Isaiah Corpus, a 25-year-old who grew up in Waiʻanae, said that he knew as a teenager that he wanted to run his own retail store someday.
“I am the first member of my family to have a store on my own and am proud to have started this business by myself,” he told Aloha State Daily. “I’ve always been an ocean and beach enthusiast: I taught myself to surf and kayak. I helped at beach cleanups and always want to give back to the ocean and marine life. That’s how I created my business.”
About a year ago, Corpus hatched the plan for Shop Kainalu, a Hawaiʻi inspired lifestyle and apparel brand, set to open this spring in Seattle, where he has lived since 2024.
He said he took a few business classes and received help from mentors and coaches, who helped with the paperwork like applying for a state business license. Corpus added that the initial investment for the venture came from his savings.
“I didn’t realize how long it would take to retrieve, but despite that, it all worked out in the end,” he said. "Iʻm excited to have my business out there and to launch soon."
While his primary job is with Hawaiian Airlines, Corpus said, he currently operates a one-man shop, overseeing the fashion and graphic design elements of its products, as well as the renovation of the new space in Seattle's University District, which is expected “to take a couple more months.”
The store is slated to open in May, with a traditional Hawaiian blessing, he said. Other priorities for Corpus ahead of the launch include working on finalizing the website (currently down), hand drawing more designs to ramp up inventory, while recruiting brand ambassadors and, eventually, a team for the store.
When asked what makes Shop Kainalu stand out, he told ASD, “I use eco-friendly material such as organic cotton, recycle fabrics and renewable textiles that reduce waste, preserves resources and eliminates harmful chemicals and embrace innovative, slow impact production methods for my store. I want to ensure that every clothing item I make not only elevates modern style but also protects the ocean.”
The brand will soon offer tees, totes, swimwear, and a range of other everyday essentials for men, women, and the home, according to Instagram.
The biz’s name in Native Hawaiian means ocean wave, which he says “integrates my purpose behind my story. … On a personal level, [I'm] always surfing, going to the beach, so when you shop at my store, you shop to care for the environment, that’s how the name came up.”
In Seattle, he continues to volunteer at cleanups and noted that a portion of the proceeds from the shop with go toward local ocean conservation groups and nonprofits.
As a new small business owner, Corpus said he’s "still in the learning process" but has already found support from Seattle- and Hawaiʻi-owned small businesses alike. Interested in connecting with Corpus? Email ikaikacorpus@gmail.com.
His plans for the future include opening up another retail store in the Islands. Fun fact: White Plains Beach in ʻEwa Beach is a must-visit whenever Corpus comes home, which is usually monthly.
"Hawaiʻi culture and community continue to shape who I am and what I build," he said. “Even while living on the continent, Hawaiʻi remains at the center of my work and purpose. This journey reflects many Hawaiʻi people building something away from home while staying deeply connected.”
Stay up-to-date with Shop Kainalu on Instagram and Facebook.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
