I love aloha shirts. Like, really love them. I wear one almost every day. My love affair with aloha shirts began in Honolulu in the late 1980s, a time when color was as bold as the hair. In family photo albums, you’ll find pictures of me—under five years old—wearing tiny aloha shirts beside my grandmother in her fabulous muu’muus.

I wish I could say I knew back then that aloha shirts would become such a big part of my professional life—but I didn’t. It wasn’t until about ten years ago that I realized I wanted to do something with aloha attire. I just didn’t yet know what that would look like.

Size inclusivity quickly became central to my vision, along with creating timeless silhouettes that flatter a range of bodies. I’ve been a size medium, a 2XL, and everything in between. So I know firsthand how disheartening it can be to walk into shop after shop in Hawaiʻi—searching for aloha shirts or dresses in your size—only to be directed to the men’s section. It’s as if women above a size XL didn’t exist. I was tired of it. And I made a promise to myself that one day, even if I wasn’t over a size XL anymore, I would create aloha attire that embraced all sizes—at least up to a 3X. And it wouldn’t just be my grandmother’s muu’muu—though let’s be honest, a muu’muu can be fabulous too.

Four years ago, I officially began my journey to design size-inclusive aloha attire, and while some have doubted the idea, I’ve stayed rooted in my purpose. When I think of aloha attire, I think of my Hawaiian family—their diverse shapes, sizes, and spirits—and how Hawaiian culture, at its heart, is inclusive. Aloha attire should reflect that. It’s meant to welcome, not exclude.

That belief is at the heart of Makanalani and will guide me for as long as this journey continues.

Makanalani exists to redefine what aloha attire can be—beautiful, inclusive, and effortless for every woman. Through thoughtful design, inclusive sizing, and a deep respect for Hawaiian roots, this brand reflects the kind of aloha I grew up with: open, kind, and full of color.