Shop Small This Holiday Season

Big things happen when we shop small. By supporting small businesses, you not only strengthen your local economy, but you also uplift the dream of a neighbor. As a haven for small businesses, we’ve made it a part of our ethos to support the entrepreneurs, tastemakers, chefs, and boutiques that have made Ward Village Honolulu’s most exciting neighborhood. In an effort to shed light on some of these storied business owners that make up our community, we’re turning our attention to Eden In Love, Pili Pacific, We Are Iconic, and J Salon.

Eden In Love

At first glance, South Shore Market clothing boutique Eden In Love is a one-stop-shop for sophisticated, posh clothing and delightful home décor. Think urban aloha wear for the discerning fashionista. Beyond bright, colorful basics, cute rompers, and flowing dresses emblazoned with island-inspired prints, Eden In Love has an impactful mission that goes beyond helping women look and feel their best. In fact, Eden in Love is proud of its brand commitments: create impact, empower confidence, spark joy, inspire communities. How do they measure their success? Through their community impact at home and abroad. The conscious company has partnered with over 50 local and national non-profit organizations and created a Gifts That Give campaign connecting local designers with charities of their choice. They’ve mentored young adults at Easter Seals of Hawaii in retail skills and even traveled to Sri Lanka, where they adopted a village through the Global Hope Network. Eden In Love makes it easy to not only look good but also feel good about your next shopping spree.

We Are Iconic

Dripping cool, We Are Iconic is routinely regarded as one of the hippest, independently owned boutiques in Honolulu. Highly curated and stocked with the most fashion-forward lines you can find anywhere, We Are Iconic, founded by husband and wife duo Shie and Nate Clark, has built a league of devoted shoppers, all eager to find the latest seasonal drops sourced by Shie. Originally hailing from Japan, Shei, and her husband, Nate, have both become cherished members of the Ward community. Their open, airy location, housed in the ground floor of Anaha, features a sophisticated aesthetic paired with some of the most fashion-forward brands you’ll find anywhere, making We Are Iconic a premier destination in the city.

Pili Pacific

In our modern world, much of our clothing is mass-produced with built-in obsolescence ensuring you’re back at the store every few months to purchase the next season’s new look. Fortunately for those seeking high-quality garments infused with cultural tradition and craftsmanship, the art of printmaking and artisanal fabric production lives on at Pili Pacific. Pili is a Hawaiian word meaning to join or connect, and the owners and artists behind Pili Pacific, husband and wife Sue Pearson and Herman Pi‘ikea Clark, have been connecting traditional motifs from Pacific cultures with traditional printmaking to create wearable pieces with bold island flair. Each design begins as a hand-rendered work of fine art. Pearson and Clark create hand-carved printing blocks and homemade dyes to transfer these storied works of art onto aloha shirts and dresses made from high-quality silk and linen blends. Crafted by artisans with an eye for precision, every detail—think exceptional finishing techniques like French stitching or mother of pearl buttons—speaks to the brand’s commitment to making wearable pieces of art that celebrate indigenous design, traditional printmaking, and the connections of peoples and cultures throughout the Pacific.

J Salon

When done with decades of professional industry experience and intrinsic artistic intention, a hairstyle is so much more than a shampoo, cut, and blow-dry. Barber and Stylist Joe Randazzo, owner of J Salon and Phil’s Barber Shop, brings three decades of experience and a penchant for communication to every client that steps into a chair. From Chicago and New York City to Honolulu, Randazzo has deftly succeeded at bringing modern and sophisticated style and a luxury salon experience to the Islands. “I wanted to create a salon experience that I hadn’t found in the Islands, and I wanted to do it in my own brand. At J Salon, we focus on in-house education, quality of work, and making sure our work looks very current. I designed the salon to have a modern, clean environment so that all of our guests can enjoy themselves.”

Joe, who’s actually done classes in Holland with the Schorem Barbers—regarded as the best in barber world—offers up all the perks of a vintage cut and shave, care of his sister storefront, the aforementioned Phil’s Barbershop. To be sure, receiving a proper cut or a straight-razor shave from Phil’s is an experience every man should experience at least once in their lives.