Three new local-based businesses at Kings’ Shops

Lavaka Gallery

If you haven’t been to Kings’ Shops lately, it’s worth a visit to check out their most recent additions.

In December, Lavaka Gallery came to the Kings’ Shops after losing their Lahaina studio to the August fire. The new venue showcases works of master wood carver Fetuufoou “Fetu” Lavaka and his family, originally from Tonga. Fetu is a fourth-generation Polynesian carver, his father having passed the skills and knowledge on from his father, and his grandfather before him.

Like in Hawai‘i, carving is an important part of the Tongan culture, where originally, skilled carvers created functional pieces such as canoes, tools and weapons. Today, Lavaka’s works are more artistic and evocative—from graceful dolphins and whale tails to imposing, 8’-tall tiki statues

In their press release, Lavaka Gallery Director Arianna Flory said that she and her family of art collectors met Fetu at the Royal Kona Resort Lū‘au five years ago, and were highly impressed with his work. They bought one of his tiki carvings on the spot, and developed a close friendship over the ensuing years. After Fetu’s Maui studio was destroyed in the August fire, both families decided to collaborate on a new space.

“Fetu is a contemporary artist continuing the tradition of the past,” said Flory. “A lot of these traditions have died out over time, and we are honored to represent them in a small way in the Gallery”

Find Lavaka Art Gallery in Kings’ Shops makai end, near the former Macy’s location, open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (808) 796-3033, www.LavakaArtGallery.com.

CocoNene

The new CocoNene interactive boutique is another Maui expat that opened last fall. Here, customers can explore their own creativity to create custom wooden signs using CocoNene’s signaure “Longboard Letters” program. Hundreds of colorful wooden cutouts—letters & numbers, animals, characters, flowers and icons—can be combined in countless ways for personalized 3D signs for any occasion.

In addition, CocoNene proudly offers a wide assortment of wood wall art and home décor, including picture frames, coasters, clocks and keychains. CocoNene’s annual holiday collection is especially popular with Hawai‘i residents as well as visitors looking for unique, locally made gifts, wood ornaments, and new this year, Hawai’i villages and nativity scenes.

Through its partnership with local artists and designers, CocoNene creates new product collections year-round that celebrate the island lifestyle and honor Hawaii’s gift-giving culture. The company is part of a family of brands that includes the esteemed kama’aina company Pictures Plus, founded in 1986 by Kent and Lori Untermann. For more information, visit CocoNene’s website at www.coconene.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

With so many fun and colorful choices, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store when you visit CocoNene.

Sugar Coast Candy

Speaking of candy stores, Sugar Coast Candy is a must for anyone with a sweet tooth. Customers explore rows and rows of glass jars, 50-gallon bins, tins, shelves and tables packed with treats, including old school favorites like day-long suckers, giant Jawbreakers, Tootsie Roll Pops, and Pop Rocks. Candies are priced by the pound according to type, making mix-and-match easy and fun.

Kings’ Shops is the second location for Sugar Coast, following the success of its Hilo store which opened in the Old American Bakery Building in 2011. Owner-operator Janice Stanga also co-owns Hamakua Mushrooms with her husband Bob, who had previously owned and operated a helicopter tour company. Janice ran her own Interior Design business, hence Sugar Coast’s inviting, TikTok-worthy décor.

Sugar Coast Candy is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, follow www.facebook.com/sugarcoastcandy.

Happy shopping!