08/10/2023 | 56m 46s | Video has closed captioning.
When Native Hawaiian fashion designer, Sharayah Chun-Lai receives an invitation from the world-renowned Runway 7 to showcase her brand, Ola Hou Designs, at the prestigious New York Fashion Week, she and her supportive family are tossed into a fast-paced world of planning, preparation and runway readiness to bring the spirit of the Big Island to the magic of the Big Apple.
Aired: 08/10/23
♪ -New York is the biggest stage in fashion.
So to be able to show that we can do it, we can do fashion, and to be there is an honor.
This is your guys' time to shine, to show what you got, to show what Ola Hou got, to show what Hawaii has.
I wouldn't be able to do it without everyone.
♪ -We're here to have a good time.
Let's go.
New York Fashion Week, let's do it.
♪ -These need to be steamed.
-Lost a glove!
[ Cheers and applause in distance ] [ Cheers and applause fade ] ♪ ♪ ♪ -[ Chuckles ] Yeah.
Just as I hit that point where I felt like I was about to give up, I get this call from New York Fashion Week.
They said, "We love the stories that you tell through your prints, and we would be honored to have you showcase your story on the runway."
And I didn't think it was real.
I was like, "Oh, my gosh, is this serious?"
-Native Hawaiian fashion designer will showcase her Aloha attire in New York City.
-She'll present her designs on the world's most prestigious fashion runway.
-This is every fashion designer's dream.
-She's taking along a team of native Hawaiian models and hula dancers to showcase her story.
And the eyes of the fashion design world will be watching.
-New York is the biggest stage in fashion, so to be able to show that we can do it, we can do fashion, and to be there is an honor.
One side of the dress that we have to sew together.
We'll roll out all the fabric on the table, place it, pin it, cut it all out.
And then this is where all the -- like, you know, the seams and stuff that we sew.
-We had no idea what to do, to tell you the truth.
We had no idea.
-We were floundering for a while.
[ Telephone ringing ] -Hello?
-They offer models, but she said, "No, I want to take models from Hawaii.
I want our local people to be able to have that exposure as well and get those opportunities, and I want to take entertainers and I want to take hula dancers and I want to take Hawaii to New York."
So here we go.
We've got to take 45 people.
♪ -Hi!
-Hi!
Oh!
-Alright!
[ Speaking in Hawaiian ] -Loeka is an amazing artist.
I love his music.
I sing to his music all the time.
And I think just having that on the stage with the models and interacting with them will just bring a whole nother element to the runway.
-Ready?
-Yeah.
-Yeah, I hope so.
-We are ready to rock.
-Okay.
-Ola Hou -- designs that showcase contemporary Hawaiian fashion.
-I like to them one more time.
Can you do it one more time?
When you're ready.
-Ola Hou in the Hawaiian language translates to "new life."
-That was cherry.
Perfect.
-[ Chuckles ] -It's going to be great.
Work on that today and put it with the music so it's all on that one track.
-Okay.
Okay.
Oh, I'm so excited.
-Mwah!
-Mwah!
To have this team of people that are coming along is so special.
I wouldn't be able to do it without everyone.
-Yeah, it's been a quick learning experience on all the little pieces of the puzzle.
♪ Alright.
We are here at my amazing seamstress's place.
She has a little studio to produce all of the inventory, all of the garments.
When I started my business a few years ago, all I knew was sourcing internationally.
Hi, Nicole.
How are you?
-Good!
-But as time went on, I was able to make relationships with seamstresses and different local manufacturers here in Hawaii.
I was looking through a book to find, like, people here on the island that could sew, like seamstresses.
-There's a lot of people that sew, but a lot of people are too scared.
Like, you have great abilities, but everybody's so scared.
-Maybe if you can do one that has the inside, then I can see which one would be... -Definitely.
So as you see, we can take it in another half inch on the bottom there.
-Anything that has pockets is amazing.
[ Laughs ] -Make sure it's perfect.
-Okay.
-So that I can start the full production?
-Yeah, I'll let you get to work.
-Awesome.
Thank you so much for coming by and trying everything out.
-Alright.
See you.
-Are we going to use that as our transitioning of coming on stage.
