Island Treats Hold up Well To Holiday Travel

Send a little aloha around the world and you can be sure they'll survive the trip

THE MAD HOLIDAY dash has begun. Gifts to family and friends living on the mainland or abroad should be first on the list, as the mailing deadline for arrival by Christmas is fast approaching.

Treats from home are always a hit, but not everything travels well. Macadamia nuts and Kona coffee are sturdy, safe bets, but here are some newer products that the people on your gift list might not have discovered yet.

All are made in Hawaii, on various islands. They are packaged to hold up well for travel to all parts of the globe, from California to the Middle East.

Kona Gold Rum Co.: This rum cake is the signature item of the Tisthammer family's Kona Gold Rum Co. The cake recipe was taken from an old recipe book found in Kona, tweaked for today's tastes.

The cake has been around 2-1/2 years and has a strong following, especially during the holidays. What makes this rum cake different? Island ingredients, including macadamia nuts and pineapple, along with a good dose of dark rum.

The cakes are handmade in small batches to retain home-baked taste. They are also vacuum-sealed and placed in a sturdy hexagonal box. Shelf life is about six months (rum cake actually tastes better as it ages).

Tell your giftee that the is delicious right out of the box, but chilling is recommended.

The cakes come in three sizes, priced from $5 to $34, at Na Mea Hawaii, Pat's Island Delights, Menehune Mac Gift Shop, the Navy Exchange and commissary, Executive Chef or order from www.konagoldrum.com.

Maui Culinary Academy: Vanilla-mac nut and mango-flavored sugars, along with a Thai basil salt rub are the latest offerings from the Maui Culinary Academy.

Students work closely with the teaching staff to develop products that not only hone their culinary skills but also help raise funds for the program. Maui cane sugar and Hawaiian salt make up the base of these products, while the flavors and seasonings are perfected in a product-devel- opment program. The marketing and packaging are also a collaborative effort.

Both the sugar and salt have long shelf lives and can be used in a variety of ways, from sweetening coffee and tea to adding flavor to meats and poultry.

They come in resealable plastic pouches, priced from $3 to $5. Find them at Diamond Head Grill and Market, Pat's Island Delights, Na Mea Hawaii, The Hawaiian Chef, Menehune Mac Gift Shop or order from www.mauiculinary.com.

Parker Ranch: Beef jerky is a favorite island snack item and one of Parker Ranch's best sellers. All island beef is used to make this unique jerky, which comes in four varieties -- original, black pepper, sweet and spicy (similar to teriyaki) and pipi malo'o (actually a smoked beef rather than a jerky).

The soft texture and smoky flavor make it among the most popular items made under Parker Ranch's private label. All varieties come in 4-ounce bags and sell for about $6.

Although the jerky has been around for about four years, it hasn't been widely available outside the Parker Ranch store on the Big Island. It is now available on Oahu at Hilo Hattie's, Na Mea Hawaii and Pat's Island Delights or order from www.parkerranch.com.

Hawaiian Mamaki Tea Plantation: From the people who have brought us whole mamaki tea leaves for years, come tropical-flavored mamaki tea bags.

The Hawaiian Mamaki Tea Plantation, operated by the Kamiyama family on the Big Island, has introduced a new line of flavored teas. Ginger, mint, passion fruit, pineapple and mango mamaki tea are now packaged in individual foil bags for ease of use and to preserve freshness.

Mamaki is a native herb believed to help cleanse the body and boost energy. The Kamiyama family cultivates the tea organically on the slopes of the Mauna Loa on the Big Island. The tea is natural and caffeine-free, packaged in a handy travel pack called "Kini Holoholo" that includes 15 bags of assorted flavors for $12 to $14. The pack also comes with a colorful travel tin that holds up to three tea bags for carrying in your purse.

Find the tea at Longs Ala Moana, selected Food Pantry stores, Na Mea Hawaii, or order from www.organichawaii.com.

Treasures by Lei-Lei: This simple but delicious candy hails from Molokai. It is called Treasures by Lei-Lei and is handmade.

The candy was first offered in 2000 as a gift item made for family and friends during the holidays. Urged on by those who instantly loved the candy, the Molokai woman who created it brought it to Oahu in 2003 to be sold exclusively by Na Mea Hawaii.

The coconut used in the candy is husked and chopped entirely by hand, then cooked in a sugar syrup and left to dry. Excess sugar is dusted off and the resulting coconut candy chips are indeed little treasures.

The candy is packaged very simply in 6-ounce sealed plastic bags, at $6.95 a bag.