Almost five years ago I came up with the idea to make my own lip balm. Challenging myself to do something like this was a task in itself as I planned to do the entire venture independent of a manufacturer, a marketing team, or any outside funding.

Gratitude

I feel it important to express the fact that I am completely surrounded by the most talented and beautiful friends. I look around and know how blessed my life has been to be around such a caliber of personalities. My sincerest Gratitude goes to so many of these friends who lent their time and energy to my new website and being a part of my lip-balm brand. I will be featuring their talents on my blog periodically, so please be sure to check it out!

Credits:
Website & Hiwa Lani label design: Julie Gesin & Mike Jones, Chris Sage
Hunter label designs: Heidi Fikstad
Cover page photographer: Ming Hsiung and Mat Evanz
Additional photographers: Cory Strassburger and Alain Vasquez
Models: Stacy, Noelle, Heidi, April, Noella, Dominique, Sandy, Liz, Bristol, and Doran
Story Editor: Noella Boudart
Additional Web Edits: Chris Sage

Additional Thanks to Dominique Kunz who designed the first phase of Hiwa Lani labels and Brandon Hickman who shot the original layout.

With my lip balm in full force, I am excited to create more flavors, and am currently testing colors for the Hiwa Lani (pronounced HEE WAH- LA-NEE) line. I am also mixing up some new Hunter flavors!

Please continue to check out my site and my blog for updates on my lip balm making & addiction. plus I am coming out with two more products, a clothing line and a book... there is so much more in store from this girl.. watch out!!.

Sincerely and with affection, Maharlika

The Rare LA Sport

In Los Angeles, with the magnificent array of state-of-the-art gyms, yoga studios, cycling zones, tennis courts, swimming pools, personal trainers, surfing spots, polo fields, martial art centers, golf courses, dance academies and climbing walls, it is easy to forget that one of the easiest ways to burn calories, catch-up on your bronzing and enjoy the gorgeous California weather is also free. It's called walking.

LA's Quiet Entertainment

It may come as surprise to some that the art scene is booming in LA. Unlike movies, concerts, or new TV shows broadcast around the city via digital billboards, radio commercials, and long posters rolling by on buses, art generally announces itself by simply showing up in a small gallery space in an unassuming corner of Los Angeles. While NYC is known for high-end galleries teaming on every block, LA's art scene has grown a considerable following in the past few years with galleries more welcoming and open-minded than ones you may tip-toe up to in the Big Apple.