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Dreaming of Hawaii

June 16, 2014 By kimwheeler No Comments

I’m sorry for the brief hiatus there. I was just taking a little time to exhale and enjoy being with my kids without the school schedule for a bit. 
It was ever so nice to be a little checked out.
 Now I’m getting ready for my upcoming trip to Hawaii.
We are off to the Big Island, our favorite.
You forget about Hawaii when you haven’t been for a while, but it’s all coming back to me,  prepping  for this. 
It’s the sounds of birds and palms trees in the wind, the smell of the flowers, and the sound of soft ukelele music everywhere you go that enchants as soon as you land.
Don’t forget the tropical fruits, tropical drinks, and macadamia nuts! I love them in pancakes, on my fish, in the cookies and by the handful. I will probably eat pineapple until my mouth is sore and drink way too much Pog, (passion, orange, guava drink, the soda of Hawaii.)
Hiking, snorkeling, boogie boarding, biking and exploring are high on our list.
Personally, I’m thrilled to have several good books I’ve begun and time to read them!
Packing is always on my mind with vacations.
I’ve already given some serious thought to my holiday wardrobe.
Is a pineapple considered an accessory? 😀
That post coming next.
In the meantime, I’m still contemplating a few new additions to the old vacation favorites I’ve dug out  of the closet gallows. 
I love rediscovering old dresses and pieces you would only venture to wear on holidays and finding new ways to wear them.
I’m trying out using longer printed blouses as a new beach cover-ups and skirts as strapless dresses. It’s pretty fun once you start playing dress-up and see what you can do.
After I mix and match and come up with a core group of fresh feeling outfits, I donate or resell the left behinds.
 I then decide what is missing and add those along with a couple of whimsical pieces for a tropical trip.
I thought I’d share a few of my favorites I found while shopping for a summer getaway.
In love with this retro one-piece Coach.
Coach just got into swim and their current collection is just gorgeous!

Love these Tory Burch sandals. For a splurge, wouldn’t these be fun for Hawaii?
A little wink with your sundresses, and a nod to the islands.

Tropical prints were big this year so it’s been easy finding fun pieces to take.
 Tahari’s tropical collection was pretty and this silk top from it just got marked down.
The colors are beautiful.
I think this would be flattering on almost everyone and I like the ability to dress this up with a soft skirt or make it casual with a cute pair of colored shorts. 
I also need to add one more dress to take along and am obsessed with Madewell right now and especially this cotton maxi dress. My mother always likes white for holidays and a white dress does have that Gatsby feel. Everyone should have a white dress in their vacation wardrobe.
Okay and one more thing… I need a wow accessory like cocktail ring or fab earrings for special dinners out.. 
The colors in these J Crew earrings are very Hawaiian and funny enough they are Polynesian Stone earrings.  They remind me of the sea corals and water.
I’ll be back with a packing list for those going tropical later this week.
Tell me do you pack a lot or a little on an island getaway? Any travel tips for the Big Island?
Have a great week!
Kim
Images via Pinterest and more sources on my Pinterest board- Dreaming Of Hawaii.

Filed Under: Hawaii inspired fashion, Hawaii Style, packing for a tropical vacation

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. kim at northerncalstyle. says

    June 16, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Yea Heather! Enjoy summer. Loved your coral dress! Thanks so much. I hope your trip to Spain and Portugal is wonderful. Looking forward to those photos!! xx

    Reply
  2. Sandy at You May Be Wandering says

    June 16, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    Have a wonderful time in Hawaii!! I envy you California people since it isn't such a production to go to Hawaii as it is for those of us on the East Coast. I love all your picks too – especially the white dress. xoxo

    Reply
  3. Lana L. says

    June 17, 2014 at 4:29 am

    The Big Island is my favorite, and the one my boys always ask to return to! On our last trip we visited the observatory, and that was an amazing experience. Love all your outfit pieces. When I'm in Hawaii, I love to wear sundresses because it's so easy! Have a wonderful vacation – I'm only a little jealous 🙂

    Reply
  4. Dawn Lucy says

    June 17, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    Aloha, Miss Kimi! Very pretty fashion picks with a tropical feel! I'll miss going to Hawaii this year, but we decided to spend our vacation in Oregon this year. I could definitely retire here! Anyway, I'm still learning how to best pack for a trip. I'm doing better, but still miss that last moment change of outfit and access to all my accessories! Looking forward to your packing tips and your vacation photos. Let me know if you need a cat sitter. Oxox

    Reply
  5. miss b says

    June 17, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    I really enjoy planning a holiday whether that's activities or wardrobe and I agree that island holidays are an opportunity to wear clothes which would be unsuitable at home (and most definitely in the UK!) The Pog drink sounds divine and I would be more than happy to pack those Tory Burch sandals. I have my eye on a new white dress and I know that it would be perfect to wear in the sunshine. I think I should get it even if I only wear it on holiday and who knows, maybe there's a heatwave on its way over here!!

