Nadine Kam photos George Tuitele-Martin and Auli'i Tagupa were crowned Mr. and Miss Polynesia 2014 at Leeward Community College Theatre Sept. 28.
The Mr. and Miss Polynesia Pacific Pageant, created by Ralph Malani, is one of the liveliest, most entertaining pageants in town, which, as emcee Teighlor Rmani explained, includes elements of the annual Universal Show Queen pageant.
The event took place Sept. 28 at the Leeward Community College Theatre, and after about 4-1/2 hours of singing, dancing, costume pageantry and some pretty risqué moves, George Tuitele-Martin was named kane winner, and Auli'i Tagupa was named wahine winner.
I was initially invited to this annual event because of the costume component that involves creating aloha wear from fabric donated by Hawaiiana designers, as well as black tie, natural couture involving costumes fashioned from nature's materials, and an extravagant fantasy costume segment that generally involves a lot of feathers and flash. But I keep coming back for the pure entertainment, exuberance and pure bravado the contestants always bring to the evening.
Also adding to the beauty of the evening were performers Mahi Crabbe and Ashley Lilinoe, whose music accompanied the contestants on stage, and Duncan Kamakana, one of the judges, who was called on to perform, including a hana hou of his Burger King jingle.
Here are the winners:
>> Mr. Polynesia Pacific 2014: George Tuitele-Martin
>> Miss Polynesia 2014: Auli'i Tagupa
>> Natural couture: Keola Kaluhiokalani (kane) and Auli'i Tagupa (wahine)
>> Aloha wear: George Tuitele-Martin (kane) and Shiloh Phillips (wahine)
>> Black tie: Keali'i O'Brien (kane) and Nile Te'o (wahine)
>> Talent: Jerrold Martinez (kane) and Nei-Moana Henriques (wahine)
>> Fantasy: George Tuitele-Martin (kane) and Auli'i Tagupa (wahine)
Keola Kaluhiokalani summoned the spirit of Don Ho during the fantasy segment of the competition, though he looks a little more like Jason Scott Lee!
While results were tabulated, Duncan Kamakana, one of the judges, was pressed to perform, including a good-natured hana hou of the audience-requested Burger King jingle. Click on the photo to hear him sing "Ku'u Home O Kahalu'u."
George and Auli'i with Mr. and Miss Pacific Polynesia founders Ralph Malani and Cliff Duldulao, right.
George's talent competition performance comprised contemporary and Polynesian dance.
Jerrold Martinez delivered a poignant performance that began with a dance in drag to Beyoncé's "If I Were a Boy," before he stripped away makeup and feminine accoutrements to deliver a powerful kane dance, below, that won him the kane talent award.
Nadine Kam photo Fashion blogger Wendy Nguyen of Wendy's Lookbook talks about her work at Hawai'i Fashion Month's OUTFIT trade show.
Whether talking about food or fashion, a lot of people tell me that mine is the job they want, and while I never wanted to trade places with anyone else before, I'd be willing to slip into Wendy Nguyen's Christian Louboutin's any day.
The fashion blogger behind Wendy's Lookbook has it made, jetting to fashion weeks around the globe and collaborating with brands, while wearing the best clothes and working with her "mystery man" boyfriend and film director James (who-shall-not-be-photographed), to produce the short films and beautiful photos that fuel her blog.
Nguyen was among the speakers during Hawai'i Fashion Month's OUTFIT trade show yesterday, which continues through 5 p.m. today in the industrial space below TJ Maxx. The speaker lineup also includes Benni Leigh of Maker Studios, a next generation, talent-first media company; Emmy award-winning costume designer Giovanna Ottobre-Melton ("Mob City," "Numb3rs," "The Mist," "My Name is Earl"); Michelle Moder,costume supervisor for "Hawaii Five-O," who also worked on "The Descendants"; and film costumer and "Hawaii Five-0 costume supervisor Anthony Scarano.
For her part, Nguyen shared her insight with retailers and designers hoping to engage with bloggers in promoting their brands, as well as aspiring bloggers.
Wendy's Lookbook photo Fashion blogger Wendy Nguyen in the Ramy Brook silk crepe dress and Jimmy Choo heels she wore at the launch of Hawai'i Fashion Month.
Her main point is to avoid the one-size-fits-all syndrome and work only with brands with a point-of-view and aesthetic similar to your own. Basically, if a situation doesn't feel right for you, don't do it.
The diminutive blogger said every designer has a girl or muse, and tells their story through that girl. She said it's important to visualize that girl and ask, over 24 hours, what is she doing at each moment.
With her own work, she envisions "the city girl" and even if she is promoting an article she received from a vendor, she said, "It's my curation, so it's authentic."
Nadine Kam photos Sherry Holt, who launched Sunshine Hawaii in 1976, hasn't lost her passion for fashion and debuted a Spring 2014 collection at OUTFIT, the Hawai'i Fashion Month tradeshow that opened Oct. 2. She shows one of her vintage creations, while wearing one of her new pieces, designed with sleeves to cover bare arms with breathable mesh for Hawaii weather.
Hawai'i Fashion Month continued its strong opening with the debut of OUTFIT, a buying, shopping, and networking experience bringing multiple facets of the local fashion industry together to promote Hawaii’s design talent.
Among highlights were a series of guest speakers (see next post featuring Wendy Nguyen of Wendy's Lookbook), and silk-dyeing workshop by visiting Japan textile artist Akihiko Izukura.
OUTFIT was housed Oct. 2 and 3 in a soon-to-be-developed industrial space at Ward Village, under TJ Maxx, and sponsored by the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism toward making fashion in Hawaii a billion-dollar industry.
