Manaola Yap was brought up in an artistic family. His mother is kumu hula Nani Lim-Yap and his uncle, Sonny Lim, is a renowned singer and musician, to name but two members of the talented North Kohala family. Manaola himself grew up studying hula and become proficient as a hula practitioner.<\/p>\n
During those formative years, he also learned the art and technique of costume creation and styling from his mother, and that piqued in him another interest: fashion. He soon began to wonder how to merge the two passions.<\/p>\n
Today, his fashion label, MANAOLA, is one of the shining stars of contemporary Hawaiian style. To broadly describe it, one might say it\u2019s \u201cback to the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
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That is to say, his designs are deeply rooted in ancient Hawaiian spirituality and the island chain\u2019s natural beauty. But the color palettes he uses and the patterns he creates are thoroughly modern. The cuts of some of his most elegant styles can easily be seen as futuristic. And it\u2019s this combination of a deep cultural past interwoven with contemporary tastes and futuristic thinking that gives his fashions a rare power. And makes him beloved in Hawai`i and beyond.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe foundation of the brand is from family experiences: music, hula, culture, generations of information and teachings taken to a creative space,\u201d he says. \u201cI got my fashion sense from my tutu and mother. Many of my patterns are from hula traditions, places, and storytelling.\u201d As a designer, Manaola says he starts with intention and purpose, translating the patterns he sees in nature.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith any Hawaiian motif, whether it be on kapa cloth, gourd design, or tattoos, Hawaiian design is similar. It is a series of repetitious patterns that are found in nature. One of the biggest things to recognize is that it\u2019s about the repetitious patterns … the ocean, the mountains, the foliage … it\u2019s about connecting to nature through art.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manaola calls those patterns \u2018sacred geometry.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cThese patterns go deep for me,\u201d he says. \u201cThat means things that have been passed down through our family spiritually. Every print story has purpose and intention. A big part of our Hawaiian-ness is our ability to tell stories, whether through an ancient chant or a hula. I tell stories through design.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond being lovely-to-wear pieces \u2014 though they are that also \u2014 Manaola\u2019s designs take inspiration from a higher, more reverent space. \u201cThe balancing of positive and negative space, light and dark, hard and soft \u2026 the balancing of opposites \u2026 the hum and vibration of the universe \u2026 we look at it at that level,\u201d he says. \u201cLife itself is a repetitious pattern, a continuum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Digging into the hum and vibration of the universe may be a lot to ask of a shirt or dress, but somehow for Manaola it\u2019s quite natural.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe designs work beyond themselves,\u201d he says. \u201cThe word \u2018Manaola\u2019 means \u2018life force\u2019 and the brand represents the ability to find our own destiny. When we started MANAOLA, we saw a huge need to revolutionize Hawaiian fashion. It was stuck in a missionary mindset. Manaola burst through with color and patterns and a mindset of: \u2018We need to change this.\u2019 We came in and pushed.\u201d<\/p>\n
The process he uses to usher a design from his head and heart to fabric is also steeped in tradition. Using an ancient Polynesian stamping technique called \u2018ohe k\u0101pala, Manaola hand-carves the design onto a piece of bamboo lath. It is then digitized and transferred onto the high-quality fabrics his company is known for.<\/p>\n
Once again, Manaola\u2019s back-to-the-future ethos is on display.<\/p>\n
His approach stretches beyond the present in one other significant way. \u201cWe are telling our stories,\u201d he says, \u201cto make sure our culture lives beyond this time and place. That\u2019s our job. To open the gateway for others.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrue Hawaiian experience cannot be bought,\u201d he concludes, \u201cit must be given. That\u2019s the spirit of aloha. The non-tangible giving of ourselves, and our stories is priceless. That\u2019s the beauty of our art.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Hawai`i Island may be know the world over for its gorgeous beaches, warm ocean waters, and majestic mountains, but its agricultural products are superstars in their own right. Think coffee beans and macadamia nuts for two quick examples. In fact, the rich volcanic soils are perfect for a wide variety of crops, from breadfruit and bananas to avocados and tomatoes.<\/p>\n
It is this freshly grown cornucopia of foods that Island Greens uses on its menu that allows the new eatery in the Food Court at Queens’ Marketplace to stand apart.<\/p>\n
“At Island Greens, we offer customizable salads, bowls, and wraps with an emphasis on locally grown produce,” says owner Keani Go, who opened the outlet with her husband Abraham in January. “To drink, we carry locally made kombucha, 100 percent Kona cold brew on tap, and cold-pressed juices from Liquid Life in Waimea. Add one of our healthy grab-and-go snacks to complete a balanced, delicious, and nourishing meal.”<\/p>\n
A popular menu item to try? The Kamuela Bowl ($16) consists of warm wild rice with Kona coffee-rubbed steak, avocado, cheddar cheese, fried onions, cilantro, sweet corn, local tomatoes, lime, sheredded carrot, and creamy chipotle lime dressing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3934,"template":"","edition":[141],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n