Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 4, 1 April 1996 — Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Report [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Report

Entrepreneur expresses cuiture tnrougn his business

by Pearl Leialoha Page One year after receiving his lowinterest business loan from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund, Wainwright Pī'ena says he has been able to afford the move of his t-shirt design and printing company. Now he ean perform all his activities under one roof. That not only increased productivity, it helped Pī'ena focus on the direction of his business. Pī'ena's company, Kāpala 'Ahu, meaning printed garment, fits in nicely at 46-167 Malina Plaee, behind Windward Nissan in Kāne'ohe. Before, he had to split his time between his mom's front porch where his design studio was set up and his t-shirt company's manufacturing facility and showroom. Now 3,000 square feet of warehouse space houses two airconditioned offices: one where his wife 'Iwalani and mom Nellie process the orders and collect the receivables; and the other a studio in a secluded loft where Pī'ena works on his designs. A tastefully decorated showroom; busy production plant and dark room for translating his

designs to silk screens fills out the space. Has business been good? "We're still here. Other people are closing their doors, so I guess we're doing okay," he says. Through word of mouth, Pī'ena's unique Hawaiian designs are mueh sought after by hālau, businesses, and Hawaiian events, to name a few. He enjoys combining ancient, abstract symbols such as those found in petroglyphs, tapa and Hawaiian implements with modern equivalents in such a way to link the past with the present. "There's a constant spiritual tie that binds us to our past and gives us continuity. The more we reach for the future, I feel the more we need to be grounded in our history," he explains. That same regard for Hawaiian spirituality pervades his business operations. "We had set goals and ideals we wanted to incorporate into the business, but if its meant to be it will eome about. We want to keep the culture alive not just through my designs but by living the essence of being Hawaiian." To Pī'ena that involves faith, prayer and being aware of favorable signs. Another theme close to his heart is the

idea of mālamalama ka 'āina. "To me Hawaiians respect nature and name their creations accordingly. Then the more they use what they've made and take care of it, they give a part of their own spirit to it. That's what gives it life and value," he explains. As that relates to the business, 42-year-old Pī'ena sees that his job was to give the business a suitable name and then to give it his attention and love, however the business is also shaped by the people who work there and other friends who become involved in its growth. Though Pī'ena's ideas are guided by spiritual principles, he and his staff have not neglected the practical. Pī'ena holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design, his wife holds a degree in Hawaiian studies and Leiann, his merchandiser, holds a degree in fashion merchandising. Pī'ena feels that this level of expertise has eontributed to his business' growth. "I see myself as the kahu or caretaker of Kāpala 'Ahu with input from all these people. And the result is that it has grown. I have a lot of orders and designs to do." Pī'ena reviews the journey he's been on since his days as a longshoreman, a member of Hōkūle'a's maiden voyage, his

- membership in the hula hālau Kukuna o Ka Lā, suffering a debilitating back injury. finding hcaling through lomilomi therapy. and committing to his designs beyond a mere hobby. "My business is not based on making money, but it's a vehicle for me to develop in the cūlture and to share and to educatc people about things Hawaiian and what it has to offer." ī- k k " V i " - P

Wainwright Pī'ena among his many designs. The backdrop is "Ka Wai O Kāne" (the water of Kāne) — the revival of an old design, a collaboration between Wainwright Pī'ena and John Ka'imikaua