3rd Annual Aloha Shirt Festival and Fashion Week Hawai‘i

Na‘alehu Theatre announces the 3rd annual Aloha Shirt Festival, Vintage Wear Collector’s Exhibit and Kona's own ‘Fashion Week’ during the shoulder and fashion season and in conjunction with Aloha Festivals. The event is held at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa with activities on, October 3 to 6, 2024 from 12:00 to 9:00pm daily. (Note: activities and entertainment are being finalized so, please check website for updates: www.alohashirtfestival.com).

Under the guidance of fashionistas, Uncle George Na‘ope and Cyril Lani Pahinui, we have crafted what could be one of the biggest spectacles of the year for Kona to celebrate our island heritage. Honoring them, the festival focuses on wearable arts traditions, history and the local garment industry.

Producers have sought out a diverse group of partners and like-minded local businesses and currently has more than 57 individual businesses involved in the presentation with a particular focus on partners who offer youth development, mentorship and entrepreneurial training and manage sustainably. The Aloha Shirt Festival also offers celebrity/professional pre-training activities for youth in partnership with individual designers, MANTA Production a Native Hawaiian run film, style, talent and modeling halau led by Kauila Keala Barber, Big Island Beauty School, Paul Mitchel School and other private trainers to improve students design, modeling and cosmetology skills.

The event offers vintage “aloha wear’ exhibits, sales and appraisals, music and entertainment stars and celebrity appearances, a Fashion Fair/Pop-up MarketPlace, silent auction, a series of traditional workshops and demonstrations, a lei competition, industry trainers, speakers and resource providers, food and beverage events, hair and makeup shows, professional photo workshops, live music and hula, an afternoon tea party, exciting fashion runway shows featuring vintage collections, repurposed clothing collections, individual contemporary designers and various other wearable arts and accessories and manta watching!

Designers have the opportunity to sell to local and visiting attendees and online through Runway Buy, a shop-able proprietary app for online sales. Runway Show events are livestreamed globally and cross posted through social media.

The ASF has established a partnership with several media outlets including Big Island TV (in hotel) and KVIKS Media, a student-led digital and broadcast media program at Hilo High School. Currently, there are 60+ student members who primarily produce school programs and broadcast live events such as our’ ASF/FW. Students of KVIKS Media are trained as they work hand-in-hand with industry professionals and have access to unique interning opportunities like the Aloha Shirt Festival.

In addition to wearable arts, as is local style, the floral industry provides wearable floral products and plants (focus on natives) to decorate and enhance the runway shows, connecting and branding Hawaii's flowers to the local garment industry. We invite attendees to explore the history, artistry, and production of Hawai‘i’s enduring fashion statement, the Aloha Shirt. The annual collectors exhibition, includes original textile artwork, production sketches and swatches, advertisements, and vintage shirts telling the story of an industry that has left an indelible mark on fashion in the United States and the world.

The Aloha Shirt Festival is a venture in hospitality bringing both traditional and contemporary wearable arts together to share a moment in time celebrating Hawai‘i’s contributions to the fashion industry.

Embracing local culture is what travel is all about. This exhibition reflects one of the most cherished traditions in Hawai‘i and the public is invited to celebrate the event by “getting in to it”. Prizes given for many of the best Street Looks, so don you oldest, most colorful, or traditional and fit right in as you stand right out. You are immediately emerged in the Aloha Spirit.

Aloha shirts are an authentic way to share our local culture without concerns like cultural appropriation. Aloha shirts are an inclusive garment that locals and tourists can both enjoy. Visitors can get to know local designers and start building their wardrobe of authentic or even vintage aloha shirts to take a slice of island life back home with them.

“Fashion Week” seeks to share knowledge of Hawai‘i’s traditions, connection to and the desire to preserve, embrace and protect the environment. By bringing together global resources and environmental and cultural campaigns we can strive to make the local industry more sustainable”, stated Chelle Pahinui, Executive Director of Na‘alehu Theatre.

“The Aloha Shirt Festival strives to influence global resort wear trends for the current and upcoming fashion seasons”, stated Pahinui, “Recognizing the overwhelming inspiration Hawai‘i provides, we welcome others who are also stirred by the beauty, culture, environment, and the “Spirit of Aloha” to attend this event.

Using both an in person and digital platform the event will feature exclusive multimedia content with elements of the event available to both the public and trade audience globally to enable collaboration and bring together fashion, culture and technology.

E komo mai! Please join us

FREE Vintage Exhibit and Pop-Up Market Place

ON THE RUNWAY: $80 to $250 (all-inclusive, heavy pupu, drink tickets, )
Tickets available at: www.AlohaShirtFestival.com

“We are very thankful for the continued generosity and commitment of our partners, suppliers and supporters on this second annual event.” Pahinui shared.

Official Partners: Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority

Official Suppliers: Koloa Rum, Hawaiian Water, Kona Brew

Official Supporters: Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawai‘i Island Visitors Bureau, Hawai‘i Visitor and Convention Bureau, and the County of Hawai‘i.

More info at: aloha@naalehutheatre.org