Style Spotlight: Hihimanu Top

HIHIMANU

Designer Manaola Yap shares the profound mana‘o behind one of his most popular womens styles, the Hihimanu Top.

“The hihimanu design was inspired its namesake, which translates to stingray. The reason why I was so blown away by these creates is because of how elegant they are in the water,” he explains. 

“In Hawaiian, when you say hihimanu, its another reference to a woman who is really beautiful, or carries herself really elegantly.” He shares the special place that sparked the design: “Kokoiki, Kohala, is known for hihimanu that actually leap out of the water, as a sign–an omen or ho‘ailona to us. When you see the hihimanu jump out of the water, it’s a blessing of the ancestors. There are a lot of stories in Kokoiki where families used to swim with them and feed them.”

Yap not only wanted to represent the hihimanu in an elegant shape that would flatter the figure of the wearer, but also used his design skills to literally showcase the elegance of the sea creature: “If you were to open your arm span wearing the top, it is cut in the shape of a hihimanu.”

‘ƌiwi Tv: Hula Kia’i Mauna

Merrie Monarch week brings artists from all over Hawaiʻi to share their beautiful creations. Hawaiʻi Island’s own Manaola, shared new fashions but also an aloha for home.

“For me, I find my inspiration from here, on Hawaiʻi Island because it’s my home.” says Manaola.

Manaola, as a hula practitioner, also draws inspiration for hula from this special place.

“So we thought it appropriate to perform. Our first opening piece that we did was pertaining to the mauna. Especially because of what’s going on right now with the “kĆ« kiaÊ»i mauna”
. Showing our support in a different way, although we can’t be on the mauna, we chose to do it in a way that we know how. And that’s through the hula.” says Manaola.

“Our hula is a way to stand and support the efforts. It’s a way to raise awareness about our beloved mountain.” says Nāmakana Davis-Lim.

Other hula practitioners in Hilo for Merrie Monarch made their way up to Maunakea to share this similar sense of aloha.

“Maunakea is the piko for our island of Hawaiʻi and we can all play a part in various ways to mālama aku.” says Nāmakana.

The original post can be seen here with video of the event.