12 First

Aug 24, 2023

With hundreds of Island makers on its roster, the annual Made in Hawai‘i Festival, happening Aug. 18 through 20, is easily one of my favorite events for shopping local. And this year, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at some of the newbies, aka the fashion, home, gift, pet and art vendors making their first-ever appearance at the Made in Hawai‘i Festival. Here’s a handy roundup of some of my top picks and the fun new goodies they’ll be offering.

In light of the recent Maui wildfires, the Made in Hawai‘i Festival will donate 10% of profits from ticket sales and 100% of profits from the Made in Hawai‘i Festival x HiLife T-shirt (below) sales to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund.

Photo: Courtesy of Made in Hawai‘i Festival

SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the 29th Made in Hawai‘i Festival

Photos: Nicole Naone

I’m a big fan of O‘ahu artist Kris Pūnua’s tropical art prints featuring beautiful lei and lounging wāhine, so I was stoked to see her expand her line with new lifestyle products. Be sure to check out her knit blankets, Turkish towels and glassware featuring her signature Island blooms.

Booth #918, krishawaii.com, @krishawaii

SEE ALSO: These Hawai‘i Designers and Boutiques Are Donating 100% of Proceeds to Maui’s Recovery

Photos: Li‘i Photo

When starting her skincare line, mother and domestic violence survivor Chelsa Davis set out to create products made from fresh, nourishing ingredients—that would double as vehicles for self-care. Snap up the Honoka‘a brand’s top sellers, including its anti-aging Iliwai Hydration Serum and Olena and Honey Gel Cleanser, featuring local organic honey and turmeric, while you can, and don’t forget to snag some of its ultra-popular sugar scrubs, which are sold out online.

Booth #1619, aoorganicshawaii.com, @ao.organicshawaii

Photos: Christa Funk

Much like how Linda Ueda and Akemi Ueda Jensen, the mother-daughter design duo behind O‘ahu jewelry label Paradisus, work in harmony to bring their Hawaii-inspired creations to life, so too do the elements of their newest collection. Called Ke Alo Ka Mahina, after our connection to the phases of the moon, its stunning 925 silver earrings and pendants are reminders of the importance of balance, observation and harmony in Hawaiian life.

Booths #2315, 2316, paradisusjewelry.com, @paradisusjewelry

Photos: Nake‘u Awai Designs

2023 marks 50 years of celebrating Hawaiian culture through fashion for designer Nake‘u Awai and his eponymous label. In honor of the golden anniversary, the legacy brand’s summer collection features six fab prints, including the popular Gardenia and ‘Ulu styles and the early 2000s favorite Wana ‘Ohe Kapala style. The festival will also be the first opportunity to shop the new Crownflower Butterflies print sundress, created by artist Richard Vyse, which depicts the monarch butterfly as a beautiful woman.

Booth #I-006, nakeuawaidesigns.com, @nakeuawaidesigns

SEE ALSO: 3 New Local Hawai‘i Swimwear Brands to Sizzle in This Summer

Photos: Formidably Impressed, Chris Balidio

With greeting cards topped with playful phrases, such as “You Tickle My Pickle” and “Dad Bods Are Bods Too,” the team behind this local stationery line has mastered the perfect balance of sweetness and sass. I’ll be scooping up its freshly released washi tape trio and mahalo and aloha card sets.

Booth #2218, formidablyimpressed.com, @formidablyimpressed

Photo: Lani Walters

With runway showings in Paris, Milan and London, Waimea designer Micah Kamohoali‘i has been steadily building upon his family’s rich artistic legacy (the kumu hula comes from a long line of kapa makers­) by sharing the beauty of Hawaiian culture through his bold fashions. Keep an eye out for his new Pelekeahialoa and Kihanuiluluonamoku collections, inspired by Hawai‘i Island’s powerful volcanic eruptions and the mo‘o that protected the sacred chiefs of Hawai‘i, plus an exciting collaborative jewelry collection created with Maui Divers Jewelry.

Booth #121, 122, dbkamohoalii.com, @dezignsbykamohoalii

SEE ALSO: Mikinola Opens a Gorgeous New Hawai‘i Kai Boutique

Photos: Chloe Selarque

Clocking in at just 1 ½ inches, Chloe Selarque’s charming postage stamp-style enamel pins, featuring illustrations of Hawaiian landscapes and flora and fauna, are tiny treasures you can tote with you. Keep an eye out for the new collab collection, made with fellow vendor Double Happiness, which includes scrunchies, wristlets, lanyards and Swedish dishcloths featuring native coastal plants.

Booth #2123, jahierstudio.com, @jahier_studio

Photos: Alice van Schaik

Earring stacks are having a major moment, and few cool brands are cooler for lining your lobes than Honolulu-based YūMono, whose sleek claw and stud styles come outfitted with diamond-lined bars, chains and gemstones. Designer Keiko Akamine will debut new fall styles at the festival, including “poke-free” gold hoop earrings, along with limited-edition Montana sapphire versions of her bestselling claws.

Booth #1803, yumonodesign.com, @yumonodesign

Photo: Claire Lau

Offering a refreshing take on ocean-inspired design, Kona-based Thick Mint Co.’s sweatshirts and tees are exactly what you’d want to throw on after a day in the salty Pacific. Organic and often abstract, designer Claire Lau’s puzzlelike graphics give a stylish nod to the interconnectedness of nature and life as a whole.

Booth # 1126, thickmintco.com, @thickmintco

Photos: Courtesy of Kahua ‘Āina

The idea for Kahua ‘Āina was born when Hilo parents Jordan and Keahi Camara were trying to help their four keiki connect with the ‘aina in fun, everyday ways. Now, along with their signature pillows, which resemble local reef fish, birds and shells, they offer stickers, enamel pins and Hawai‘i-inspired homegoods. Look out for their newest release—adorable palaka-print children’s floaties.

Booth #2321, kahuaaina.com, @kahuaaina

Photo: Dis-And-Bark

I don’t even have a pup, and I’m obsessed with ‘Ewa Beach brand Dis-and-Bark’s plush dog toys, which owners Leah and TJ Lukela design to look like popular Island treats. Along with crowd favorites shaped like laulau, green beer bottles and boxes of powdered doughnuts, the duo will release Dis-and-Bark’s first reusable shopping bag and its latest towel.

Booth #125, disandbark.com, @disandbark

SEE ALSO: Honolulu Pride: LGBTQIA+ Events in August 2023

Photos: Mariah Lea Photo

Ellise Uyema left the corporate world to pursue her passion—sharing her love of plants with others. Along with leading DIY moss art workshops and hosting her podcast, Planty of Friends, she also launched an online boutique that offers plant accessories for the home, gift boxes for plant lovers and greenery-themed fashion accessories, such as the festival-exclusive canvas totes she’ll be offering in five fun designs.

Booth #2112, livelongandplant.com, @livelongandplant

Made in Hawai‘i Festival, $8, Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., Aug. 18–20, madeinhawaiifestival.com, @madeinhi. See the full list of Made in Hawai‘i Festival vendors here.