to artists, photograph the experience, and live in a moment of art history.
Once I graduate, my sights are set on moving to LA to pursue a career in a variety of industries. One day I'll return back to Hawaii, until we meet again.
GREAT SUMMER
PHOTOS: jenelle ho, kari lau, & coby shimabukuro-sanchez STYLED BY: jady ojiri MODELS: kiana burgher, abby salvador & rhiannon perry
MAHALO! thanks to those who made our last issue possible and contributed to the success of our staff + interns
· friends of HNL Flow staff + interns chaminade university of honolulu · university of hawaii hawaii pacific university · sacred hearts academy pearl city high school · moanalua high school hogan entrepreneurs program · grace bible church pearlside lane tanner designs · ice hnl · plantsax the refinery honolulu · black sheep ice cream · kopa bar coby shimabukuro · rhiannon perry · kiana burgher · abby salvador
family of HNL Flow staff + interns
and YOU, our readers!
keep flowing.