Royal Ponoholo Kaipo'i Aloha Hoodie

Sig Zane - an 'ohana (family) affair

This hoodie is by Sig Zane Designs, a company founded by Sig Zane and his wife Nalani Kanaka'ole, in 1985 in Hilo on Hawai'i Island. 

The company seeks to share 'the values of the Hawaiian people through art, by honoring the plants of the the islands... and giving insight to other aspects of our lifestyle that will build upon the experience: all to express gratitude, appreciation, and compassion for allowing a life in this island environment along with the hosts of this culture.'

This design is collaboration between Sig, Nalani and their son Kuha’o, who also works for the company as a designer. The print celebrates travel, both ancient and modern. 

A hoodie for savvy traveller

The pattern is made up of three key motifs: stars by Kuha'o, schools of manta ray by Nalani and braided rope by Sig. Sig Zane explains their significance:

'Ponoholo, meaning the savvy traveller, bridges the concept of travel between the modern and the traditional. Uluhoku represents the galaxy. Migrations depended upon constellations to plot sailing routes, no matter the season. Kai a Lupe interprets the movement of ocean animals in large groups during seasonal transitions. Moving in great numbers provides protection and a physical and mental connection. Kamohoali’i is Pele’s eldest brother and the steersman for the family. He is represented as the kaula, the braided rope, the cohesiveness in family and in practice."

Travelling interisland

The print was originally created in 2011 for an exhibition and pop-up shop in Waikiki called ITO in which the Zane 'ohana explored the idea of 'interisland living'. ITO is the airport call sign for Hilo, Hawai'i. At the time Sig Zane explained:

'Hilo to Kaunakakai, between Lihu'e to Hana, or going to Lana'i and then to Honolulu, each unique locale offers its own stamp in your passport of memories. Traversing between islands are a distinct part of Hawaiian life as in the past and especially today.'

The pattern was printed on a limited range of shirts, and in keeping with the theme, on travel luggage.

Co-collecting in Hawai'i

This shirt was acquired by Te Papa during a co-collecting trip to Hawai'i in 2017 based around the aloha shirt, and associated designs. Te Papa worked with Noelle Kahanu, a cultural specialist from the University of Hawai‘i, to develop an aloha shirt collection that reflects the ways in which Hawaiian culture has been historically represented, and misrepresented, through the aloha shirt, and the ways in which contemporary native Hawaiian designers are utilising the aloha shirt to communicate indigenous cultural values.

Te Papa’s co-collecting programmes are guided by the principle of mana taonga – the sharing authority with stakeholder communities.