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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, February 27, 2008

One-stop-shop for matching attire, party items

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Julie and Simba are wearing matching clothes from Hawaiian Moon, which has partnered with Paper Island to coordinate other party accessories.

Hawaiian Moon

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OPENING EVENT

Launch of Hawaiian Moon and Paper Island partnership

10 a.m.-noon Saturday

Paper Island, 555 N. King St., #105

Free and open to the public.

Information: 842-9100

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There's no predicting where a new business idea might come from. Case in point: At the Hawai'i Bridal Expo last January, Aaron Chan, owner of Hawaiian Moon, a manufacturer of aloha attire, happened to have a booth next to Delia Ulima of Paper Island, manufacturer of all sorts of paper goods. During a lull, they started talking about the business of weddings in Hawai'i. By the end of the weekend, they had a plan: To offer brides a matching suite of aloha wear and paper goods.

Now, just three months later, they are launching a partnership offering brides and grooms, wedding and event planners the opportunity to match a wedding gown, bridesmaid dress, invitation, tent card, party favors — and even attire for the pooches in attendance.

Or Mom and Dad can special order baby's birthday suit for the baby lu'au, to match Mom's mu'umu'u and Dad's aloha shirt that will also match balloons, invitations, goody bags and Fido's shirt.

It's an easy one-stop-shop for paper and cloth for any special event, from showers to reunions to weddings. Both businesses pride themselves on maintaining their manufacturing in Hawai'i.

Chan said Hawaiian Moon was started by his parents, Ban and Susanna Chan, 28 years ago, as a private label manufacturer of aloha wear. Now the company has two retail stores, in Ward Warehouse and on Waikiki Beach Walk. Chan introduced a wedding line five years ago, weaving the Hawaiian Moon aloha prints into a rayon jacquard suitable for unisex wedding attire. The company focuses on manufacturing its own line, but continues to cut and sew for Hilo designer Sig Zane.

Hawaiian Moon's clothing comes in women's sizes XS to 5XL; men's in XS to 6XL and children's in 4 months to 12 years and size 18. "We skip the MTV generation," he said. Probably wise. Can't quite see teens doing the matchy-matchy thing with Mom and Dad.

For pooches, find it in doggie sizes 2XS (4-8 lbs.), XS (9-13 lbs.), S (19-24 lbs.) or by special order for really large canines.

Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.