Space Shifters

by Kai Andersen | Modern Luxury Hawai'i magazine | November 26, 2011

From downtown Honolulu to small-town Maui, a smart set of creative thinkers is redefining business concepts and creating connections with their communities. The latest hybrid to hit the islands? Storefronts and cafés that moonlight as galleries and performance venues. It’s the ideal solution in an age where more is more—at least when it comes to smart space usage.

To mark the opening of dowtown Honolulu shop The Human Imagination (1154 Nuuanu Ave., 538.8898, thehumanimagination.info) the iconic figures of J.F.K. and Martin Luther King Jr. were chosen as symbols of change to grace two custom tees. But when a few teens popped in one day, they couldn’t identify the social pioneers, explains co-owner Jun Jo. His momentary shock gave way to a deep conversation, bringing to life two men who have influenced generations. The anecdote is a fitting testament to the far-reaching vision of partners Rhandy Tambio, Ryan Arakaki, Todd Shimabuku and Jo. In an open space that could fit in perfectly in SoHo or Stockholm, the team merges art with apparel in perfect step. Mobile displays make way on First Fridays and other events for fashion photographers, tattooists and more.

A conversation with Ashana Morrow of Agua de Flora (161B Hana Highway, Paia, Maui, 579.3339, aguadeflora.com) perfumery, is a heady blend of botany, philosophy and poetry. And like her line of natural, meticulously crafted perfumes, Morrow bestows an ineffable sense of well-being. “Fragrance brings people back to their natural intelligence,” expounds the perfumer. Unlike synthetic mass-produced formulas, Agua de Flora scents are made from essential oils obtained via hydrodistillation, the most refined method possible. Morrow, also an accomplished singer and musician, fashioned the boutique after an 18th-century French salon and also considers the perfumery a place for learning and discovery. A perfect example is her seasonal Symphony of Scents, a guided exploration of fragrances paired with a live performance by Morrow and an ensemble of musicians.

Few spots in the islands combine live music, indie flicks, mean martinis and kaffeeklatsch as well as companion spots bambuTwo and theVenue (1144 Bethel St., 528.1144, bambutwo.com). The mini cultural epicenter is the brainchild of Dave Stewart, mastermind behind the popular Bar 35 and Brasserie du Vin. Besides offering fresh Molokai coffee or a pau hana cocktail, bambuTwo hosts a range of local artists, while theVenue has become the place to catch both local and out-of-town performers, as well as its Monday-evening series of hard-to-find films curated by Don Brown. But the project goes beyond individual aspirations for Stewart. He says, “The more music, food, theater, shopping and art in the area, the more interesting it becomes for local residents and visitors—and the more successful we all are.”