Posted on: Friday, September 24, 2004

Determined to design

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Fashion is often a cutthroat business. Designers can be highly competitive and jealous, sometimes accusing each other of copying ideas or showing ho-hum, derivative collections. Their misbehaving ways puts the "cat" in "catwalk."

The 'ohana way of fashion: A group of HCC fashion students will help aspiring designer Kawika Ganitano, center, with a fund-raiser fashion show tomorrow. Marybeth Jenkins, left, is the casting director for the show, and Natasha McKenzie, right, will model. McKenzie is wearing an ensemble designed by Ganitano: a georgette skirt ($40) and halter top ($22). Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

'Ku'u Aloha,' a show of fashions by Kawika Ganitano Tomorrow 9 a.m.: Doors open, silent auction, light refreshments 10 a.m.: Fashion Show Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom Garments seen on the runway (sizes 6 and 8) will be for sale after the show. $25 at the door

In Hawai'i, however, a cadre of young designers is all about 'ohana.

Recent graduates and current students of the fashion technology program at Honolulu Community College are pooling their talents to help Kawika Ganitano of Makakilo, class of 2003, raise tuition money so he can attend the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. They are putting on a fashion show of his first collection tomorrow (see box, E3).

While all of the designs will be Ganitano's, his classmates and friends are helping him both on the runway and backstage:

• Marybeth Jenkins of 'Ewa Beach, class of 2003, is the casting director. She works as event coordinator at Sensually Yours, which also carries Sissy Designs, her line of bustiers and bras that feature feathers and beading. Her second job, at the Susan Page Modeling School, helps her find models for Ganitano.

• Ron Kayano of Manoa, just finishing up his last semester, is backstage director. As the father of an infant daughter, Kayano works as a plumber to pay the bills.

• Natasha McKenzie of 'Aiea is a model. Her day job is working at Demo in Pearlridge. In addition she waits tables in the evening at Panama Hattie's. She hopes to introduce a line of custom salsa-dancing clothes, as well as wedding and prom dresses.

• Tavia Perallon of Wahiawa, also a waitress at Panama Hattie's, will model for Ganitano. She plans to partner with McKenzie in the custom business.

• Genevieve Lehano of Mililani, class of 2002, will act as runway director. Her day job is with an interior design firm and she attends Brigham Young University.

• Current HCC fashion students Nathan Sagaysay, Jarvia Puha-Nichols, Sina Samuela and Kate Brown will help backstage as dressers for the models.

In keeping with the trends, Ganitano's collection is playful, fun and feminine. Fabrics are polyester/cotton Hawaiian prints, corduroy, chiffon and georgette.

Colors are bright and tropical: mango, peach, yellow, lime green and orange.

Silhouettes are fitted but not revealing. "Sexy is covered up but hintful," Ganitano said.

Joy Nagaue, who heads up the Fashion Technology Department at HCC, said the class of 2003 is, and always has been, especially close. "They took care of each other and celebrated one another's successes. They have always been a family away from family for each other."

One 'ohana member who will be at the show in spirit though not in person is Kini Zamora of Kapolei, who has just been accepted for the spring semester at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and is working two jobs to try to raise money for his own tuition.

He held a show last month at Kapolei Community Park in which his friends, including Jenkins, Ganitano and McKenzie, helped with all aspects of the production.

Still short of money and waiting for word about a scholarship, Zamora works at Sam's Club and Honolulu Flower Lady and will sell his fashions at craft fairs this fall.

When he arrives in New York, he will likely be joined at the Fashion Institute of Technology by HCC 2003 classmate Rosimar Velazquez, who just returned from a year in Spain where she furthered her fashion studies.

Although their sights are set on the East and West coasts, McKenzie voiced the desire of most of these young hopeful designers: "I'm just trying to find a way to stay in Hawai'i."

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