Back in the day, when “Hawaiian fashion” meant aloha shirts and tent-like muu muu, a few young Hawaiian artists began to create a look that was dramatically different.
In 2005 the PA‘I Foundation, headed by kumu Vicky Holt Takamine, partnered with Bishop Museum for a monthlong celebration of Hawaiian fashion and design. It was called Maoli Arts Movement (MAMo) and has grown to a showcase making design waves across the fashion world from New York to Japan.
After years of shows at the Hawaii Theatre, where a runway had to be built over many of the seats, Takamine and co-host Robert Cazimero found a new location for the fashion extravaganza.
Fast forward to Saturday’s Wearable Art Show at the Tapa Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
“This new venue has raised our designers up to high-fashion status, while still keeping their work affordable and wearable,” Takamine said.
Tickets range in price from $50 to a table at $10,000. That top-price ticket comes with a personal shopper, dinner, a meet-the-designers backstage tour and other special amenities.
Aside from the fashion show, a MAMo Marketplace opens at 3 p.m. with a designers trunk show in the lobby outside the ballroom. The marketplace is free and open to the public.
Kumu Mapuana de Silva will walk the runway, along with her two daughters, Kahikina and Kapalai, wearing creations by Marques Marzan. “I never thought I would be on a runway,” de Silva said. “But it has turned out to be fun. … Marques always makes us feel beautiful.”
Notable designers participating include Ari South, Ka‘ano‘i Akaka, Kahulale‘a, Kawika Lum-Nelmida, Maile Andrade, Kini Zamora, Sonny Ching and Tunui Tully.
“The production quality and high fashion are always excellent — and where else would you have the opportunity to meet the artists?” de Silva said.
Cheers often erupt when MAMo’s male models walk the runway, often sporting amazing tattoo art.
With Cazimero and Takamine announcing the show, both consummate entertainers, the script can change at a moment’s notice.
De Silva says, “the fun backstage is a reason to do the show — that and the fact that Vicky and Robert make us all feel like we can dress in island fashion, look great and support our artist-designers.”
WEARABLE ART SHOW 2019
Presentedy by Maoli Arts Movement
>> Where: Tapa Ballroom, Hilton Hawaiian Village
>> When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
>> Cost: $50-$500
>> Info: paifoundation.org
>> Also: MAMo Marketplace, 3-11 p.m., Tapa Palace Lounge; free admission
