NEWS RELEASE

Windward Mall Welcomes Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i to the Center

Windward Mall is pleased to welcome Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i to the Center with a grand opening and blessing on Saturday, August 20. The clothing brand was created by renowned Kumu Hula Micah Kamohoali‘i in 2005 on the Island of Hawai‘i. It shares the foundational values of Hawaiian culture to its audience through art and design. The brand strives to educate others through Hawaiian designs, metaphoric imagery, cultural significance with strong symbolism and interpretations. The 1,336-square-foot store is located on the upper level of Windward Mall next to Tricked Out Accessories.

Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i opened at Windward Mall on Wednesday, May 18, and is holding a blessing ceremony and grand opening celebration on Saturday, August 20. The first 100 customers to the store will receive a free gift, and throughout the day, customers can enter to win a DBK gift bag (valued at $250). At noon on Saturday, there will be a ceremonial blessing of the Dezigns By Kamohoaliʻi store by Kumu Micah Kamohoali‘i and Hālau Nā Kipuʻupuʻu. In Center Court, Lina Girl will emcee the entertainment lineup starting at 1:45 p.m.

WHAT: Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i Blessing and Grand Opening

WHEN: Saturday, August 20 from 12 to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i and Center Court of Windward Mall

From 1:45 to 2:45 p.m., enjoy the beautiful stylings of Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes & Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe. Stay from 3 to 4 p.m. for a performance by the Haʻehaʻe Girls. Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire & Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka take the stage from 4 to 4:30 p.m. and Nā Wai Hoʻoluʻu O Ke Ānuenue close out the program with a performance from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m.

Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i encompasses all of Hawai‘i’s natural environments and honors the excellence and brilliance of the Hawaiian people. It features layers of ‘ike ku‘una, or traditional Hawaiian knowledge, embedded in each design and inspired by Micah Kamohoali‘i’s family legacy of master skills in working with kapa, ‘ohe kāpala and kākau. Kamohoali‘i’s passion for art led him into graphic design, and his family’s legacy in Hawaiian kapa led him into fashion. He combined both of these elements to create Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i. The brand honors the breath of life from kūpuna by perpetuating, preserving and retelling stories in the designs of the clothing.

“We are pleased that Micah Kamohoali‘i chose Windward Mall for his first brick-and-mortar store,” said Cesar Topacio, vice president, senior general manager of Windward Mall. “As a Center that embraces locally owned businesses, we are grateful to be part of his story.”

From being a kumu hula to being featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair and Forbes Magazine, Micah Kamohoali‘i has made history in 2021 as the first Native Hawaiian designer to present on the New York Fashion Week Runway 7 Platform, putting traditional Hawaiian culture center stage.

“Kamehameha Schools is very pleased to have helped support ʻōiwi leaders like Micah through his journey from New York Fashion Week to opening his store on ʻāina Pauahi at Windward Mall,” said Gary Evora, Kamehameha Schools commercial real estate senior asset manager.

In May, Kamohoali‘i was invited to three European fashion weeks — London, Milan & Paris — from Sept. 17 through 30. Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i teamed up with the Waimea Hawaiian Homestead 501(c)3 nonprofit organization’s cultural division (WHHA) to embark on the Hawaiʻi Fashion Showcase European Tour, which includes cultural exchange tours, educational and historic visits retracing the footsteps of Hawaiʻi’s monarchy in these countries, and numerous presentations, all leading up to showcases on the world’s largest fashion stages in London, Milan, and Paris during one season, just days apart of each other. This tour will share the best of Hawaiian music, culture, arts, fashion, storytelling and hula through the most famous and iconic fashion capitals of the world. Dezigns by Kamohoali‘i will make history as the first Hawaiʻi brand to showcase on these official fashion runways. To support WHHA, please visit its GoFundMe.

For more information, please visit us at www.windwardmall.com or follow @WindwardMall on Facebook or Instagram for the latest updates.