By Nadine Kam

Tarina Tarantino photos
Labbit earrings will be about $120 when they arrive later this month.

Tarina Tarantino’s latest jewelry collaboration is with Kid Robot. Didn’t think Dunnys, Munnys and Smokin’ Labbits could get any cuter.

The L.A. designer can do no wrong, having had successful collaborations with Hello Kitty, and even managing to make Barbie cool. I may have to switch out my Hello Kitty Pinkhead heart toggle necklace for one of the new Kid Robot designs!

The collection is scheduled to debut July 30 at kidrobot.com, at Tarina Tarantino locations and in Hawaii at Chic Icon, 7192 Kalanianaole Hwy., and Queens at 831 Queen St. I might also check out Hawaiian South Shore on Ward Avenue, which always carries a good selection of Tarantino pieces. Prices will be between $65 and $975.

This amazing pearl and ribbon Munny necklace will be about $975. I wore a black Munny charm on my Tiffany bracelet — until I lost both after a back massage at the Iolani Fair. I had taken it out and stuffed it in my pocket, but I guess it fell out.

By Nadine Kam

Hi JK!Here’s the Skaffs vid you asked for from last night’s event at Split Obsession, where, because Luke dropped in rather suddenly, fans were unprepared. They actually had to ask him for paper, and then people resorted to passing him dollar bills to sign.

Split Obsession owner Bruce Chin really dug deep when he whipped out a crispy $10 bill. Whoo-hoo!

Geez I’m supposed to be writing a story now, but I turned once again to Animoto.com, which is like Hamburger Helper for your photos and video stills, mashing them together with music and special effects the average person just doesn’t have access to, and coming up with something worth serving.

Try it on fashion, girl’s night out photos, whatever!

Photo by Nadine Kam
Skaffs’ Luke Feldman at work. Check out his site at http://skaffs.com/

By Nadine Kam

Fans of “Lost” who need a fix while awaiting new episodes in late April may want to check out the Fine Bros.—Benny’s and Rafi’s—latest “Lost” parody:

The bros. report the series of three videos have already drawn more than 3 million hits, which seems to be sending a lot more adults back to their toy boxes for inspiration. Check out more at www.RavenStake.com

By Nadine Kam

Aaron Martin personalized prints and toys, above, while one of his youngest fans observed all that was going on.

While I was on Maui I missed Aaron Martin’s Angry Woebot signing at Split Obsession, but Bruce Chin sent over some photos and reports that about 250 to 300 art and toy lovers showed up for the event.

There are still a couple dozen of the Angry Woebot/Split Obsession limited-edition T-shirts (men) and tank tops (women) available at the boutique or online at www.splitobsession.com

It seems people were expecting to see Aaron in his Ewok costume, but he said it was too hot. You’ll have to settle for the photo:

By Nadine Kam

The non-kiddie toy craze was a little slow coming here, but you need only check out Split Obsession at Koko Marina
Shopping Center; Mechahawaii, Urbanz Toys and Toys n’ Joys in Kaimuki, and In4mation to know a rush is underway.

Check out the Star-Bulletin’s Boomtown magazine insert (page 56) in today’s paper or this week’s Midweek for
my short story on Mechahawaii and Urbanz Toys. The figure here is from Mechahawaii.

Split Obsession I’ve covered twice in six months because owners Bruce Chin and Erica Apana keep bringing in international artists to add color to the local scene. I’m all for that. Without that injection of energy, the pool can get pretty stagnant on an island.

Nadine Kam photo
Buff Monster poses with ice cream — might have been pistachio — and Split Obsession owners Bruce Chin and Erica Apana, wearing the limited-edition T-shirt and tank top created for the early August event. They promise more such artist collaborations to come.

Last artist Split Obsession brought in was Buff
Monster, who lives in L.A., but hails from Hawaii.
These days he’s all about things pink and showed up at
an in-store celebration and exhibition in a pink shirt. Gotta love a guy who’s unafraid of
pink. (more…)