August, 2009

Lani Sonan and Lori Tamashiro

lori[1]Leonard da Vinci had the Mona Lisa. Michelangelo had the Sistine Chapel. Lori Tmashiro and Lani Sonan have a hand-painted, bamboo-adorned, three-tieredlongevity wedding cake.  When they first met at a bridal expo in 2003, Tamashiro and Sonan were hardly friends. They were competitors-Sonan created cakes out of her home, Tamashiro was the head of the cake-decorating department at a local bakery-so in the hyper-competitive atmosphere at the expo, the two were wary of one another. Eventually, they became good friends and, recognizing each other’s talents, they started plotting a joint venture that would take advantage of Sonan’s expertise at cake-making and Tamashiro’s artistic decorating skills. Fast forward to 2009, and their thriving business, Cake Creations Dessert Haven, in Manoa has brought an artistic flair to the local world of high-end cakes. To read more click here.

Chad Dusenberry

chad23456Every day after school, Chad Dusenberry would tend to his father’s lo’i kalo (taro patch) deep in Waimea Valley on Kaua’i, never dreaming that work could possibly be fun. Born of hardworking parents who raised six children, Chad learned the meaning of  “You reap what you sow.” His father was a carpenter for Olokele Sugar while his mother worked as a cook at Kaua’i Veterans Memorial Hospital. In their “spare time” they grew taro, which helped feed the family, kept the kids busy, and brought the family together to work toward a common goal. “If you ever buy poi from the Makaweli Poi Mill, that’s my family’s taro,” Chad says, with a tinge of pride.  To read more click here.

Russell & Karolyn

therussellKarolyn Stokes expected to find culinary inspiration when she traveled to Kaua’i for an internship. What she didn’t plan on was meeting the love of her life,  someone who dreamed the same dreams- and who would help make them a reality. After finishing her studies at the California School of Culinary Arts,  Karolyn went to Kaua’i to fulfill her final requirment, an internship at a renowned restaurant. Upon arriving at Roy’s Poipu Bar and Grill in 2001, she met Russell Stokes, then the executive chef. Russell’s culinary knowledge came purely from hands-on experience. His mother and grandmother had operated a commercial kitchen, churning out baked goods and Italian specialties. By the tmie Karolyn came along, Russell had dedicated ten years to the industry and moved up through the ranks at Roy’s. To read more click here.

Naomi Lee

naomi[1]On a Saturday afternoon in a quiet, empty ballroom, thirty-eight bare tables await their makeovers for an evening fundraiser. The first event vendor arrives to set up, rolling in a rack full of fabrics on hangers- all ironed and neatly folded for transport. She unfolds champagne satins and luminescent gold silks and tosses them over the tabletops. She smoothes the surfaces and evens the lengths. Next come the chair sashes, precisely tied in a “vintage gold” fabric; last she folds gold dinner napkins into delicate swirls she calls “honey buns.” Using color, texture, and design, linen specialist Naomie Lee transofrms a dull, bare space into something radiant. To read more click here.

April/May/June 2009 Issue Archive

Check out April issue here

Pacific Edge Magazine July 2009 Launch Party

PEM-July-Sept-Issue-Launch-Flyer-v2You and a guest are invited to attend Pacific Edge Magazine’s 2009 Weddings and Events Issue Launch Party on August 5th at Formaggio Grill in Kailua!

Mix and mingle with like-minded professionals and take home a complimentary issue and VIP gift bag. Join us for heavy pupus provided by Formaggio’s and drinks provided by Asti and Absolute Vodka as we celebrate the launch of the new issue. Try our own signature martini, Absolute Edge, created especially for Pacific Edge Magazine! Space is limited for this exclusive event to the first 50 who RSVP. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP to patrick@elementmediahi.com by Monday, August 3rd.

Click HERE for directions to Formaggio’s in Kailua.

Click here to view event photo gallery!!

Simply Exquisite

venusThe tree, made of trellis and curly willow, rises in the lobby of Ali’i Place, a prominent office building in downtown Honolulu. Bright pink and purple daisies add bursts of color to its base. Orange, red, and white feather butterflies- their flittering frozen in time- hover in the tree’s open spaces. Small pink and yellow butterfly nets also hang in the air ready to catch them should the scene eve come to life. If this tree conjures a sense of burgeoning spring and trasnports you back to childhood, then Brian Liborio is happy.”I try to make [my work] tell a story,” says Liborio, the house designer at Ali’i Place. “If I tell a story and they get it, it’s all good.”Read about Brian Liborio and Kisha Ng of Fruition Events & Florals. Click here to read the article.

Weddings & Events Guide

cakeFrom small intimate gathers to soirees for hundreds of guests. Hawai’i event specialists are here to help you put together something spectacular. For the best event elements, take your pick of the follow top professionals and their customized services. Whether you’re planning fora corporate holiday party, an outer-island destination wedding, or a backyard birthday celebration, make it memorable! Click here to read the articles.