Photography by Nani Welch Keli‘iho‘omalu
Designed by Rocket Ahuna
Styled by Puna Joon
Produced by Aja Toscano
Hair and Makeup by Risa Hoshino
Hair and Makeup Assistance by Jayel Saito
Among the storied peaks and lush scenery of Limahuli Garden and Preserve in Hā‘ena, Kaua‘i, designer Rocket Ahuna unveiled his most personal project to date: Limahuli, a collection for spring/summer 2025 inspired by the pastoral landscapes of his childhood and an ode to his home island of Kaua‘i.
The collection featured looks such as a tailored palaka suit, a neon orange mu‘u draped over foliage-print camouflage pants, and a lau hala-inspired woven silk bodice. It was a mix of rugged island aesthetics and graceful demi-couture pieces peppered with Easter eggs from Ahuna’s Native Hawaiian heritage—an emerging signature of the designer’s fledgling brand. “The Rocket Ahuna garment will give you kaona (hidden meanings),” Ahuna says. “It will give you layers.”
As his sophomore ready-to-wear collection, Limahuli was a means for the designer to expand his repertoire while staying true to his vision for a Hawaiian-led brand. “I’m learning how to create more of a range for myself,” Ahuna says. “This is a continuation of my admiration for the place that I’ve grown up with, but now I’m curious to adapt these ideas into something more for the rest of the world.”
