American Samoa and Tongan American community in Euless greet Shop Aloha to the neighborhood

In the center of Euless Texas off Euless West BLVD, Ana Tuipulotu helps run the store "Shop Aloha". Shop Aloha sits right off of HWY 10 inside a shopping center, and across the street from the friendly well known Republic Tire. As the store first opened 2010-2011 it was welcomed by the local Euless Polynesian community, showing off Pacific decor and Hawaiian summer wear.

In the first year, the Euless youth had it labeled as the new place to get that island summer look. The store walls are lined with blown-up wall photos of local Haka and Siva Tau by the Euless Trinity High School.

Pacific Foods and refreshments can be found on the right sections, ocean-wear styles and other accessories are on the farthest left sections. In the middle of the store, there were some interesting items, hard to find sometimes outside the Pacific region, one very interesting item being a Samoan Dictionary. 

Traditional Polynesian foods and drinks were shopped, along with other beloved snacks, familiar of Hawaii. There are beautiful Polynesian style necklaces, Pacific island fabrics for Lava Lava, shell materials for carving, wooden crafted ancient-style Samoan weapons, Pacific T-shirts, Beach shorts, Beach Hats, with a changing dress selection at times.

The women’s most loved pick seems to be the "Kalosipani Flowers", for daily wear. Shop Aloha is a must to check out in Euless Texas. 

Store Manager Ana Tuipulotu

Print Page - Home - Events - Local Weather - Hot Topics - Fun Facts

Read more »

Posted in: Local,Shopping

Best Jewelry and Fashion in Polynesia 2010: Where to go and what to look for

Stepping up the Fashion and Jewelry in Polynesia 2010

In the Asia Pacific around Polynesia Jade has been loved longer than Gold to jewel the skin. The feel of a cold jade Polynesian necklace should be felt by all women of the Moana says a Polynesian Artist. "A Polynesian Aotearoan finely crafted dark jade necklace goes perfect with that black evening dress". Those big thick jade necklaces might be heavy on the shoulders but sure do bring in the glances. Asian mainland silks will be needed in the future since the Polynesian crafters and jewelers do like a thick silk cord or silk rope to hold the grand pieces.

Black pearls and black coral settle nicely on the wrists of Polynesian women says a Tongan Master Craftsman "A string of Tahitian Black Pearls are extremely noticeable in any atmosphere". Polynesian fashion has started picking up in 2010 with Tahiti regions being the best so far if one is looking for a place to find the scene. In Tahiti, the Pearl fashion shows with Native Tahitian pearls and Native professional models are the most organized and tasteful compared to ones in Aotearoa NZ. Polynesian fashion shows have started in central Polynesia (Samoa and Tonga) but have failed to mix a Tapa-cloth and western-style dress for women and are great craftsmen, but not so great yet in the clothing departments. There are some up-and-coming designers for formal wear (Weddings, Church, Business, Funerals) by central Polys but they're based in places like Aotearoa Nz or Hawaii where theres bigger markets. Further Asia Pacific markets in places like Indonesia can be a good option too for poly fashion wear to market new designs.    

At the northern side of the Polynesian Triangle, the Polynesian fashion in Hawaii leveled off around the late 1990s but contributed in that time to swim-wear and formal wear, being one of the most popular places back then to get married and vacation. 

Hawaiian Artist said "Black Coral is a favorite, best if naturally frilled in design, know that Black Coral almost always keeps it's scent. Testing the Black Coral by it's ocean scent is an easy way to make sure you didn't go Goo-Goo eyes over black plastic."

If one is looking for the leaders in Polynesian Bone & Jade-crafts then Aotearoa Nz is the best place at the moment with the Maori Native peoples there having well known schools in Arts, with Museums and Galleries to back up that growing creative community. Aoteraoa Nz has all the many materials for Poly-Artists who need the Tree-of-Life (Palm tree), traditional woods (iron koa woods), sea ivorys and whale bone, nephrite-jades, black coral, red coral, opal, jasper, onyx, mother of pearl, ruby, and sapphire. Eastern Polynesia too has great resources in stone for those stone-workers along with it's pearl industry. Polynesian Bone crafted necklaces today range on average from $80.00 - $1,550.00 US. dollars. Be sure when purchasing one from a Polynesian Fine Artist that the work has some sort of signature or brand mark, ask the artist to somehow mark the work so that he or she can be remembered for their work. 

Print Page - Home - Events - Local Weather - Hot Topics - Fun Facts

Read more »

Posted in: Shopping

Polynesian Maori shoe brand Tu Ake launched in 2009 - Aotearoa NZ

A Maori company has launched a new brand of shoes called "Tu Ake", with Maori Polynesian designs. The launch happened in 2009, but Polynesian customers say they have had trouble finding the brand online in the USA.

"Bro get yourself some new gear! Those bare feet with flip flops of course keep by all means, feet like those must be showed but what are you wearing in concrete ant villages? What is that on your feet for those cold public floors aye? You ish like got nothing there bro, buy some shoes"

The shoes seem to be limited and may not be available passed 2016 according to recent Twitter posts on their products. 


Print Page - Home - Events - Local Weather - Hot Topics - Fun Facts

Read more »

Posted in: Shopping