Releasing exclusively this Saturday, June 20 at 11am HST.
Aloha kākou!
Every year, just before the height of summer, the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky. This year's Summer Solstice arrives this weekend marking the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. While many cultures celebrate the solstice as the beginning of summer, for Hawaiʻi, it also carried a deeper significance which is rooted in observation, ceremony, and the relationship between people, place, and the heavens.
Tomorrow's release draws inspiration from that connection.
At the center of this release is the island Mokumanamana (Necker Island), an island that is one of the most culturally significant islands in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Though small in size, it is home to one of the highest concentrations of ancient Hawaiian ceremonial sites in the archipelago. Archaeological research and Hawaiian traditions indicate that Mokumanamana served as an important ceremonial center, particularly around seasonal events such as the summer solstice.
The phrase "He Mana Ko Moku Manamana" can be understood as "There is power in Mokumanamana." Rather than describing physical strength, mana refers to spiritual power, authority, and the sacred energy that is cultivated through genealogy, ceremony, and one's relationship with the natural world. It is a reminder that true power is something that is earned, protected, and carried forward.
The POWER-UP Tee imagines that concept through a modern lens. Inspired by the visual language of classic video games, celestial diagrams, and island cartography, the graphics symbolize unlocking another level—not through shortcuts, but through knowledge, discipline, and connection to place. The "power-up" isn't simply about becoming stronger. It's about becoming more grounded.
Several details throughout the artwork pay tribute to Mokumanamana itself. The island outline sits beneath the setting sun, while the vertical text references Ke Alanui Polohiwa a Kāne, the sacred celestial pathway associated with Kāne and the movement of the sun. Scholars have noted that Mokumanamana occupies a unique place within this traditional astronomical landscape and that its ceremonial structures are closely connected to the observation of important solar events, including the solstices.
As Hawaiians carefully observed the changing position of the sun throughout the year, these seasonal transitions helped mark changes in ceremony and resource management. The summer solstice represented an important turning point in the traditional ritual calendar, separating the Makahiki season from the productive months of Kauwela.
Along with our POWER-UP Tees that will be available in Black and Ivy we're keeping it simple with our caps. Our KAMEHAMEHA 9FIFTY Snapback as well as our KAMEHAMEHA 9FORTY A-FRAME Snapback will be available in tonal Anthracite and Chrome. Added in the mix we have our SLAPSWIND 9FORTY A-FRAME Snapback in Chrome.
As the sun reaches its highest point this weekend, we hope this release serves as a reminder that growth isn't measured only by what we accomplish, but by how deeply we stay connected—to our culture, to our history, and to the places that continue to shape who we are.
