‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Collection is now available for pre-order at
Hawaiian Airlines' webstore.
Aloha kākou!
We at FITTED are proud to showcase a new collection designed by FITTED co-founder Keola “Ola” Nakaʻahiki Rapozo in collaboration with Hawaiian Airlines. Please continue reading below and follow the links to more information regarding this amazing collection where the proceeds support the teachings of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi at Ke Kula ‘o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School.
Via Hawaiian Airlines:
In celebration of Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaii (Hawaiian Language Month), we partnered with local designer, Keola Nakaʻahiki Rapozo, co-founder of FITTED, in the creation of our recently released ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Collection through his Make®eady creative exploration. The design focused on "Ōhāhā" with a goal to encourage the normalization of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. To read more about its inspiration, visit https://shop.hawaiianairlines.com/pages/olelo-hawaii-collection.
This collection is currently available for purchase and proceeds will benefit Ke Kula 'o Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School to support and encourage the normalization of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Via Make®eady:
The design of Ōhāhā is grounded in hopes for a bright future ahead. The word Ōhāhā, meaning “flourishing, fully developed, plump, and healthy” represents a goal that we can strive for, and throughout Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian Language Month) that goal is that the use of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi will become normal, and commonplace in our lives. A comparison can be made to the kalo (taro), traditional staple of food of Hawaiʻi; and the designer draws inspiration from his own keiki. In order to instill in his keiki the value of the work it takes to grow and produce kalo, he begins by normalizing the availability of kalo in the household. This creates an inherent desire for kalo ōhāhā, healthy kalo. Then, he engages his keiki in the process of achieving healthy kalo: from huli (planting) to huki (harvesting). This huli to huki mentality runs parallel to the pīʻapā (Hawaiian Alphabet) which is represented in his design, as the pīʻapā share a similar foundational relationship to the normalization of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. They are building blocks for acheiving ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
The rolling koʻi design which resembles wana (sea urchin) represents Make®eady. Make®eady is a creative exercise where na‘au and process converge and the artists ideas may live to simply pa‘a space.
Proceeds from the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Collection will be donated to Ke Kula ʻo Samuel M. Kamakau Laboratory Public Charter School. Located in Oʻahu, Koʻolaupoko, Heʻeia, this charter school has an innovative passion to teach and share ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in traditional and digital ways such as their development of manomano.io, an online Hawaiian dictionary as well as a Hawaiian Language game which resembles Words with Friends called Lehulehu.
