Rocket Ahuna, a Native Hawaiian fashion designer from Kauaʻi, recently announced the showcase of his next collection, inspired by Mānoa Valley, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and, of course, local college sports.
Last month at Pacific Fashion Week, he told Aloha State Daily that his auntie played volleyball for the Rainbow Wahine and his father was a football player who played in the Hula Bowl.
"I'm just translating that into fashion and putting something fun together that's a little bit of a different take from what's normally being put out."
According to an Instagram post Thursday, the MĀNOA Spring/Summer27 Fashion Show is set for Friday, Nov. 13, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena. Tickets go on sale at ticketmaster.com at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23.
Ahuna told ASD that the collection draws inspiration from the late '80s and early '90s and involved research into archival photos, jerseys and other sports memorabilia.
"I also thought of the characters that make up University of Hawaiʻi, you know, teachers, students, activists," he said, "It's kinda just having fun with the idea of 'Go Bows!'"
Although Ahuna did not attend UH Mānoa, the graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology in New York often gives back to the next generation of designers studying at the school, as well as the broader community. He is known for dressing the stars of "Chief of War" at red carpet events and Max Holloway ahead of the fight with Connor McGregor this past summer in Las Vegas.
Ahuna works out of studios in both Kalihi and New York, and has always been connected to Limahuli Gardens on the Garden Isle.
"I think sharing our story allows us to create a bold and authentic Hawaiʻi when we travel to places outside the state. I love being part of those conversations," he said about perpetuating Hawaiian culture. "I hope to be a part of conversation to create an unconventional Hawaiʻi. Fashion has the ability to express and push narratives and having grown up here, I hope to uplift more kānaka and allow us to succeed."
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
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