The Big Island of Hawaii is overflowing with inspiration, and as a surface designer, I am more than happy to soak it all in! From the many blues of the ocean to the bold pops of color from hibiscus, plumeria, and all the tropical flowers, everywhere I look I see a color palette, a pattern idea or texture to remember. The mix of rough lava rock, soft tropical leaves, and rhythmic ocean waves has me thinking about textures and patterns in a whole new way. Here’s a bit of what’s catching my eye so far on the island and how it’s giving ideas for future designs.

Floral Patterns Everywhere

The flowers here in Hawaii are incredible! The bright pinks and oranges of hibiscus, the scented plumeria with it’s unusual trees, and the striking bird of paradise all have such unique shapes and colors. I’ve been snapping photos to keep for inspiration – and I love using the photo identification feature on the iphone to find names for flowers and plants I don’t recognize. All these colors and shapes are perfect for really fun, bold, layered patterns!

I’ve been thinking about how exciting it is to translate the beauty around us into surface patterns – for fabric, wallpaper and any surface you can imagine! 

If you’ve ever wanted to bring your own ideas to life as pattern designs, whether for fabric, wallpaper, or products, the Immersion Course by Bonnie Christine is now open for enrollment! You can learn all about it here! (I’m an affiliate because I truly believe in the value of the course, and as a bonus for those who enroll with my link, I’m offering a group coaching call, plus a one-on-one call to help you get started!) Also- it’s not too late to check out the free workshop here:

Mauna Kea Beach

If you’re looking for a perfect stretch of sandy stretch of beach with waves for boogie boarding and swimming, plus shade for a break, and all the ideal island features – try Mauna Kea!

And if you’re looking for a perfect beach towel to take along, try these from Geometry House! I’ve designed three beach towels for them – plus they have many other beautiful options from other artists! Use code TobogganAvenue15 to save on your purchase.

Birds in Motion

We’ve seen all shapes and sizes of birds: bright yellow finches to the noisy myna birds, the wildlife here is full of personality. We watched a territorial cardinal pair attacking their reflections in the mirror of a jeep parked by the beach a few days ago. The variety of colors, markings, and even the way the birds hang out in the palm trees have me thinking about playful, abstract pattern ideas.

Surf Lessons with Kona Mike

On Tuesday we took a surf lesson with Kona Mike’s Surf Adventures. Having an instructor was key for me – I’m not sure I could time a wave properly on my own! In a lesson, a local instructor guides you through the timing of the ocean, teaches you how to paddle, pop up, and ride the waves – hopefully! It was a lot of fun, and also tiring! (Especially if you are like me and want to get the most action out of your lesson!)

Kona Coffee

No trip to Kona is complete without a tour of a Kona coffee farm! We visited Kona Joe’s for a tour, a cup of coffee and a stop to enjoy the views. Highly recommended!

Tropical Fruit Paradise

At the farmers’ markets and fruit stands, tables are full of mangoes, papayas, and my favorite – lilikoi (passion fruit). If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend cutting a papaya in half, scoop out the seeds and replace them with lilikoi pulp. It’s the perfect combination of sweet and tart, perfectly refreshing!

Beachside Inspiration

With beaches like Magic Sands, Green Sand beach and the golden stretches of Hapuna Beach, the beaches here each have their own character. The mix of textures—coarse lava rock, soft sand, foamy waves—feels like a lesson in layering and balance, something I’m always playing with in my work.

This trip has been a beautiful reminder that inspiration is everywhere—I just have to slow down (island time?) and notice the details. I can’t wait to bring some of these ideas to life in my next designs!

Check back soon – I’ll be adding images as we’re here for another week!