[ Indistinct conversation ] And one, two, three.
Not too many people get to feel it, so they get that feeling of what we have here in Hawaii.
Yeah.
Let's try from the top.
-♪ Close your eyes for a moment ♪ ♪ I'll take you to a special place ♪ ♪ In your mind... ♪ -Ooh!
[ Laughs ] I love it already!
Yes!
[ Laughter ] Just the three seconds.
Yes, I see it coming together!
[ Laughter ] -Two more verses to go.
Let's try it one more time from the top with that.
-You guys pick up on it so quickly.
-♪ People need to say this is my... ♪ ♪ Home means everything to me ♪ ♪ There's no other place the world I would rather be ♪ ♪ Look all around and see the beauty [indistinct] ♪ [ Indistinct ] -Yes, I love it.
Kumu Kimo has been my kumu at Kamehameha School since I was in sixth grade.
And he taught me chanting, hula, culture.
You know, he was a very inspirational person to me.
I knew I needed him involved in this and that, you know, it was done right.
-We're excited to see it all come together.
I think we're excited to see what will come after it as well.
And for not only Sharayah, but everybody.
-Take a break.
Take a break.
-[ Chuckles ] Your water.
♪ Ooh, pretty dress today.
Toothbrush.
All done.
Everybody's gonna love your new dresses.
-Growing up, Sharayah always played dress-up in all kinds of fashion.
-That's me, Uncle Dill, Grandma, and Auntie Tasha.
-Sharayah's very much like my mom.
My mom was very fashionable, and Sharayah loved that.
"Grandma, can I play with your skirt?
Can I?"
"Of course!"
You know, and they did a lot together.
-Used to look back at all of her pictures of what she used to look like when she was younger, and she just was so put together.
-She would say, "Go into my closet and choose whatever you want to play with."
And so I would go in and there's a specific skirt that I remember and I would wear all the time.
It was like a blue and white floral skirt.
I absolutely wanted to... to be like her.
I knew that fashion is something that I want to do for the rest of my life, but I didn't have the confidence in drawing and sketching.
And so when I found out that UH Manoa had a program in fashion design and merchandising, that is the step that I took.
And I was really nervous because I was like, "I don't know anything."
I was going into it blinded.
Alright, time for school.
Good morning.
A lot of students are coming from LA, from New York.
They've worked for different companies in the fashion industry, and I never had that here.
So looking at all of these, what would come next?
-Green!
-Yeah.
Good job.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was able to start thinking of the concept of what I wanted to do and how to start a business.
--So when she first put her foot down and said, "Hey, I want to just focus on fashion and start my own business, design," I was like, "Yeah, because this is what you went to school for.
This is your passion.
It's something you truly love."
And I was all for it.
I hope Emsley notices, like, no matter what, you just...you fight for what you want to do and you can ultimately end up, you know, having what you wish for.
-Today is the first rehearsal that majority of everybody will be here.
We have four of the Oahu models flying in.
We even have like the entire stage mapped out to like the exact dimensions.
So I feel like it'll be really helpful for the models to get a feel for the stage before getting to New York.
And even if we don't have, like, enough time to get on to the stage to rehearse or something, at least they have a perfect feel for it because we mapped out the entire stage with blue tape.
[ Chuckles ] But it looks -- it looks so great.
It's a really long runway.
And when you see it like that, it's super exciting.
Hi!
Nice to finally meet you guys.
Oh, I'm so excited.
How was your flight?
-Good.
-Good, good.
Yay.
Ola Hou Designs is more than what meets the eye.
The Kaho'kipanui Collection, which means "the grand welcome," is dedicated to my brother.
Hi, Dilly!
Oh!
I'm so excited to see you!
[ Laughs ] He was an unexpected gift to our family, but someone that needed to be in our family.
I haven't seen my brother in so long, so... Yay!
One day when I was in Hilo, we were in Keaukaha sitting on a beach, and all of a sudden these two big honus just came up on shore.
And it was just a moment of awe.
Like, this is the kind of presence that he brought into our family is that grand welcome.
-Dilly!
-Aww!
-[ Chuckles ] -Ahh!
-Look at you!
-Hello.
Hello!
Hi!
I missed you.
