New boutique Soleil opens Monday on Kapahulu Avenue.

Owner and buyer Summer Vaimaona, a 1999 Kamehameha School graduate and niece of Cha Thompson, felt limited with choosing either Western clothes or Hawaiian (mu'u) when she shopped, so she created Soleil.

"My inspiration in fashion has always come from being around beautiful Polynesian woman of all ages and sizes," said Vaimaona, "my mother, who was petite, and my aunties and cousins. Although some are full-figured women, they always dressed impeccably with subtle accents that made their style unique — a Tahitian belt, a purse from Samoa, or a hat from Tokelau. The women made the clothes, not vice versa."

Soleil carries lines from small boutique designers in Los Angeles, New York City and the South Pacific, as well as accessories from Tahiti, Samoa and throughout the Pacific.

On the racks you'll find Nicacelly, Super Lucky Cat, Cerbae Street Couture and Frenzii, among others. Soleil also features TAV, a line from Rarotonga, Cook Islands, which features block printed dresses, skirts and tops, and Hawai'i designers such as Ginger 13, Roberta Oaks and Wings Hawaii. Soleil also carries plus sizes for fuller-figured women.