Free exhibits showcase iconic Hawaii fashion
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Honolulu is shining a spotlight on muʻumuʻu by putting on free month-long exhibits at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale.
The Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts partnered with vintage craft shop DeStash to put together two special exhibits in January, which is Muʻumuʻu Month.
The City of Honolulu is honoring Hawaii fashion with two special exhibits in January, which is mu'umu'u month.
The exhibits feature curated looks from Aunty Lei Batty’s personal collection, including legendary designs by Bete Muʻumuʻu.
“Muʻumuʻu bring people together through memory, culture, and community,” Aunty Lei Batty said. “This exhibit is about honoring the beauty of our past while celebrating how these styles continue to live, grow, and inspire today.”
The exhibits also feature brands Nakeʻu Awai, Reyn Spooner, and Liberty House.
The community is invited, but not required, to dress for the occasion by wearing muʻumuʻu.
The Muʻumuʻu Month Exhibit opening was held at Honolulu Hale Monday afternoon.
“The muʻumuʻu is more than a garment; it is a symbol of Hawaii’s history, adaptability, and enduring cultural identity,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “By celebrating Muʻumuʻu Month, we honor the women, designers, and communities who continue to keep this vibrant tradition alive and meaningful for future generations.”
Exhibits will remain open throughout January and are free and open to the public.
Student-curated vintage muʻumuʻu display
Waipahu High School students teamed up with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Fashion Design and Merchandising program to curate a special exhibition of vintage muʻumuʻu.
Nearly 30 Waipahu High School students helped create a special exhibition of vintage muʻumuʻu now on display at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
The collaboration was done in partnership with UH Mānoa’s Fashion Design and Merchandising program.
While curating the exhibit, the teens also got to learn about digital clothing design and potential careers in the fashion industry.
Andy Reilly, UH Mānoa Fashion Design and Merchandising professor, said, “I want students to understand how clothing impacts their lives. Clothing represents who they are. Their identity, their culture and their history. And I want them to start to think about how their use of clothing can benefit others or tell a story about themselves.”
Alice Iraha, Waipahu High School fine arts teacher, said, “I want to expose them to the history of our state and our fashion here in Hawaiʻi. When you live here, it’s good to know the culture of the people and where they came from.”
You can check out the display at UH Mānoa’s Miller Hall all through January.
Muʻumuʻu Month began in 2014 when Kauaʻi designer Shannon Hiramoto challenged herself to wear a different vintage muʻumuʻu every day in January.