Nadine Kam photos Models show the zero-waste, natural fiber creations of Japan textile artist Akihiko Izukura at the launch of Hawai'i Fashion Month, with hair and makeup by Paul Brown.
Well, it's finally happened! After more than a year of talk, planning and anticipation, the inaugural Hawai'i Fashion Month (HFM) debuted Oct. 1 with a kick-off party featuring food, music by Taimane, the Pushovers and DJ Toma, clothing displays and a fashion show by textile artist Akihiko Izukura, in a soon-to-be-developed retail space below TJ Maxx.
For the longest time, the fashion community was on its own—many little islands as far as marketing and promotion of individual brands. This time around, the monthlong event highlighting Hawaii fashion is a community-driven project initiated by the Hawaii Fashion Incubator (Hifi), with the support of the state's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT). A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit YWCA’s Dress for Success program.
In proclaiming October as Hawai'i Fashion Month, Gov. Neil Abercrombie noted that Hawaii's fashion industry already generates more than $750 million in annual sales, $20.4 million in tax revenues and 3,630 jobs. He aims to make it a billion-dollar industry that showcases Hawaii's diversity and local design and manufacturing talent, and has been true to his word in supporting the industry since taking office.
In a press statement last month, he said, “Hawai'i Fashion Month will also build our strength as an international retail destination while creating jobs and keeping hard-earned dollars in Hawaii. It’s another opportunity to ‘Buy Aloha, Give Local.’ ”
Looks from Akihiko Izukura's runway show.
Unfortunately, though the launch party was attended by a who's who of industry insiders, only a handful of party-goers—all who undoubtedly wanted to look their best for the special occasion—actually dressed local, missing the point of an event intended to celebrate Hawaii fashion. That was a disappointment and an indication that, even though I have watched Hawaii fashion come a long way in the 20-plus years I've been covering the industry as its biggest cheerleader, there is still a long way to go in making the clothing desirable for every occasion. (I wore Gillia by Saori Santos, and followed up the next day at OUTFIT with Tori Richard.)
And, as much as I love the work of Izukura—I now have three of his garments—he is from Japan, and there was no other local designer show on opening night, also surprising for an event to celebrate local fashion.
Let's try to do better at 6 p.m. Oct. 4, when the Hawai'i State Art Museum plays host to a Bridal & Formalwear Fashion Show of local designers, and "The Way We Wear" exhibition, where the dress code is black tie/evening.
Hifi co-founders Toby Portner (wearing Ease Collection at left) and Melissa White, right, with Ward Centers' senior marketing manager Katie Ka'anapu, and Sen. Will Espero, also a proponent for Hawaii fashion, wearing Sig Zane.
Photographer Travis Okimoto with artist Melissa Rivera, who created the runway backdrop. This was one of the first times anyone has seen Melissa in a dress, so we were all so excited about it!
Among the guests, from left, were Holden Lau, Emma Wo, Freshionable founder Jenny Cao-Wu and her husband Mike Wu.
From left, Royal Hawaiian Center's Helene "Sam" Shenkus with Nani Hirosane and her husband David Hanus, who have a baby on the way. Do you know the genesis of Sam's nickname? Apparently, she had a college roommate who took to calling her Sam because she couldn't remember her name. And it stuck.
Trio of designers, from left, Vanessa Perez of Henry Hats, Sherry Holt and Denyse Ray of Ease Collection. Sherry was happy to connect with Dale Hope, as part of a generation of designers and companies, such as Tori Richard and Surf Line Hawaii, that ignited a national wave of Hawaii mania throughout the fashion world in the 1970s with their prints. She created the mesh-topped dress she's wearing, for Spring 2014.
Nadine Kam photos Designer Jeanie Chun, left, with the mistress of ceremony for her fashion show, Mahealani Richardson. Jeanie designed the beautiful polka dot dress she wore.
Designer Jeanie Chun and Dr. Lawrence Tseu presented a fashion show of Chun's romantic, Victorian themed holiday and bridal collection at Waialae Country Club on Sept. 28.
The designer said she has always loved the idea of versatility, and put her concept to use during a segment during which she demonstrated ways to transform the look of basic black dresses through styling, swapping out belts, bold statement jewelry, hats and jackets, which she deemed "a wonderful trick" for frequent travelers.
Using her favorite palette of black and white, splashes of color added interest, including romantic spring florals under gowns of lace, for a beautiful twist on the typical solid-color wedding gown.
The program also featured music by Iggy Jang and Cathy Foy.
A scarf by textile artist Akihiko Izukura. Textile enthusiasts have the opportunity to create their own at Hawai'i Fashion Month workshops.
Renowned natural fiber and textile artist Akihiko Izukura, from Japan, will offer a hands-on experience with his “Zero-Waste” design philosophy during a Hifi Coop popup event at OUTFIT Oct. 2 and 3, Hawai'i Fashion Month's two-day industry and public tradeshow taking place underneath T.J. Maxx.
Izukura’s pieces incorporate netting, braiding, weaving and entwining techniques, all passed down from his family, a line of master silk weavers for the imperial family of Japan.
OUTFIT will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 2nd, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the third, to industry professionals, with free registration for buyers and industry representatives at www.outfithawaii.com. Doors will open to the public at 1 p.m. both days, with general admission of $3. OUTFIT will also host runway shows each day at 1 and 3 p.m. and workshops by Art & Flea. Izukura will showcase 20 of his pieces in a gallery installation.
In celebration of Hawai'i Fashion Month and its nomination in two categories for the Governor's Fashion Awards at the end of the month, Mu'umu'u Heaven is hosting a monthlong sale on items in its Vintage Room through Oct. 31.
Boutique hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays, at 767 Kailua Road. Call 263-3366 or visit www.muumuuheaven.com for more information.
