“Hana hou” means to repeat or make new again in Hawaiian, which is a fitting name for the charming boutique Hana Hou Hilo, located in a historic building in the downtown oceanfront of Hawai‘i Island’s largest city. What started as a store specializing in vintage Hawaiiana from the 1930s and ‘40s has grown into a favored must-stop for design darlings and vintage lovers. The shop is run by mother-and-daughter duo Michele Zane-Faridi and Shadi Faridi and features a well-curated collection of vintage aloha shirts and mu‘umu‘u mixed with home decor and modern local brands. But it’s the eye-catching center wall decorated with a variety of woven hats that showcases Hana Hou Hilo’s true specialty: lauhala pāpale, or handmade hats woven out of the dried leaves of the pandanus tree. Zane-Faridi is an expert weaver who has studied under the tutelage of the islands’ masters, and can often be seen working on her latest project in the corner of the store. Browse through the shop’s enviable collection of antique Hawaiian curios and Ni‘ihau shell jewelry, or pick up a screen-printed pareo or zero-waste goods. 160 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, hanahouhilo.com
Co-owner Shadi Faridi at the Hana Hou Hilo boutique. PHOTO BY IJFKE RIDGLEY
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