Fashion Tribe: H&M welcomed 800 on opening night

A crowd gathered at the red carpet entrance to the newest H&M store at Waikiki Business Plaza. The line extended along the left side of the building. — H&M courtesy photo

Eight-hundred invited guests crowded the entrance of H & M, Hennes & Mauritz AB, March 26, marking the grand opening of the international retail giant at the Waikiki Business Plaza, the first H&M store in Hawaii.

The event included food from chef Chai Chaowasaree, a concert by indie band Best Coast, and of course, it marked the first time attendees could shop the racks, full of spring trend items for men and women, including grand opening specials on accessories as low as $1, and apparel as low as $5.

The two floors could barely contain the crowd, and it took a lot of weaving and dodging to move through a crowd that has waited years to be able to shop the brand's reasonably priced contemporary apparel. It was such a frenzy that afterward, several people said they were so tired and relieved to get out the door.

H&M also unveiled an installation featuring artwork by local surf photographers Mike Coots, Sarah Lee and Zak Noyle, whose photos are being featured on a trio of limited-edition H&M T-shirts. All proceeds from sales of the shirts will benefit AccesSurf, a non-profit organization that provides surfing instruction and therapeutic educational programs on water recreation for people with disabilities.

H&M was established in Sweden in 1947. Today there are 310 stores in the United States and more than 3,100 H&M stores in 53 markets worldwide.
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H&M is in the Waikiki Business Plaza, 2270 Kalakaua Ave.

Hawaii News Now Sunrise anchor documents the moment for television. She's in H&M's spring pink and florals. — Nadine Kam photos

Best Coast played a 12-song set for an appreciative crowd at the center of the store. For a sampling of the band's sound, click here.

From left, H&M staffers Katie Shamblin, Diana Johansson, Marina Müller and Olivia Vongphet.

Also representing H&M, Meng Hok, Marissa Ferretti and Michael Steven Gallegos.

Of course there were models among the guests, from left, Pono Fernandez, Nalani Ravelo and model-turned-photographer Daniela Voicescu.

H&M North America president Daniel Kulle, left, with local surf photographers Sarah Lee, Zak Noyle and Mike Coots, whose photos are being featured on limited-edition T-shirts, below, sales of which will benefit AccesSurf. — H&M photos

H&M recruiter Neil Herrera, who's worn his mustache this way for nine months. Funny, having just returned from the land of men-with-stylized-facial-hair, I guessed he was in town from San Francisco!

Rupal Gohil, founder and creative director of MAIA Couture, tries on a floral headband, regularly priced at $5.95, but $1 for the opening.

Also among the guests, Jill Kuramoto and Mahealani Richardson.

At the H&M surf display, M33Ms jewelry designer Emiko Miyazawa, left, and Jennifer Kimura.

Nibbling on cotton candy with mango center, Brenda Flores, left, and Marian Kang. Also among the edibles offered by chef Chai were crab cakes and garlic french fries.hm2Jackie Ho, left, and Lesli Yano are ready for the hunt with black H&M shopping bags.

Jessika Fodor, center, principal broker of JFodor & Co., brokers for Waikiki Business Plaza / H&M, is the one to thank for helping to bring H&M to Honolulu. She says she's working on Zara next. She's with Chelsey Sponsler and Sky Close.