Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 28, Number 2, 1 February 2011 — Fitted-Hawaiʻo creates products with a message [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Fitted-Hawaiʻo creates products with a

message

By Zach Villanueva

II A loha Served Daily." Lor * * / \ Native Hawaiian entrepreneur Keola Rapozo, /^^^ aloha not only serves / \as the tagline for his business, it's also the foundation that fuels his business. In the six years since establishing his store, Litted Hawai'i, the company has created a wildly popular line of hats, T-shirts and accessories. Rapozo had always known that he wanted to be in the fashion industry and eventually open up his own clothing store. "We wanted to build a brand that breathed Hawai'i, the real Hawai'i that we grew up knowing," he said.

Rapozo received a much-needed jump start from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs

through its Mālama Loan, whieh is k designed for ■ business, educaA tion and home

mprovement. R a p o z o approached \ OHA for ■J help with ' his business on the advice of his

mom, who has since passed away. With the Mālama

Loan, Rapozo was able to free up capital, pay bills on time and expand Litted's product base. Throughout the process of getting the loan, he also received hnaneial mentorship, whieh has taught him how to keep Litted a more organized and goal-oriented business. "Without the Mālama Loan, we'd probably be out of business," Rapozo said on PacificNetwork.tv. Rapozo also received a second Mālama Loan, in 2009, to help him start a store online. The $25,000 loan helped himdesign the web site, among other things. Lrom the wrongful imprisonment of Queen Lili'uokalani to today's dense metropolitan areas and the untouched countryside of Hawai'i, Litted Hawai'i's hats and T-shirts are inspired in some way by Hawaiian history. Asked what inspired him the most, Rapozo explained that inspiration has eome from "Our people, our culture and our history. Everything about Hawai'i, the good and the bad." Ninety-eight percent of Litted products are designed locally here in Hawai'i. In the future, Rapozo hopes to open more stores and offer a full lifestyle brand, featuring towels, linen, candles, wallets, key chains, slippers, hats and tees. He also sees Litted reaching out internationally to the world. But until then he and his team at Litted will eontinue to serve aloha daily. ■

Keola Rapozo aftributes his store's success to 0HA's support. "Without the Mālama Loan, we'd probably be out of business," he said. - Photos: laeh Villanueva