As part of the Prince Kuhio celebration on the South Shore this week, Honolulu designer Nake‘u Awai will present his work in a theatrical format that stretches beyond the predictable runway modeling that may be familiar to audiences. “My shows
As part of the Prince Kuhio celebration on the South Shore this week, Honolulu designer Nake‘u Awai will present his work in a theatrical format that stretches beyond the predictable runway modeling that may be familiar to audiences.
“My shows are vignettes — my models might play a teacher, a wall flower or a bride,” he said. “My designs are more adventure and cultural designs.”
Awai’s models will perform at 4:30 p.m. today at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa Seaview Terrace.
“My background is in theatre,” Awai said. “I prefer a room with stage lights and since this is during the day the Seaview Terrace will work well.”
After graduating from Kamehameha and receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, Awai spent 15-years living and working in New York, Europe, Reno and Hollywood performing in theater, television and casinos. For over 30-years he has been creating fashion and fashion shows.
“My background is in theatre so I like to use people not models,” he said. “I use people because they can concentrate on the character they are in better then a model.”
He described his shows as a musical revue where each show has a different theme.
“For this show I am doing things that are more sensuous,” he said. The show will open with the song “Bali Hai” with a couple complaining. They end up as tourists on their way to find their Hawaiian paradise.”
Outside of his studio in Honolulu, the largest collection of Awai’s designs is kept at Native Books Na Mea Hawai‘i, a business he co-founded. His designs have been carried in the Cook’s Discoveries store on Big Island — his first label being Khaki Wahine. More recently he has been incorporating the works of kapa maker Moana Eisele into his designs.
An afternoon presentation is how Awai prefers to show his work.
“I do lunches because women are with other women at lunch,” he said. “When women are together they’re out hunting. At night women come with their husbands who are rushing them to leave.”
Also part of the show will be music by Kaua‘i musicians Arnold Meister and Manulele Clarke.
For a complete schedule of events for the final weekend of the Prince Kuhio celebration, visit princekuhio.wetpaint.com
