Business Monday: Resilience, culture meet on the runway with Hoʻoilina Designs

Hoʻoilina Designs, led by Hawaiʻi Island visionary designer and psychologist Dr. Hannah Preston-Pita, took the runway by storm last month at the MAMo Wearable Arts Show.

The annual show, a signature event celebrating Indigenous artistry and cultural expression, brought together some of Hawaiʻi’s most talented designers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikīkī.

Representing Hawaiʻi Island, Hoʻoilina Designs showcased its latest collection, “Breaking Through,” which captivated audiences with its blend of cultural symbolism, contemporary fashion and powerful storytelling.

“The runway became a space of healing and empowerment,” Preston-Pita said. “Fashion is more than clothing. It’s a language of resilience, culture and transformation. I am humbled to have represented Hawaiʻi Island and to share pieces that honor both legacy and healing.”

The collection opened with striking black-and-white ensembles, representing the struggles and dualities of life, before erupting into vibrant bursts of color — a visual metaphor for resilience, healing and hope.

Preston-Pita, who also serves as the chief executive officer of the Big Island Substance Abuse Council, has found fashion to be her own therapy and has been able to heal through creativity.

“I have found that fashion and art aren’t necessarily what we think; they are a visual to what is within us and what you can expose,” she said. “Every piece I create, I ask the question, ‘What is it about this piece that will convey my story to others?'”

Growing up in Hauʻula on Oʻahu, Preston-Pita was shaped by the beauty of her surroundings and the diversity of Pacific Island fashion. That influence is woven into every design. She aims to honor tradition while embracing modern expression and is working to make Hoʻoilina more than a collection, but a movement of healing through self-expression.

Her process of designing pieces even reflects the message she wants heard: anyone can reframe their perspective and change their future, regardless of where they are or where they came from.

“I love to take old, vintage pieces, really any type of clothing people don’t want to use anymore, and I use them as a canvas or art piece,” Preston-Pita said. “Then, I redo the whole thing again and I give it life.”

As part of the 18th MAMo Wearable Art Show, Preston-Pita was able to shine a spotlight on Native Hawaiian identity and creativity through her pieces. The show celebrates cultural roots and innovation of Kanaka Maoli designers and artists, so Hoʻoilina showcased designs of bold Indigenous streetwear that honored ancestors while representing modern-day mana.

Each piece told a story of recovery, culture and creative strength in several different ways, including:

• Spoken word: Models walked with poetry in their steps, blending ʻōlelo, beats and bold threads.
• Cultural aesthetics: Kapa patterns, ʻai pono symbolism and modern cuts to create cultural evolution.
• Soundtrack of strength: Powerful ballads to Indigenous chants were used, so every step hit deep.

As Hoʻoilina Designs continues to evolve, Preston-Pita states that the brand remains committed to its mission of healing through culture, expression through fashion.