-Fashion gives that opportunity to honor my family, and that's what I want.
That's what I want people to feel in my designs.
So we kind of have it all staged out.
So our blue tape is the whole entire runway from back there to here.
How are you?
-Good.
Mom, do you think we need more chairs on the stage or anything, or, like...?
Set up.
-Tell me which ones you want.
Everybody is taking their kuleana and doing what they need to do to make it all come together.
-I take care of all the travel.
Mom and Dad take care of all, like, the books and the accounting and the sending out letters to all the sponsors and everything.
-We're up late till, you know, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 at night.
-Sometimes later.
-Sometimes later.
-And Dillon fills in where he can.
He's modeling, so he's going to be the face for -- for us out there.
-I need help, like, walking and posing.
-You have a cold.
-I know.
I do.
-Okay.
We've got to double check about that.
And then if this is all going to be... -I'm Sharayah's brother.
I'm going to be a model on New York Fashion Week.
So, yeah, pretty cool.
-Sounds good.
Yes, yes, yes, of course.
-I'm super glad that we get to be in person and the actual rehearsals with like, walking and the heels, just getting used to everybody and used to it is really awesome.
I'm really excited.
-Okay, so this is your first one.
-Ooh, beautiful.
Oh, my God, I love it.
-So it's very low cut, so it'll cut like down here.
-Fire.
So excited.
-And like, your dress, and then your other one...
There you go.
-Girl... -Hey, good morning.
Are you guys ready?
Alright, so if you guys can kind of gather in one area, I wanted to briefly reintroduce everyone because we have some of the models from Oahu that flew in this morning that weren't here last time.
And then we'll go from there.
So let's start with the first song, Dara.
♪ Okay.
Pose eight seconds.
Play with your coat.
Play with your coat.
Yes.
Okay.
So ready?
Go.
♪ -Are we posing here or just go?
-[ Indistinct ] Your look number 13.
[ Indistinct ] Go, Kilo.
♪ Yes, Kilo.
And go.
♪ Whoo!
Work it, girl.
-♪ I got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning ♪ [ Indistinct ] ♪ Locked my keys in my car, now I can't move very far ♪ ♪ [ Sizzling ] -I have to, like, think about it just because, yeah, because some of them I don't want it to, like, take away from the outfit.
-We're going to rent a -- rent a place, right?
-Yeah.
-Wait, are you doing it on Monday?
-Yeah, this is Monday.
-We get together, Tasha comes over, and it's, okay.
what are we working on?
You know, and then we make our lists, and then everybody is off and running and doing what we have to do to get things accomplished.
-So hopefully, we'll be able to rehearse on stage before our show starts at 7:00.
Take all the clothes, all your hair and makeup.
[ Birds chirping ] My family has been the biggest support through this whole thing.
You know, they all have their own jobs that they do, but they spend the day helping me.
You know, they were like, "We want you to focus on getting these runway looks, you know, the models."
And they've been a huge support in helping with getting all of, you know, the travel and hotel accommodations and just kind of keeping me sane.
♪ -It was a rocky... pretty rough start.
It was like a lot of late nights and struggling and uncertainty.
But she's been managing to find ways through it all and, you know, pick herself and fight through it all.
-When she's pregnant with Emsley, Sharayah started getting seizures, and they hooked her up on these brain caps and come to find out that Sharayah has a form of epilepsy.
♪ And so when she had asked our cousin to give Emsley her Hawaiian name, he came up with 'A'ali'ikumakani, meaning to stand strong no matter what adversities you have.
And so Sharayah's first print was the 'A'ali'i.
[ Conch blowing ] -We have some family here -- my grandmother, Uncle, Auntie -- -I'm a supermodel.
[ Laughter ] -I'm so honored to have my grandma here.
When I told her about New York, she said, "I am coming.
I'm alive for this and I'm going to be there to support you."
So I'm so honored to have her here.
[ Applause ] -They're going to wear all this?
-Yes.
-Oh, wow.
Wow.
-Oh, that's nice.
-But this is nice, too.
-Amazing how you do this thing.
The models.
-Thanks.
-Yeah.
[ Indistinct conversations ] -Oh, this will get a hood.
