Hawaii Vacation Gifts by Double Brush-Hawaiian Gifts & Blog

Hawaiian Lauhala Baskets Make Popular Gift Baskets

Many people who want a Hawaiian gift basket, want the Hawaiian gifts to be in a handwoven lauhala basket. A lauhala basket has come to symbolize Hawaii because of the ancient native Hawaiian tradition of weaving (the correct word is actually plaiting but most people say weaving) lauhala into numerous useful items. The Hawaiian people wove lauhala into canoe sails, wall thatchings, window shutters, roof linings, mats, and even clothing! Today most contemporary weavers make lauahala purses, placemats, napkin holders, and of course baskets.

What is lauhala and where does it come from? Before I tell you the correct answer, I was dismayed to see several online Hawaiian gift retailers mistakenly referring to lauhala as a lauhala grass, with their description of "lauhala grass basket". Lauhala does not come from a grass, it comes from the Hawaiian Hala tree. The Hawaiian word lau simply means leaf, so lauhala translates to the leaf from the Hala tree.

The Hawaiian Hala tree is a species of Pandanus, or screwpine, because the leaves grow in a screw pattern up the trunk of the tree. It is a wide spread native tree found growing on beaches as well as the mountains through out the Hawaiian Islands. The Hala tree has numerous long aerial prop roots, and long sturdy but flexible leaves with sharp razor like teeth or thorns on the edge of the leaves. It also has fruit that resemble a pineapple--creating a visual joke that locals have been playing on tourists since probably the start of tourism. Has anyone heard of pineapples coming from the "pineapple tree"?

Weaving a lauhala basket is a labor intensive process as the hala leaves need to be prepared and cleaned properly, then stripped into uniform strips before you can even begin to make the basket. View illustrated instructions on how to weave a lauhala basket.

If you don't want to make your own lauhala gift basket, please visit us if you are ever in the need for some great Hawaiian gifts packaged in lauhala gift baskets. We also do custom lauhala gift baskets where you can choose from any of our Hawaiian gifts to create a unique gift basket.

Give a Valentine's Day Gift--Hawaiian Breakfast in Bed

If you can't make it to a bed and breakfast place in Hawaii for Valentine's Day, why not get the next best thing for a Valentine's Day gift? Serve breakfast in bed to your valentine with our "Bed and Breakfast Hawaii Gift Tray."

Everything you need to create a gourmet Hawaiian breakfast in bed is included. We don't mess around with little single serving sizes of mixes, instead we include a one pound (16 ounces) size of authentic Tex's Drive In Malasada Mix (see our blog post about the famous Tex Drive In located in Honoka'a), a one pound mix of Hawaiian pancake & waffle mix, a large 10 ounce bottle of tropical coconut syrup, and a large 8 ounce bag of pure 100% Kona coffee. As a bonus we also include some Hawaiian macadamia nuts and a passion fruit butter spread.

All of these delicious treats are made in Hawaii on the Big Island (except for the Coconut syrup which is from Honolulu). These are a lot of goodies and weigh in at over 5 pounds once laden on the beautiful tropical wooden serving tray it is packaged on.

Our bed & breakfast Hawaii gift tray is wrapped in a Hawaiian print cello bag with a large Hibiscus silk flower, and tied with a raffia bow so it is ready for Valentine's Day gift giving, all for only $75.95 You can check around at other online Hawaii gift sites, but you will be hard pressed to find something as unique, original, and impressive that is made and shipped direct from the Big Island.

We also promise you will be 100 percent pleased with our products and service, read what our customers say about us.

Hawaiian Stress Release Gift Basket for the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us and if you are starting to feel a little stressed, treat yourself to our Hawaiian stress release spa gift basket. Our unique Hawaiian spa gift basket is filled with products to de-stress your life. This also make a nice gift for someone you know who could use a bit of relaxation.

Many gift baskets filled with spa products claiming to use an anti stress formula, or even regular gift baskets filled with bath and body type products--are made with chemical ingredients that are toxic or can cause allergic reactions. Our handwoven lauhala gift basket if filled with natural handmade on the Big Island products. Our vitamin rich moisturizing lotion and soothing bath salt crystals are infused with Hawaiian flower essences hand gathered in the rainforest on the Big Island of Hawaii. We also include a matching aromatherapy soap made with essential oils, and a natural clean burning soy wax votive candle made with a hemp wick.

Flower essences have been used by indigenous people the world over for centuries. This particular Hawaiian flower essence blend is a natural way to balance a person's energy by releasing stress and promoting relaxation. The Stress Free Formula blend is infused with the Hawaii rainforest flower essences of wild lehua, awapuhi-melemele, and kinehe. All of these naturals products are delicately scented with a refreshing blend of lemongrass, coconut and vanilla essential oils which are enjoyed by both men and women. Live stress free! Hawaiian Natural Spa Gift Baskets.