My wife has long dreamed of a mango or curly koa rocking chair for our living room. And she fantasy shops for them at Nohea Gallery No surprise. Nohea is a small, family-run operation that deals directly with artists and sells premium crafts and artisan works. This is probably the best place to shop for furniture, jewelry boxes, and traditional hand-turned wooden bowls on Oahu. Want modern? The decorative glass is quite lovely, particularly the simple bowls in blues and greens. And the contemporary furniture and singing/ringing metal fountains are fabulous. The jewelry is unique around town. The gold rings balance classic Hawaii and natural modern -- my fave is the gold lauhala weave rings patterned after the traditional mats woven from dried pandanus leaves. The inventory is ever changing and there is a decent selection of lower-priced items, too, such as $10 koa bangle bracelets and the like. There are three locations but the Ward Center Store is probably the most interesting. Caveat: the Website is awful and does not do the stores justice.

Nohea Galleries
Ward Warehouse • 1050 Ala Moana Blvd. • Honolulu, Hawai'i • 96814 • (808)-596-0074
Ward Center • 1200 Ala Moana Blvd. • Honolulu, Hawai'i • 96814 • (808)-591-9001
Waikiki at the historic Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel • (808) 923-6644

—Alex, 07/21/06