-I want people to see that you're wearing my story.
You're wearing my family.
You're wearing my culture.
That's what Ola Hou is.
[ Indistinct conversation ] -When my dad passed away, it was really, really hard.
-Our family saw rainbows all the time and he would shine through, and so my cousin helped me to write a poem to create a rainbow.
♪ -We wear his clothes.
We have pillows that we always have near to us, so we always have them with us.
That's the importance of our family.
And we always want to feel that we're connected.
♪ ♪ -Hi, Grandma.
-Oh, hi, Sharayah.
What you up to?
Where's baby then?
-Working.
Working.
-Still working, huh?
-Emsley's in school.
I was designing something for you.
-Oh, yeah?
-Yeah.
Just a print that will showcase you and represent you, you know, as my grandma.
-[indistinct] what you're going to bring up for me?
-[ Laughs ] What do you think would best represent?
-I don't know.
As a person, I'm shy.
Keeps to myself.
Yeah, I guess so.
That's it.
-Very homey.
You know that.
Yeah.
-Warm.
Don't go out.
[ Laughter ] -Very true.
-Stay close to home.
Uh, yeah.
Papa was out [indistinct].
-It's like a mix of tradition, you know, like a traditional style print, but, like, modernized and contemporary for New York Fashion Week.
So I'm excited to show you that once I -- once I can.
Yeah.
-Getting closer.
Getting closer.
-I know.
It's so exciting.
Lot of stuff.
Lot of stuff to do.
-Lot of stuff.
-But it's totally coming together, so I'm happy.
-Can't wait to go.
-[ Chuckles ] -The only thing I'm worried about is the 11 hours.
-Yeah, I know.
A long flight.
-[ Sighs ] -You heard that saying?
Don't let your clock tick.
-Yeah.
-Be happy.
Go out before your clock runs out.
Yep.
-Yep.
I love that.
-Yeah.
-That's amazing.
-Your clock runs out.
I'm still walking, so I can't... [ Laughs ] -Yeah.
-Might as well.
♪ -Last rehearsal.
Final rehearsal.
Are you guys excited?
-[ Singing in Hawaiian ] ♪ -Yes.
[ Indistinct ] ♪ -We pulled together as a family all our resources and stuff just to make sure that she succeeds.
And the part that I would say I would be nervous about is if everything doesn't come together the way it should.
I'm a perfectionist, and my sister is kind of too.
-Oh, no.
Ahh.
-Of course, naturally our family's like, "What are we going to do in order to make this happen?"
♪ ♪ -Let's go!
-Okay.
Where are we going?
-We gotta go to the hotel.
-Hotel?
Okay, to the hotel.
Let's go.
-Steady.
-We're gonna go to the whole city.
-To the whole city?
-Okay, let's go through the whole city, then.
-[ Indistinct ] -We have family meetings.
-Family meeting!
-So, is everybody excited for New York?
[ Laughs ] I can't wait to show you guys, and, Emsley, do you want to share it?
-Yes.
-Go.
-You got to say.
-You got to say it.
-I'm gonna be a big sister.
[ Cheers and applause ] -Congratulations!
-[ Laughs ] -So excited.
-Baby!
-Oh, my goodness.
-You're gonna be a big sister!
♪ ♪ -Today's the day.
We're finally leaving for New York.
♪ Oh, my goodness.
Come on.
Follow along.
Yeah?
You're handsome.
-What time is it?
What time is it?
♪ -Yes.
-[ Laughs ] -Bye, guys.
Have fun.
-Nine hours, seven minutes on the flight time.
Weather currently 21 degrees, mostly cloudy skies.
♪ -How are you feeling, Sharayah?
-Excited, nervous... all at the same time.
[ Chuckles ] -Sharayah always mentions that this New York Fashion Week is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
But for me, I always thought like, this is just an opportunity that is going to open more doors.
-Onward!
Emsley, watch how you don't get lost in the crowd.
-Because of the group size, we need to rent a bus to take them around to see New York.
Many have not been to New York yet.
Many have not seen snow, so that's going to be exciting.
-[ Singing indistinctly ] ♪ -[ Laughs ] ♪ -Oh, it's cold.
Oh, my legs.
