Native Hawaiian-owned design and manufacturing companies aim to ʻuplift communityʻ

Oʻahu-born and raised Tanya Uyehara launched Lahaʻole Designs — meaning rare, choice, unique — in 2013 while on maternity leave with her fourth child, whom the business is named after.

“It started out as a hobby. I would make jewelry to kill time at baseball practice, and today, I still hand make jewelry,” she told Aloha State Daily.

As its namesake suggests, Lahaʻole Designs’ pieces are meaningful and highlight Native Hawaiian culture, Uyehara said, adding, “I used to beat myself up a lot because I don’t have a Hawaiian studies degree. But at the end of the day, I am Hawaiian, and I can share me and the things that I’ve learned.”

Her design inspiration — whether for jewelry, clothing or home décor — comes from Native Hawaiian plants and flowers like pōhuehue (beach morning glory), pīkake, puakenikeni and more.

She recalled seeing pōhuehue during a family beach day. “It’s gentle and delicate. It blooms in the morning and to protect its petals from the sun, it closes up.”

“For me, it’s about creating a connection for people from here or for visitors to our values of malama ʻāina and moʻolelo (storytelling),” Uyehara said. “Pīkake reminds me of my tutu and our naupaka print shares the story of my sister.”

These stories “add intention and purpose” to the brand, she said. “It’s not just cute stuff.”

Lahaʻole Designs currently occupies a storefront in Chinatown; however, Uyehara said she is looking for a “bigger and better space.”

“I still want to be in town, but somewhere more industrial,” she said. “We fought for this space’s visibility, but after three years our lease will expire."

Retailers across the Islands and Mainland also carry select products.

Lahaʻole Designs participated in Mana Up’s Cohort 2 in 2018, and earlier this year, its newer sister business, Kāholo Manufacturing Co., joined Purple Maiʻa’s FoundHer accelerator program.

According to Uyehara, Kāholo, a play on words meaning a hula step and a long sewing stitch, supports more than 10 local clothing stores by manufacturing 500 units or fewer at a time. The small factory has five staff members and was created to “uplift community,” she said.

“When we source materials, or anything really, it’s always Hawaiʻi first, USA first, then overseas if I have to. We’re trying to support our [gross domestic product] as much as possible,” she said. “We work with local suppliers for eco-friendly fabrics, and we maximize our cuts to create jewelry pouches, scrunchies, etc. Slow fashion is my goal.”

She said her current priority is to build her team and capacity. “I’m looking to hire locally, open more slots to manufacture, create more partnerships and find more work-life balance for myself.”

Uyehara added, “I want more fun. Making things is more fun for me.”

Lahaʻole Designs will release at least one to two more collections this year, she said, in addition to an exclusive drop with Hawaiian Airlines at Made in Hawaiʻi Festival mid-August. Earlier this month, new fabric was arriving and the team was planning a photo shoot around the “special, first-time item I designed," she said.

When asked what she enjoys most about living and working in Hawai’i, Uyehara said, “This is where I’m from. I’m raising my kids in culture, and I hope what I do encourages my kids to do more in the community.”

Her advice to other local small business owners? “Play hard and don’t give up. Ask for help, but let yourself try first. And fail forward.”

Made in Hawai‘i Festival is scheduled for Aug. 15 to 17 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Ticket sales for the general public begin Aug. 1.

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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.