    Reply
  6. About Last Weekend says

    June 17, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    Wow, Kim I love all your picks. You have a stylist's touch, all a nod to the trends but all things I've never seen and can be worn for years after the trend is over. I am loving this tropical pattern thing and those earings and top are perfect. I so want to go to Hawaii now! we will be off to SB as usual this year, fun but it can be chilly! Please post your packing photos – they are the best!

    Reply
  7. Jeanne Henriques says

    June 18, 2014 at 12:38 pm

    I wish you would come shop for me Kim…I always love your choices. My tropical "go to" is caftans and linen. I brought them with me to New Hampshire and they have been hanging in my closet since I arrived..untouched. It seems to be hiking pants, boots and lots of cover ups to avoid the blasted bugs. I love it..will happily slip on a caftan at a later date. For now..it is dirt, dirt and more dirt..of a different kind from Ho Chi Minh City. 😉 Hope you are having a fabulous holiday…I get the part about taking a hiatus from blogging..I have too. Sometimes we need a break… Best..Jeanne xx

    Reply
  8. kim at northerncalstyle. says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:15 pm

    Sandy we are fortunate to be so close to Hawaii. It's a fast morning flight and you are there by lunch. I would love to experience summer in the East one day. So many lovely beaches and towns to rent a cottage and sail a boat! xo

    Reply
  9. kim at northerncalstyle. says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    Lana, Thanks so much! I would love to get to the observatory. I heard you have to get up at 3a.m. or something though.. The Big Island is really my favorite for things to do and it's beautiful beaches. xx

    Reply
  10. kim at northerncalstyle. says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Dawn, Oregon sounds very fun! Will you go to Ashland? Thinking Shakespeare Fest for the English teacher?? I may be bad and bring my monster suitcase on this trip.. It makes no sense as you wear very little in Hawaii, but as we aren't traveling around, I like having options too! Think we have a nice house sitter here. Thanks dear. x

    Reply
  11. kim at northerncalstyle. says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Yeah for the heatwave. Hope you get one and to wear that white sundress Miss b! xx

    Reply
  12. kim at northerncalstyle. says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:21 pm

    Jody, Thank you. It's just fun dreaming of all you could shop for on these getaways.. Also looking forward to shopping for real Hawaii made items. I hope you all have fun in gorgeous Santa Barbara! Working on those packing pics..

    Reply
  13. kim at northerncalstyle. says

    June 18, 2014 at 6:23 pm

    Jeanne, Caftans and linen! Love both and wish I had a caftan! Hope all is going well with the home redo. So exciting. You'll soon be back in your caftans! Yes break was good! xo

    Reply
  14. Get Back JoJo says

    June 19, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    So excited for you Kim! The way you describe your upcoming vacations sounds so dreamy. I always pack more than I need and yet still manage to forget something! Looking forward to hearing all about it!

    Reply
  15. Lana L. says

    June 20, 2014 at 5:43 am

    Actually, we went to the top for the sunset, and then went back down to the observatory once it was dark to view the constellations. We could actually see the Milky Way and the Southern Cross. It was an amazing experience! I think we left Kona a few hours before sunset to get there in time. It is cold at the top so you need jeans and a jacket!

    Reply
  16. Jennifer Connolly says

    June 20, 2014 at 6:03 am

    How exciting. Your trip sounds wonderful. I take less and less each time I go to Hawaii…and inevitably I bring home clothes that didn't get worn. It's so casual and fun there. Enjoy my friend. XoJennifer

    Reply
  17. About Last Weekend says

    June 21, 2014 at 6:01 pm

    Hi KIm, just actioned a post about summer stuff and linked to you and included earing pic. Can't wait to see what you've decided on for Hawaii

    Reply
  18. Leigh Powell Hines says

    June 23, 2014 at 2:15 pm

    Enjoy your trip.

    Reply
  19. Vannessa@Luxuria says

    June 23, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    Oooh! I am so jealous. I got married on Maui island and spent 3 weeks there. It's a 16+ hour flight from London; something Hubs is not up for too often. Have a wonderful time xx

    Reply
  20. reham magdy says

    June 26, 2014 at 1:56 am

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  21. reham magdy says

    June 26, 2014 at 1:58 am

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  22. Mr Paul says

    June 28, 2014 at 12:26 pm

    I hope you are still having a cool time on the big island Kim. I have images of you in a grass skirt on a surfboard, lots of leis, wearing miniature pineapples as earrings:)

    Reply

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