♪ ♪ -[ Indistinct ] ♪ -I know everybody is so tired.
It was a crazy long day of traveling.
We just want to make sure we have everything correct, and then I'll let you guys rest up because we have a really busy photo shoot day tomorrow.
Okay.
So we're missing the jumpsuit trail.
-The jumpsuit.
Yeah.
-And then I also have green fern pants.
-Not everything was done in time, and so we'll work through it somehow.
We'll make sure we figure things out.
-Just note it down, and then we'll figure out what we're going to replace it with.
Okay?
Yeah, we can make that a dress.
-We're going to make it work, guys.
-If you're willing to bear the cold... -I'm willing to try.
-Just really quick.
-Anything I can do to help the Polynesian people get across the map, even just to the east side of the United States, more, that's a huge win for all of us.
♪ I realize I have a very unique look as far as modeling goes.
And so if we can help to establish a little more normal for Polynesians to be in this industry, I would like to help be a part of that journey.
-Lots of people watching, but it's all good, guys.
All good.
You look good.
Yes.
Oh, yes.
This one, she works the camera, yeah?
She's good.
Love it.
-Coming from a small island, I believe it's very, like...
It's outstanding.
And, like, I know she could have chose models from up here, but I'm so privileged to have gotten chosen from back home.
-And then, Dillon, you're next.
Tasha, can you do me a favor?
Can you grab me a coffee from one of these stores?
Dillon, go back and walk to him.
Do it again.
-Again?
-[ Indistinct ] Opposite ends.
Start back there where David is one line.
You guys are going to walk this way.
♪ Whoo!
How's that?
Good?
Yay!
That's a wrap, guys, on that one.
Good job.
Good job.
Is that cool?
♪ -[ Indistinct ] -[ Laughs ] Yes.
Today everybody's really good.
It's a really positive, upbeat mood to see those colors really pop in New York City.
Okay, let me know.
Okay, bye.
-Her show was actually supposed to be on Wednesday, February 9th, and they're moving it.
So we will be on February 10th.
And so I said, "Sharayah, you know why this happened?"
And she said, "Why, mom?"
And I said, "Because the 10th is Daito's birthday," and Daito is her grandfather that passed two years ago.
-Take it off.
-Sharayah.
-What?
It'll look better.
Yep.
Take it off.
-[ Laughs ] -Let me see.
I'm going to have Dillon with her.
Fix the hair.
Okay.
♪ -Actually, when he was in hospice, we kept seeing owls.
We would be driving home and they would fly right in front of us.
And in hospice they put a blanket on him that was owls.
And we just said, "Wow, what is this?"
You know?
Daito is going to become an owl or something.
You know, we kind of laughed about it, but it's true because we have a pueo that lives around our house and we will be sitting out on the patio and having dinner together as a family and he will fly by and we just say, "Hi, Daito, we know you're there."
So Sharayah's actually created a pueo design.
♪ ♪ -This is a sick one.
♪ -[ Singing in Hawaiian ] ♪ -Oh, okay.
Okay.
I don't need that.
What is this?
Is this just some...?
Oh, okay.
Hold on.
Okay.
Dillon, okay, models, can I get you guys' help?
If you can open the suitcases and put the clothes on the racks, that would be really helpful.
We'll get it done really quickly.
-They're all in the suitcases.
-Nani.
Nani.
[ Indistinct conversations ] -Everybody get theirs up?
-How did you get it, like, super good?
-[ Indistinct ] [ Indistinct conversations ] -Thank you.
-It's a walkthrough.
-Cheese.
Whoo!
-When it's show day, if you guys are not in your spot, that person who's there is going to go.
You're not going to be seen.
We have an order that we got to follow.
You guys not in this order, you're throwing everything off.
Remember what I said, yeah?
One person can mess up the whole show.
Okay?
And at that point, if you don't make it out, you're going to go back in that line and get ready for finale.
[ Conch blowing ] -[ Singing in Hawaiian ] ♪ ♪ -Being able to see them in the clothing and then having to make a few adjustments on some of them, it was like major adjustments.
We had to like cut the bottom of skirts to be able to add to the top to make sure that it was fitting correctly or it was placed on their bodies correctly.
