Old Hawai'i dazzles at Holoku Ball

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Dawn Farm-Ramsey models her tutu's vintage holoku, custom-made circa 1920. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser The Holoku Ball 5:30 p.m. Saturday Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Monarch Room $80 ($30 tax-deductible) Reservations: Leatrice Kauahi, 535-2710

Luahiwa died in 2002 at age 102. "My tutu was a pack rat," says granddaughter Dawn Farm-Ramsey of Nu'uanu. "In her house we found a trunk of old clothes, many of which are treasured vintage mu'umu'u and holoku."

One of Tutu's holoku won the top prize at last year's Holoku Ball, earning Farm-Ramsey a Princess Ka'iulani mu'umu'u. It's made of what textile curator Ray Sasaki says is among the earliest rayons; the texture is comparable to silk. Unlike common gathers, the graceful neckline is fringed with hundreds of tiny pleats.

The Holoku Ball raises money for scholarships for Hawaiian students. Farm-Ramsey said education was her grandmother's top priority, because she had to drop out of St. Andrew's Priory after her father died and the family could no longer afford her tuition.

Whether you have a treasured holoku or favorite mu'umu'u, Farm-Ramsey and members of the Hawaiian Civic Club of Honolulu encourage you to join the fashion parade at this year's ball.

Reach Paula Rath at 525-5464 or prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.