'Live Aloha' on the runway

Nadine Kam photos
Matt Bruening and Bliss Lau had the finale look during the “Live Aloha” runway show that was part of Honolulu Fashion Week’s VIP Preview Night.


With a little help from a homecoming contingent from New York, Hawaii’s designers and models staged an international caliber runway show during the “Live Aloha” VIP preview for Honolulu Fashion Week at Hawai’i Convention Center.

A team from Wilhelmina New York, including locally born and raised Roman Young and Bobby Gutierrez, cast the models, Don Sumada styled the show, and New York and Miami Fashion Week producer Lynne O’Neill whipped everyone into shape—in a nice way I’m sure!—and the result was a brisk-paced, dynamic showcase that everyone involved can be proud of.

The show and fashion managed to capture the spirit of our casual/resort lifestyle, while amping up the drama in an editorial way via bold-print separates. The audience’s eyes were riveted to the looks as they were revealed, and to me, that’s one measure of an ensemble’s success. It should be interesting enough to take more than a casual glance to “read.”

“Hawaii Five-0′s” Alex O’Loughlin and Malia Jones brought the celebrity quotient to the event, gamely posing for photos, including seated in the front row in my iPhone shot.

Olympian-turned-designer Kristi Yamaguchi, left, also attended with Elisa Wen boutique owner Elizabeth Wen Tell. Pieces from Yamaguchi’s Tsu.Ya sportswear line will be shown at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hawai’i Convention Center, part of the “Get Out!” active, swim and surf wear showcase. Admission is free, but seats are limited.

Having attended fashion week events in New York, Shanghai and Bali, the presentation was definitely on par with those cities, and among the most professional I’ve seen here since the French Festival events from waaaay back, and even earlier, Chanel runway shows, when models were flown in for the occasion because Hawaii was an important, lucrative market for the brands. Over time, the budgets moved to other budding markets, such as China.

All the more reason to create our own market for homegrown talent. Special guests for the evening were the creators of Saturdays Surf NYC, but otherwise, the lengthy roster of local designers and brands included Sig Zane Designs, Ari South, Allison Izu, Matt Bruening, Roberta Oaks, Amos Kotomori, Bliss Lau, Salty Girl Jewelry, Organik, and more.

Many more designers and creatives were featured in popup shops and Art + Flea market setup featuring The Aloha Collective, M33Ms Jewelry, and more.

And then there was the celebrity factor, with Alex O’Loughlin and wife Malia Jones sitting in the front row, across from Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, who launched her own fashion career in fall 2012 with the debut of her Tsu.ya activewear clothing line.

Tsu.ya will be among the brands featured during the “Get Out” surf, swim, active apparel showcase taking place at 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Hawai’i Convention Center. Admission is free. You can read more about the line in a story I wrote at the time of the launch: http://bit.ly/1xrgQah

Hawaii’s latest “Project Runway” designer Kini Zamora in front of his popup shop with his business and communications director Anuhea Diamond Patoc and fashion partner Dean “Dinko” Satta. The KINI and DINKO Spring/Summer 2015 collection debuts at 7:30 p.m. today, during a free show at Hawai’i Convention Center.

Hawaii’s fashion community turned out for the event, including from left, designer Matt Bruening, stylist Lindsey Higa, designer Kuha’o Zane and model Desmond Centro.

A red gown by Ari South was part of the “Live Aloha” show’s finale.

A MAMo (Maoli Arts Month) popup shop featured Native Hawaiian creations, including these beautiful feather lei, as a warmup for the MAMo Wearable Art Show taking place 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at the convention center.

It was definitely a selfie moment for everyone, including media, and below, Kristi Yamaguchi and Elizabeth Wen Tell.