Some were minor changes, just fitting their size.
And so I think the outfits are runway ready and I can't wait to show it.
-♪ Dance the night away ♪ ♪ Dance the night away ♪ -She's so good.
[ Applause ] -Yeah.
Yeah.
Way better.
Way better.
-♪ Would you like ♪ ♪ Would you like ♪ ♪ Would you like to come with me?
♪ ♪ Would you like ♪ ♪ Would you like ♪ -Today's the day before the show.
It's going to be a media blitz to have the models meet some of the world's top agencies.
-Mahalo for coming out for this media blitz, Ola Hou Designs.
[ Cheers and applause ] -This is for you, you know, from the Big Island.
-Oh, thank you so much.
Thank you.
-Oh, thank you.
-[ Indistinct ] -Not a lot of Hawaii people get this opportunity to come out and represent it, especially in the modeling business, because we're not really that big.
So, you know, it's... it's a good feeling.
-♪ Now that I'm on my own ♪ -She is wearing the [indistinct] print.
-This opportunity, you know, none of this is possible without her whole family.
They've really put everything into it, all their hearts and hard work.
And so seeing it in person for the first time, it was like, amazing.
And each piece of clothing has an own, like, unique story behind it.
[ Applause ] -Okay.
This one is the very last one.
So this one, you guys, I'm truly honored to be able to showcase.
This one is dedicated to my grandmother, who's sitting right up there.
Grandma, wave.
[ Cheers and applause ] She's my last -- my last grandmother, my last grandparent that is here on Earth.
And she told me, you know, when when I told her, "Grandma, we're going to New York," she said, "I'm coming," you know.
And she's, you know, to have her travel all this way to be here is so meaningful to me.
And so this is the Hawaiian quilt, actually.
And to be able to -- I mean, my grandma's always cold.
If you guys know her, she's always cold.
And so each quilt pattern represents our family and -- and who she taught us to be and how we grew as a family.
And so, Grandma, I love you.
Thank you for being here.
[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ So please help yourselves to drinks and hors d'oeuvres, [indistinct] and please mingle and talk and have a great time.
Mahalo, everybody.
[ Applause ] [ Indistinct conversation ] -[ Singing in Hawaiian ] ♪ -It's an industry that is very competitive.
But what I always tell myself is just to stay true to myself.
To be able to bring Hawaii to New York Fashion Week is an honor.
-Oh, that was good.
I enjoyed it very much.
It should be exciting when comes the real food.
Whew!
[ Siren chirps, car horn honks ] -[ Singing in Hawaiian ] ♪ ♪ ♪ -Is this Sony Hall?
Yeah.
-[ Laughs ] -In here?
Okay.
This is backstage.
Okay.
Oh, wow.
Hi.
Sorry.
Just -- Just checking it out back here.
[ Chuckles ] So then I would be like... like right here.
Go.
-Yeah, basically, this is pretty much it.
-Okay.
-And then they're gonna come out.
-Okay.
Oh, wow.
Yeah.
-Out of the way.
-Okay.
[ Indistinct conversations ] -So this is where you stop here.
So right here.
Boom.
Yeah, because right here is like, the gut's out.
-So, right here it's right on my face.
-Yeah, right in your face.
So right here.
Okay.
♪ -This actually that I'm wearing is one of her...
I think it's her second collection.
It's her...the gardenia print, the Kawehionapua, which is my Hawaiian name.
-Kawehionapua means the adornment of the flower.
And, you know, that is something that really, truly showcases her.
That was a fun one to do in honor of her.
-You guys are the first ones.
-Yes.
-So then that means they'll probably be the first ones there.
I know that Nicole is already there.
And then on Thursday night, the VIP room there will be open as well.
You guys can also hang out there because that will be open.
-My sister is really helpful.
And whether it just be sending out e-mails, whether it's just the littlest things, how supportive she is of me is the best thing I could ever ask for.
-It's craziness.
[ Laughs ] A lot of stress, but good stress because it's for something that is amazing and a vision that's going to come to fruition pretty soon.
-Still got to touch.
She's still got to take that extra step forward.
-Mm-hmm.
-You still take it to the second -- the second bump.
-'Cause of the light.
Yeah.
