Designer Rocket Ahuna (rocketahuna.com) seemed to explode on the fashion scene last summer when he held a fashion show at Kaimana Beach Hotel. He delighted the who’s-who of Hawai‘i in attendance with his colorful and inventive designs made in partnership with Aupuni Space and Hawai‘i LGBT Legacy Foundation to highlight the importance of inclusivity in fashion. The brand’s most recent show, presented at Limahuli Gardens on Ahuna’s home island of Kaua‘i, is an ode to the storytelling and traditions of Ha‘ena and the resilience of Hawaiian culture, utilizing native materials like ulana lauhala and natural dyes.
Rocket Ahuna camouflage long-sleeved Maluhia dress PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKET AHUNA
Both collections featured a playful mix of high fashion and streetwear, modern constructions and native elements with creations like mu‘umu‘uinspired gowns in vibrant aloha prints, lei-printed T-shirts with floral cargo pants, and handwoven dresses. This mix reflects Ahuna’s vast source of inspiration, from contemporary fashion to Hawaiian history, everyday life on the islands, and his hula and lei-making background. After studying fashion in New York, Ahuna returned to the islands and quickly realized he had the community, tools, and resources to start his own label in Hawai‘i. “I create a space where culture and fashion intersect,” he says. “Hawaiian culture is the foundation of my work, and I incorporate art influences to create wearable art that tells a story.”
Rocket Ahuna camouflage cargo pants PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKET AHUNA
Rocket Ahuna Maluhia sleeveless dress in pink and Holoku skirt in brown from the Kaimana ‘24 collection. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKET AHUNA
Rocket Ahuna Kaimana suit in brown. PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKET AHUNA
Photography by:
