FEATURED DESIGNERS
A new generation of Pacific designers bringing culture, craftsmanship, identity, and contemporary fashion to the runway.
FEATURED DESIGNERS
ROCKET AHUNA
Rocket Ahuna is a Kanaka Maoli fashion designer from Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi, and a graduate of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, where he received the Critic Choice Award for his 2022 capstone collection.
Grounded in hula, Rocket learned to create garments and lei for performances, shaping his belief in fashion as a powerful form of cultural storytelling. His work blends contemporary design with Hawaiian language, history, mythology, and relationships with ʻāina.
After returning to Hawaiʻi, Rocket introduced Lau Kī, followed by the acclaimed KAIMANA collection, which reimagined Waikīkī’s cultural history through holokū, aloha wear, and surf-inspired references. His 2025 LIMAHULI collection honored the plants and moʻolelo of Hāʻena. Rocket’s growing profile also includes custom designs worn at the premiere of Apple TV+’s Chief of War.
Through each collection, he expands perceptions of Hawaiian fashion while honoring the culture and places that inspire his work.
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SAMSON LEE
Samson Lee is a Fijian fashion designer and founder of the luxury label Samson Lee Fiji. Raised in Nadi as the youngest of four children, Samson studied social work at Brigham Young University–Hawaii and worked in the field before following his passion for fashion. The loss of his sister to cancer became a pivotal moment that inspired him to pursue his creative ambitions and launch his label in 2015.
Known for bold, polished designs, Samson draws inspiration from traditional Fijian motifs, marine life, and the diverse cultural landscape of the Pacific. His label creates resort wear, bridal fashion, corporate attire, and custom garments designed to celebrate people of different shapes and sizes. Through his Suva boutique, international presentations, and the Wearing Fiji initiative, Samson also supports mentorship and knowledge exchange within Fiji’s design community. His work reflects resilience, inclusivity, and a deep commitment to elevating Pacific fashion.
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KINI ZAMORA
Kiniokahokuloa “Kini” Zamora is a Native Hawaiian fashion designer whose connection to sewing began at age 10 under the guidance of his Aunty Delilah. After graduating from high school in Honolulu, he studied Fashion Technology at Honolulu Community College before continuing his education at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology.
Kini gained national recognition as a finalist on Season 13 of Project Runway and Season 5 of Project Runway All Stars. Through his KINIZAMORA label, he creates expressive, high-fashion wearable art inspired by Hawaiʻi, its people, and the generational knowledge that shaped his creative journey.
Beyond designing, Kini remains active through workshops, speaking engagements, community events, and charitable initiatives. His work reflects a commitment to elevating Hawaiʻi’s fashion industry while sharing his creativity, culture, and aloha through every design.