-Make sure that side is up.
-Now when you check in with them, they'll give you your steamers, your racks and all of that.
-Awesome.
-That is not the finished stage.
They're probably going to roll out that white thing that you saw because I wouldn't roll it out.
I wouldn't want it to get scuffed.
So the block's not gonna be there tomorrow.
It's just going to be a white sheet.
So you guys are going to have to know your distance.
-You feel like the stage is much narrower.
So just being able to make sure we work that good as well.
-They say we can work sound and lighting tomorrow's rehearsal right before our show.
It's been a lot.
No lie, it's been a lot.
But I love to do this kind of stuff, actually.
I love party planning, all event planning.
That's my thing.
I thrive in those kind of areas, so I love it and wouldn't even think for one second that we wouldn't be here helping her to try to make this all come together, so... -When the lights come down, you're going to see the area is going to be a little bit dark, but don't cut it back too short because that's less time for you guys.
So just watch your tempo when you guys are out there.
Here we go.
-Ola Hou!
-I can't believe it's actually today.
I'm really excited.
I couldn't sleep last night.
Actually, I had an amazing dream of the show, so that -- and it went really well.
So I'm hoping all is good.
♪ ♪ -Patchwork.
Patchwork.
♪ -It's just like a game day right here.
You got the final touches over here.
You got makeup going, hair, everything.
Feeling luxurious.
-[ Laughs ] Oh, my gosh.
-Everybody here?
-Yeah.
-Okay.
-Oh, it's hot now.
Whew.
Are you guys ready?
-Yes.
-I'm so excited.
This is all we have been working for.
This is your guys' time to shine, to show what you got, to show what Ola Hou got, to show what Hawaii has and our families.
And I'm so excited for this.
You said not to cry, so I'm not gonna cry, but just go out there and remember to breathe.
Remember the timing, remember how we rehearsed it, how we practiced it, and show the world Hawaii.
Are you ready, babe?
-Yeah.
-We're Ola Hou Designs.
-Okay, okay.
-Yes.
-And she's a model?
-Yes, she's with me.
[ Laughs ] Here.
-Are you guys also with...?
-Yes, everybody.
Mm-hmm.
♪ Watch out, babe.
Watch out, watch out.
-You're gonna have a good time.
Let's go, New York Fashion Week.
Let's do it.
♪ -Jairah.
♪ -Drink some water.
Are you good?
-Where's Emsley?
-With your mom.
-Keep moving!
Keep moving!
♪ -Want more?
[ Indistinct conversations ] ♪ -Lost a glove!
♪ -Okay.
♪ ♪ -How's the turtleneck?
♪ -Turn.
-Sorry.
♪ -You're out.
♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ -♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ [ Men singing in Hawaiian ] -[ Speaking in Hawaiian ] ♪ ♪ ♪ -♪ Close your eyes for a moment ♪ ♪ I will take you to a special place ♪ ♪ In your mind you can see it ♪ ♪ This is our paradise... ♪ -[ Singing in Hawaiian ] ♪ -Okay, get ready.
-Let's go, man.
♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ ♪ -♪ Are you ready for the good time, yeah?
♪ -Yes, sir.
♪ -Go!
-♪ Forget about your romance ♪ ♪ All I want to do is dance the night away ♪ ♪ ♪ I got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning ♪ ♪ Should have took it as a warning ♪ ♪ Locked my keys in my car ♪ ♪ Now I can't go very far ♪ ♪ My head starts spinning ♪ ♪ You see, what I need is something to change, my love ♪ ♪ Because I'm starting not to give a fly ♪ ♪ That's when I count on music to get me through the day ♪ ♪ Tonight will be better, I pray ♪ ♪ Are you ready for a good time, yeah?
♪ ♪ Got the feeling everything will turn out right ♪ ♪ So forget about your romance ♪ ♪ All I want to do is dance the night away ♪ ♪ ♪ Dance the night away ♪ ♪ Won't you dance with me, yeah?
♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ ♪ -Go.
♪ -[ Singing indistinctly ] ♪ ♪ [ Singing indistinctly ] ♪ I remember I was just a little boy ♪ ♪ ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ -To tell you the truth, it's been, you know, rough in the beginning.
She had to learn a lot of things as far as running a business.
Some hard lessons, sometimes losing money.
And two weeks before she got the call, she... sat down with me and she was in tears and she said, "Mom, I don't know what I'm doing.
I just don't know where to go with this."
But she was feeling very frustrated.
So having the faith that we do, we prayed and then had the amazing call from New York Fashion Week.
♪ For us as parents, to be there with her through all of it and to see how strong it's made her... you know, it's amazing.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ -So proud of my sister.
[ Chuckles ] I have to collect myself and I'm going to get emotional again.
[ Laughs ] ♪ [ Sniffles ] [ Voice breaking ] Just to have us to grow up together and be able to share this together...
It's something that an older sibling would love to have their younger sibling be successful in life, and not only through business, but in life itself, you know?
-Okay, everybody grab their stuff.
[ Indistinct conversations ] -Thank you so much.
-Thank you.
-I want to get you connected with our press.
Head of press, like a PR.
-Yes!
-You did such a -- just the collection, the story, the emotion.
You know what the most beautiful thing was?
To hear the people backstage encourage the people on stage, and that love and that -- -We're one big family.
-Yeah.
And, you know, people preach family, but you feel it here.
And I was just honored to be a part of it.
-I'm honored to meet you.
-...experience.
So before you leave, make sure you see me.
I'm Anthony, okay?
Just look for Anthony.
[ Indistinct ] -[ Indistinct ] I was right next to the press, and I'm just hearing some of the feedback they're seeing, things that they're seeing.
-Excited.
-Everybody loved it.
-Oh, I'm glad.
I couldn't see from... from the front -- or I didn't see anybody.
I was watching the screen.
-Just listening to everybody's conversation.
-Yeah?
Well, what were they saying?
-That it was different.
-Yeah?
-That it was pretty sick.
-Oh, that's amazing.
-They were wondering who designed my jacket.
[ Cheers and applause ] -Yes, I knew it!
-Good job, Sharayah!
-Yay!
Oh!
[ Crying ] ♪ My gosh.
Oh, my God.
My grandparents.
♪ My Daito, my grandma and my papa that are not here with us today, this was for them.
This is the reason I do this.
And to be able to represent them on that stage tonight is amazing.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ Laughter ] -Yeah!
-[ Indistinct ] -That's not as bad.
♪ [ Indistinct conversation ] -[ Indistinct ] ♪ -And get your ticket, get scanned.
[ Indistinct conversations ] -Oh!
-I've never heard of David Gretzky.
[ Laughter ] -♪ [Indistinct] glow upon your face ♪ ♪ ♪ A tea-leaf skirt around your waist ♪ ♪ Like being in dreamland ♪ ♪ On the white glow of sand ♪ ♪ ♪ The stars shining through the night ♪ ♪ ♪ Revealing a lovely sight ♪ ♪ You and me hand in hand ♪ ♪ On the white glow of sand ♪ ♪ ♪ The waves play your melody ♪ ♪ ♪ A song just for you and me ♪ ♪ Now we're dancing hand in hand ♪ ♪ On the white glow of said ♪ ♪ -So, this is my new storefront, getting it ready to be able to have our grand opening pretty soon.
Over here, I'm going to add the window displays and then the wallpaper, which is the Anthurium print that we just came out with, this was fun to put up something, you know, exciting for people to walk in and see.
Again, another statement piece, just to really bring the room together or tie the room together, the prints, the colors and what Ola Hou is all about.
Dressing rooms back here.
-[ Singing in Hawaiian ] ♪ ♪ ♪ -♪ Close your eyes for a moment ♪ ♪ I will take you to a special place ♪ ♪ In your mind you will see it ♪ ♪ This is our paradise ♪ ♪ You see the palm trees sway ♪ ♪ Feel the ocean spray ♪ ♪ Not too many people get to feel that ♪ ♪ People started every day is a holiday ♪ ♪ Not too many people get to say ♪ ♪ This is my home ♪ ♪ Means everything to me ♪ ♪ There's no other place in the world I would rather be ♪ ♪ Look all around and see the beautiful scenery ♪ ♪ I'll take you, darling, to Hawaii ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
