Frolic Foodie Advent Calendar: Local Kine Gifts for Days 6-10

Graphic: James Nakamura

It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow—probably because we’ve been ho-ho-hoing our way around town buying and eating these Advent calendar gift ideas. Purely for research purposes, of course. Some ideas are so ‘ono, we have to hold them for the next installment of this five-part series because some people eat the ideas before we can photo them, so we have to go buy more.

We hope you’ll love these suggestions as much as we do. Stay tuned every week for the next three weeks as we bring you more foodie-themed gifts that are made in the Islands or sold at locally owned small businesses.

SEE ALSO: Frolic Foodie Advent Calendar: Local Kine Gifts for Days 1–5

Banana Bread

Photo: Courtesy of @bakinmekrazee

What’s to love: There are lots of banana breads from all kinds of pop-up bakers, but Bakin’ Me Krazee’s is our far-and-away favorite. Moist, but not mushy; firm, but not dense; and rich from ripe bananas, but not overly sweet. This year, owner Malyssa is bakin’ her sumptuous loaves in various flavors and selling them in festive Christmas boxes. —Diane Seo

How much: $6 to $12 for Christmas boxes

Where to find: @bakinmecrazee

Shiny Shave Ice Dog Toy

Photo: Courtesy of @disandbark

What’s to love: First, we love a clear mission statement, like Dis-and-Bark’s “local dog toys for local dogs.” And second, shiny shave ice! Strawberry Lickikoi juice cans! And a lifted pickup truck with detachable cooler! Dis-and-Bark expanded from an online mom-and-pop to three retail locations with plush toys for dogs that may be even more irresistible to their humans. There’s also a maile lei dog toy, a manapua truck with detachable manapua, and a 4-pack of Pawlicken whose plush green bottles each contains a tube squeaker.

How much: $12 to $30

Where to find: Multiple locations, disandbark.com, @disandbark

Holiday Okoshi

Photo: Courtesy of @madebyaliyoko

What’s to love: When we recently gifted baker Alison Yokouchi’s aji amarillo cashew okoshi and her apple cardamom okoshi, the feedback we got was filled with superlatives. “She is a fantastic baker and the okoshi is award-winning! Both flavors are outstanding!” one friend texted. Formerly a pastry chef at Halekulani Hotel, Yokouchi dreams up intriguing flavors for her rotation of Japanese puffed rice snacks, which she sells via Instagram direct messages and at pop-up events at Ethel’s Grill. —Diane Seo

How much: $10

Where to find: @madebyaliyoko

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Photo: Gregg Hoshida

What’s to love: Tree ornaments from CocoNene are designed and made in Hawai‘i on lightweight birchwood. Dozens of Island themes include this trio (Onions on poke bowl? Check. Gravy on loco moco? Check. And those rice grains!), plus a hula girl gingerbread and a smiling Spam musubi. And we love that they’ll fit in any Advent calendar or Christmas card.

How much: $14

Where to find: Multiple locations, coconene.com, @coconenehawaii

Pau Hana drink mixers

Photo: Tev Media

What’s to love: Bartender Tyler Yafuso’s cocktail mixers combine local flavors with a sustainable push. The three flavors—li hing lemon, liliko‘i lime Hawaiian chile pepper, and pineapple lime lemongrass—use excess produce from local farms; recipes on Pau Hana Co.’s website suggest mixing them with locally made spirits. They’re equally good in mocktails.

How much: $15

Where to find: drinkpauhana.com, @thepauhana.co

SEE ALSO: Shake It Up With Pau Hana Co. Drink Mixers