Catalogs and mail-order offer an easy way to choose Hawaii-made food products but now's the time for placing orders so your ono gifts are mailed in time for the holidays.
Allow two months for packages to reach international destinations and at least two weeks for mainland and interisland delivery, says U.S. postal spokeswoman Felice Broglio.
So, with charge card at the ready, order early and avoid traffic, parking woes, crowds and the lugging, wrapping and mailing of packages at busy post offices.
Consider this sampler of free isle food catalogs and mail-order ideas:
Big Island Candies -The ink's still wet on the Hilo company's first catalog, released this week. The colorful 16-page catalog features favorites, such as caramel and chocolate-dipped macadamia shortbread; Crunchies, an unlikely but scrumptious combination of macadamia nuts, potato chips and chocolate; popular Da Kines, chocolate-dipped local snacks such as iso peanuts, li hing mui (preserved plum) and ika (dried squid); and the new peanut butter shortbread and peanut butter/crisped rice bars. Gift assortments range from $3 to $75, plus postage and handling. Call 1-800-935-5510 for a catalog.
Tea Chest - A just brewed Waipahu company unveils a sophisticated line of full-leaf loose teas and tea accoutrements, featuring lychee, mango and ginger teas, plus passion fruit, in regular, decaffeinated and ice teas. Prices range from $2 to $105, plus shipping. Specialty tea brokers/owners Byron and Satomi Goo also arrange private tea parties and culinary demos. Call 676-6884 on Oahu or 1-800-737-2282 for the 14-page color catalog.
Wholesale Unlimited Inc. - The 31-year-old, no-frills operation offers more than 300 "locals-only" type snacks, including li hing mui-flavored arare, bears and preserved mango; iso peanuts, wasabi green peas, seaweed snacks, Tomoe Ame candy, clear and red ume candies, mango seed, and light, crispy Betty's Best oatmeal cookies with dried cranberries. Prices range from 80 cents to $65; gift baskets are $35 and $50, plus postage and $1 handling per mailing. Call 839-5258 on Oahu or 1-800-820-SNAX for a three-page price list.
'Ohi'a Cottage chunky preserves - A Big Isle bed and breakfast next month introduces guava-ginger, its newest holiday flavor in a lineup of 18 homemade jams, jellies and syrups filled with bright taste sensations. Prices range from $1.50 to $6.50, plus postage, for island favorites (poha, 'ohelo, lilikoi, Waimea strawberry), mainland choices (papaya and pineapple blends) and everyone's preference, banana-lilikoi. Call 1-808-966-4384 for a brochure.
Broke the Mouth - Healthful, tangy dressings/sauces made of Hamakua-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs make salads and tastebuds snap to attention. Call 955-5599 for a list of the classic Macgado, Guavalava and other flavors, priced at $6 per 12-ounce bottle, plus postage.
Mac Pie - A rich Kona version of Southern chess pie comes in original vanilla butter custard macadamia, Kona coffee macadamia, butterscotch macadamia, and maple macadamia flavors, each with chocolate chips added, if desired. Call 1-888-MAC-PIES or at 322-7437 on the Big Island for a brochure.
Islands' Best - This three-year-old Ala Moana Center shop specializes in custom-made gift baskets. Name a price and describe the recipient; then proprietors Dane and Kerry Han assemble goodies, such as cracked pepper lavosh, Maui onion mustard, Molokai coffee, Donna's home-style Big Isle cookies, Elaine's homestyle Maui cookies, Tedeschi wines from the Valley Island, top of the line chocolate-coated arare from Hilo, and powdered sugar-dusted, chocolate-glazed macadamias from Kauai. Cost includes gift items, basket and postage. Call 949-5345 on Oahu or 1-800-306-9133 for a brochure.
Compleat Kitchen - If Islands' Best caters to gourmands, then Compleat Kitchen addresses gourmets. Tailor-made gift baskets may feature Hawaiian Kine Tasty Splash (for tofu and veggies) and lemon grass seasoning mix; honey mustard macadamia nut oil dressing with lilikoi; Kanemitsu Bakery (Molokai) bread mixes; Big Island biscuit mixes in macadamia, Cajun, whole wheat and regular flavors; kitchen towels; potpourris; and Italian Sistahs tropical fruitcakes and biscotti by mid-November. Cost includes gift items, basket, postage and $4 handling fee. Call 944-1741 for a holiday newsletter.
Mauna Loa macadamia nuts - A classic color catalog out of Peoria, Ill., displays macadamia confections in all configurations and combinations. Call 1-800-832-9993 for a brochure.
Lion Coffee - A funky feline mailer on politically correct recycled paper features Kona blends, such as dessert-rich chocolate macadamia nut; plus mugs and other apparatus. Call 1-800-338-8353 for a tabloid.
Maui Fudge and Ono Chocolates - On behalf of unrestrained chocoholics, call 1-800-803-8343 for a brochure.
Tahitian Goddess - Nine dark, full-bodied preserves feature lime-ginger marmalade and banana or guava chutney. Call 941-4429 for a brochure.
Noh Foods - "Just say Noh" for 30 packaged mixes for local-style sauces, marinades and dishes such as char siu, lemon chicken, Korean barbecue, adobo, haupia, kim chee, and Portuguese sausage. Call 946-6549 on Oahu for a free brochure and cookbook.
R. Field Wine Co. - Voila! Two sensual experiences for connoisseurs who've tasted everything. Kona estate coffees from the Langenstein, Busching and Sakamoto estates cost about $36 a pound including postage. Also, Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate pistoles from Keaau Estate run about $32 a pound including postage, or Snows of Mauna Kea white chocolate pistoles are about $28 including postage. Call 596-9463 on Oahu or 1-800-524-4275.
Liberty House - Dispensing with its glossy Christmas catalog, Liberty House offers a Personal Shoppers Service to assist callers in buying anything from gifts to holiday outfits with all accessories. Call Susan Fusuma, manager of Personal Shoppers, at 945-8019 on Oahu or 1-800-654-9970; she also can send the store's Thanksgiving sale catalog.
For mail-order information on other products:
Atebara Potato Chips Co. for shrimp-flavored, sweet-potato and taro chips, call 625-7770 on the Big Island.
Carolynn K's English toffees made with macadamias, call 1-800-298-6986.
Diamond Head sweetbreads, call 1-800-411-MAUI.
Happy Cakes by Kemoo Farm, call 621-8481.
Hawaiian Candies & Nuts for cookies and candies, call 841-3344.
Hawaiian Honey House for lehua and macadamia honeys, call 964-5401 on the Big Island.
Hawaiian Warrior jerky made with island beef, call 1-888-828-BEST.
Hawaii's Best Fulfillment for "Give the Romance of Hawaii" his and her gift baskets and 11-coffee sampler, call 545-2772.
Hilo Macaroni Factory for Hilo Saloon Pilots, Hilo creme crackers and Hilo animal crackers, call 935-1817 on the Big Island.
HPC Foods for fresh and freeze-dried poi, and taro pancake mix gift baskets with coconut and guava syrups, call 848-2431.
Island Princess caramel corn with macadamias and other delectables, 1-800-356-7393.
Keli Mia's Hawaiian Biscotti with macadamias, Kona coffee and coconut, call 538-6355.
Kilauea Bakery for breadsticks with chile pepper, sesame, alaea salt and garlic butter, call 246-6880 on Kauai.
"Made in Maui" newsletter, call 871-7711 on Maui.
Sassy Tropics island fruit salsas and gourmet baskets, call 262-2453 on Oahu or 1-800-378-6978.