This looks like a plain cup, but when it’s filled with hot water, it makes a rainbow. Ah, rainbows and unicorns!

Sedona in Ward Centre held an open house today for media folks to introduce their new gift ideas for the holidays.

Malia Johnson is an excellent buyer, who looks far and wide (she just returned from Las Vegas and NYC) for gifts that are on trend but also uplifting, positive, humorous or irreverent.

These are a brand new popular item in Northern California now, especially since they are made in San
Francisco.

Sedona’s success is evident in its ever-widening storefront. While so many businesses in the Kaka’ako area disappear or shrink, Sedona just keeps on growing.

Malia makes an effort to find things that are either made in Hawaii, made in the USA, or have an ecologically sound pedigree. (Check out the recycled saris repurposed into beautiful scarves. Also the hand  bags made of fishing wire.)

Irreverence is a characteristic of many of the Sedona gift items. A little bit quirky also works. Love kitties? How about Keane-style kitties?

Awwwwww…

One of the things I love about Kaka’ako businesses is that they often celebrate and help one another by cross-marketing.

The new bakery, Flour and Butter, by baker Jennifer Daza, had an impressive presence at Sedona today.

Sweets from Flour + Butter

When visiting Sedona and its neighbor Red Pineapple, don’t forget to bop across the street to South Shore Market. It’s a holiday treasure trove as well!

– Paula Rath