Makalehua--An eBay Adventure in Island Couture and Collectibles

Sig Zane Medium Fuchsia Dress

by MAKALEHUA

It's mid-September, and I'm feeling autumn's chill slowly making its way into the Walla Walla Valley.

Like a tentative pubescent high school boy tripping over his size eleven shoes as he scans the gym floor for the one girl that might say yes to a dance request, the ambience of golden leaves, pumpkins, weekend football games, and the donning of coats and sweatshirts approaches timidly.

It's that time of year when I start thinking, I want to be in Hawai'i for Christmas.

Chances are you've had similar thoughts sometime this year. Maybe you've been to the island several times and have enough warm memories tugging at you to repeat the experience yet one more time.

Or maybe you've never been to pacific paradise and are telling yourself, If I don't go now, I'll never go.

Whatever the case may be, take it from me, you don't want to waste precious time and maybe some embarrassing situations and, most of all, any of your hard-earned money buying your island wear after you get to the islands. No, even a former Kaua'i boy like myself knows better than to pull out the vintage Magnum, P.I. aloha shirt clones and old jeans from storage. Besides, they'd no longer fit my, shall we say, more mature manly build (read: sexagenarian fat man).

Perish the though of procrastination. Now you can be well prepared at a fraction of the cost and, for the price of a handful of dinners and movies, have a week's (or even two weeks') worth of 50th state wardrobe before boarding that flight to the islands.

How? By clicking on the following link and treating yourself to a delightful and aesthetically pleasing line of pre-worn yet very high class Hawaiian attire at a fraction of their original prices:

http://stores.ebay.com/makalehua

Manuheali'i Women's Size Small Dress

by MAKALEHUA

The personable and down-to-island Mom and Pop team of Makalehua is a relatively new presence on the gargantuan eBay global marketplace, but they're definitely leaving some giant menehune (pardon the oxymoron) tracks in the wake of their fledgling entrepreneurial success.

The simple reason? They practice the old school protocol of excellent customer service--intelligent sourcing of an appealing product line, great communication, superb hygienic preparation and care of their pre-worn clothing items, a sprinkling of outstanding Pacific Islander and Asian collectibles, very reasonable prices, and super fast shipping. 

Vintage Reyn spooner 100% Silk Aloha Shirt

by MAKALEHUA

Makalehua has 100% positive feedback. Their customers are extremely satisfied with the par excellence service. Here's some of their feedback:

Excellent shape, hard to tell if it was used at all. Great deal! I love it!

Great seller. Super fast, cheerful and honest! Mahalo!

A++++ all the way: lovely dress, as desc, fast ship; highly recommend seller; thx

No ka oi eBay seller!!!!!!!!!!

AWESOME THANK YOU! BEAUTIFUL, GREAT PRICE & SERVICE, LOOK FORWARD TO BUYING MORE!

Very nice eBayer with fast transaction and nice items.

Got it!! Thanks for this great item at a great price and an easy transaction!!

For a comprehensive look at their feedback rating and most current customer raves, you can visit:

http://stores.ebay.com/makalehua

Sig Zane Small Linen Fuchsia Jacket or Blouse 

by MAKALEHUA

If Hawaiiana is your thing, Makalehua offers a spicy eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary collectibles along with their entree clothing line. Here are a few examples:

Vintage Asian Tea Set in Woven Basket

by MAKALEHUA

Japanese Cranes Lacquered Plate, 7-3/4"

by MAKALEHUA

Ritz Carlton Hotel Silver HEPP Exclusive Silver Plated Water Pitchers

by MAKALEHUA

Maybe you want to go to the islands but the budget just isn't right for making the trip this year. Treat yourself to a healthy compromise, then, and make MAKALEHUA your cyber vacation stop for your holiday shopping needs. 

At the very least, you'll be prepared for presenting the special people in your life with an exquisite array of choice gifts.

At best, you'll definitely be at the head of the class, dressed in your Makalehua clothing and looking beachcomber spiffy for next year's trip to the wonderful Islands of Aloha!

http://stores.ebay.com/makalehua

A wonderful video featuring Hawaiian fashion designer, Sig Zane

For a heartwarming and lighthearted behind-the-scenes story, we invite you to enjoy this very special narrative--

http://hawaiianodysseus.hubpages.com/hub/How-I-Found-My-Long-Lost-Sister-on-eBay

WALLA WALLA VALLEY TRANSIT--ANIMAL CRACKERS BOX ON WHEELS

Interior View of a Valley Transit Bus

(This and subsequent images are Hawaiian Odysseus photos.

I know my place.

It's in the back of a Valley Transit bus.

An interesting bus, at that. 

Externally, it looks like a streetcar from the early 1900s--a throwback to the San Francisco trolley, especially underscored by the colorful adornment of red and green paint.

Except it's actually a bus--a large rectangular Animal Crackers box on wheels rather than on a rail.

It adds to the increasingly quirky yet attractive (in a nouveau Bohemian way) atmosphere of Walla Walla.

The former cattle/wheat farm/penitentiary town has experienced a major transformation in the last couple of decades.  Mostly as a result of the rural sprawl, as it were, of vineyards and wineries, Walla Walla has re-created itself into a major cosmopolitan hub in southeast Washington, a significant thoroughfare for visitors from the two most prominent ports in the Pacific Northwest--Seattle and Portland.

Recently transplanted into Walla Walla's suburban sibling three miles to the west--College Place--from the metropolitan frenzy of Seattle and its own primary suburbs-turned-independent cities--Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond--I am used to riding in buses.  Now, with much of my life involved in the passionate pursuit of blogging, I find it very convenient to conduct my first impression observations of the Walla Walla Valley from the backseat of a bus.

The Valley Transit routes effectively cover the 10.8 square miles of Walla Walla and the 2.4 square miles of College Place.  On any given weekday, you'll see a wide range of riders comprised of high school and college students; senior citizens who no longer wish to or are unable to drive;  handicapped individuals; the socially disenfranchised (transients; ex-felons; recovering addicts, and others); mothers with babies or young children in tow; and oddball passengers like yours truly.  


On several of my recent rides, the bus drivers have made it a point to ask the passengers if anyone needed to transfer to another route.  If so, the drivers would then call ahead and notify the respective bus(es) to wait a few minutes longer at the downtown Walla Walla transit center.  Although the buses run the routes every half hour, this courtesy service is an added plus for the riders.

One other seemingly trivial yet very much appreciated feature of the Valley Transit's service is the bus driver's willingness to make unscheduled stops for the customers' convenience.  The only requisite is that the client give ample notice to facilitate the necessary driving maneuvers involved.


In contrast to the bizarre occurrences that I have personally witnessed or heard about on the buses serving Seattle and vicinity, I've observed nothing but good, old-fashioned country courtesies on the Valley Transit.  Visualize, if you will, the ambience of Opie's Mayberry on wheels, and you've effectively captured the essence of these bus rides.

In the coming months, I hope to bring you a host of stories either directly about or inspired by the picturesque Walla Walla Valley, its neighboring regions, its history, and its people.   

One interesting tidbit that you'll be be privy to after reading this post is my principal mode of transportation to the various points of interest.


Like I said...


I know my place.


It's in the back of a Valley Transit bus.

Architectural Statue at the Walla Walla Market Station

Integrated Transit Center and Farmers Market

(due east of the Transit Center)

 Memorial to the brave firemen who died at the scene of a Main Street fire.

(due east of the Transit Center)