There’s more to Hawaiian fashion than the good ol’ aloha shirt or flowery sarong you might have stashed for your next vacation. Luckily, in and around Waikiki is the perfect place to experience the range of brilliant designers working in the islands today.
Take, for example, Carrington Manaola Yap, who in 2017 became the first Native Hawaiian designer invited to showcase a collection in a runway show at New York Fashion Week. He grew up in Hawai‘i Island learning hula and kapa fabric-making and dyeing and takes his inspiration for his distinctive prints — hand-carved on bamboo and then digitized — from the mesmerizingly repetitive patterns found in nature as well as from Hawaiian spirituality and stories. His flowing, frequently asymmetric or off-the-shoulder shapes and silhouettes are thoroughly modern as well as elegant.
You can find his Manaola line of men’s and women’s clothing — along with accessories, bath, body and home products — on O‘ahu at eponymous boutiques in Ala Moana Center, just outside Waikiki, and Pearlridge Center in Aiea. If you’re on another island, you might spot a seasonal popup at another mall, with long lines one giveaway that Manaola is in town. But the most exciting way to see his creative genius at play is in ‘Auana, the Cirque du Soleil show produced exclusively for Hawai‘i in a custom-designed theater at OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel.
Yap designed the striking costumes for the ground-breaking show, which like his fashion and the hotel is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, history and storytelling (mo‘olelo).
Yap worked closely with cultural creative producer Aaron J. Salā and choreographer Hiwa Vaughan, who like Yap’s mother is a kumu hula (hula expert and teacher), to bring to life Hawaiian lore, from the arrival of the first Polynesian voyagers to stories of volcanic deity Pele and moon goddess Hina, to the Waikiki beachboy era and beyond. Musicians, dancers, acrobats and gymnasts shares these stories in an 80-minute show entirely without dialogue, relying instead on a dazzling blend of music, Hawaiian-language chants and song, motion and visuals, including Yap’s costumes.
“To really look at these mo‘olelo and let them tell us how they want to be told is a big part of the process,” he said at the show’s premiere in December 2025. “We continue to be guided by our kupuna (elders) and take their lead.”
The OUTRIGGER Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel also hosts other displays of innovative fashion from time to time, in partnership with the onsite Hawaiian Aroma Caffe. Coming up next is the Urban Paradise Fashion Show, May 15, which will showcase designers that reflect both Hawaiian culture and a modern city vibe in their casual street and beach wear. DJs will provide the runway soundtrack for models wearing the latest graphic T’s, board shorts, swimwear, trucker hats, hoodies from the likes of Nava, AVVA, Fitted Hawaii, Immerse Bikinis, Those Seen Dancing and Palikū Surf, plus vintage sports jerseys and retro-inspired sportswear from Old Queen Street Stadium.
Inspired since childhood by “fashion, music and youth culture,” Moises Nava founded his Honolulu company in April 2025 to “create more than just clothing,” he noted on Instagram. “It’s about merging bold, fearless design with effortless elegance — a brand that speaks to the soul and invites you to embrace your unique journey.” Forget the florals; he’s about black and white, with only his four-letter logo adorning slouchy pants, roomy T’s and tailored jackets, among other items.
Founded by professional surfer and five-time state champion Kekoa Cazimero, AVVA incorporates prints such as camouflage, Hawaiian flags, plumeria and hibiscus into its surfer- and street-themed collections. His new Leus collection of eco towels and ponchos feature certified sustainable cotton. “We’re incredibly proud of what AVVA’s achieved, but it would be a hollow victory if we didn’t use our success to protect and preserve the elements that inspired it,” the AVVA website notes.
Immerse Bikinis, founded by self-described “ocean enthusiast” Carly McLaury, also prides itself on sustainability, using fabrics recycled from plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets, as well as biodegradable recycled packaging for shipping. A hand-collected Hebrew shell from O‘ahu adorns the black Punalu‘u bikini top, whose hue reflects the volcanic sand of Punalu‘u Beach on Hawai‘i Island. Immerse also offers a separate “bikini charm” — a 14K gold-filled brown or purple cowrie shell to pair with your favorite top.
Aficionados of Hawai‘i-based design will not want to miss the third annual Aloha Swim at OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort June 20. Presented by Modern Luxury Hawai‘i, the poolside event includes a swimwear fashion show, informal modeling and “shop the look” popups, plus mini massages, pedicures and other wellness experiences; live music and cocktails also add to the vibrant ambiance. While this year’s designers have yet to be announced, the 2025 lineup included Maui-based Jaxsea Hawaii, known for its playful tropical floral prints, and Honolulu’s Vermilli, featuring sustainable fabrics and hand-drawn floral prints by designer Nicole Vermillion.