Pai'ea Projects

Rise to the challenge, Cowboys! Paiea Projects is rooting for the to bring the title back to Moku O Keawe.

Aloha lā hānau e Paoa!
Born August 24, 1890 (8/24) in Honolulu, Paoa was the hiapo (eldest) of nine children. His mother, Julia Pa‘akonia Lonokahikina Paoa, and father, Duke Halapu Kahanamoku, both had close ties to the family of  Pai‘ea (King Kamehameha The Great). His father was named by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop – the founder of the Kamehameha Schools – in honor of the arrival of England’s Duke of Edinburgh in 1869. Hence, the hiapo of ‘Ohana Kahanamoku – who we know as “Duke” or “The Duke” – was lovingly called “Paoa” by his family.
 
We pour out some kamapane (champagne) to the legacy of this moho (champion) with the Waikīkī Paoa Collection:

🧢FITTED + Paiea Projects Aloha 9FIFTY Snapback
🧢FITTED + Paiea Projects Kamehameha 9FIFTY Snapback
🏀FITTED + Paiea Projects Paoa Jersey
🌊FITTED + Paiea Projects Paoa Pelagic Aquatek HFS

The Fitted + Paiea Projects Paoa Jersey (Black) features an ‘Ōlino ‘Ele‘ele print. ‘Ōlino is the word nā kupuna (the ancestors) used to describe the “bright, brilliant, dazzling, gleaming; brightness, glare” that the sun creates when it shines through the water and creates a glare on the bottom of the ocean. ‘Ele‘ele is “black” in Hawaiian as this basketball jersey draws inspiration from the late Black Mamba whose numbers were “8” and “24” and who was also a champion like Paoa.

The numbers on the tag of The Fitted + Paiea Projects Paoa Jersey – 12, 20, 24 – commemorate the years Paoa won medals at the Olympics.

In 1917 – in the prime of his swimming career – Paoa famously rode a legendary mile-long, big Waikīkī wave from Kalehuawehe (Castle’s) to Kapuni (Canoe’s).

We celebrate Paoa’s legendary ride at Kalehuawehe with an ‘Ōlelo Noeau on the Fitted + Paiea Projects Paoa Jersey tag:

Ka Nalu Ha‘i O Kalehuawehe
(The rolling surf of Kalehuawehe)

Today, the hydro foiling community calls linking swells downwind from The Elk’s Club to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, “The Duke Run.” These waveriders retrace Paoa‘s famous mile-long ride from Kalehuawehe, honoring his memory on modern equipment.

🤙🏾Dropping Sat. 8/24 at 11am HST

The Waikahalulu Kou Collection with honors the traditional Hawaiian name of the Honolulu Chinatown area, featuring a basketball jersey inspired by the banned Cream City jersey of the Milwaukee Bucks, and a basketball shorts featuring Uncle Sig's artwork of the Waikahalulu streets. The #8 pays tribute to the Chinese influence in the area, representing good luck in Pākē culture.

Available today at 10am on paieaprojects.com

When we were designing the Waikahalulu Kou jersey with Kūha’o wanted the number 8 on it because ‘ewalu is lucky in Pake culture. The main reason has to do with the pronunciation of the word for the number 8 in China. It is pronounced "ba" and sounds like the word for prosperity which is pronounced "fa.” Another reason why the number 8 could be considered lucky is because it is a perfect symmetrical shape similar to the Pai’ea Projects logo. The number 8 seems fitting for a jersey that pays tribute to Chinatown and the area’s Inoa Hawai’i.

Select sizes of the Puʻukoholā 2.0 Basketball Jersey and Shorts still available at our online store. Link in bio.

Text the homies and let them know the Pu’ukoholā 2.0 collection drops at 11 a.m. HST today at Fitted, fitted.com and paieaprojects.com 📲

In 1791, construction of Pu‘ukholā heiau in Kawaihae on Hawai‘i Island was completed. We chose #91 for the Pu‘ukoholā 2.0 collection jersey to commemorate this momentous achievement in history. Thousands of people were said to have formed a human chain, carrying stones from Pololū Valley to . No one was exempt from the labor, from high chiefs down to the commoners. directed all of his ali‘i to work on the construction of . The only sacred chief who was instructed not to lift a rock for the was Pai‘eaʻs younger brother, Keli‘imaika‘i, who had the of preserving the kapu of Kūkai‘ilimoku and Pu‘ukoholā.

The Pu’ukoholā 2.0 collection features the Stones That Built t-shirt designed by Founder . Available this Saturday at 11am HST at Fitted, Fitted.com and PaieaProjects.com.

Pu‘ukoholā was a of the po‘o kanaka class at which human sacrifices were made to consecrate it for the god that it was built for. This was of the first class, just like the heiau built by Pā‘ao: Mo‘okini at Kohala and Waha‘ula at Puna. The Pu‘ukoholā 2.0 collection features a Black Neoprene New Era 5-Panel Camper, a Fitted Kamehameha of the first class pāpale for your po‘o available on Saturday, March 26 at 11 am HST at Fitted, Fitted.com and PaieaProjects.com.

When we watched episode three of the “Last Dance” we knew that it was a hoailona for Pu’ukoholā 2.0 collection. Available on Saturday, March, 26 at Fitted, Fitted.com and PaieaProjects.com at 11 am HST.