This September marks a special milestone, Kaiona Swimwear is officially five years old! Since launching in 2020, our little ocean-inspired brand has grown into something beyond what we ever imagined, and we couldn’t have done it without you, our amazing community of bikini lovers, water women, ocean protectors, and sun seekers.
Looking Back: 5 Years of Kaiona
From the very beginning, our mission has been to create eco-friendly, active swimwear that stays put in the waves and reflects the beauty and culture of Hawai‘i. Along the way, we’ve been honored to celebrate some huge moments:
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✨ Teen Vogue Feature: Kaiona Swimwear and our founder, Kalena, were spotlighted as a Native Hawaiian owned swimwear brand to watch, a total pinch-me moment.
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📸 Sports Illustrated: Seeing a photo of our swimwear (especially our very first design ever, the Manta Surf Suit) in the iconic magazine was a dream come true.
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🌊 Hawai‘i Swim Show: We hit the runway for the very first time, sharing our designs with the fashion world.
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🏝 Markets & Pop-Ups: From Hawai‘i to California, we’ve loved meeting customers face-to-face and building connections. It's amazing to meet all of you in person!
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♻️ Beach Cleanups: Giving back to our oceans has always been at the heart of what we do, and organizing cleanups has been a highlight over the years. Sign up for our email list or follow us on Instagram to learn about our next event!
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🛍 Retail Partnerships: Kaiona Swimwear is now carried in select stores in Hawai‘i and California — making it easier than ever for you to shop and see our quality up close.
Each milestone has been a reminder that Kaiona Swimwear is more than just a brand, it’s a community.
What’s Next: Fall 2025 Surf Capsule Collection
As we celebrate five years, we’re also looking ahead. Coming this fall 2025, we’ll be launching our first-ever Surf Capsule Collection. Here’s a sneak peek:
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Exclusive Sunrise Shell Print — inspired by Hawai‘i’s rare and treasured shells, the butter yellow sunrise shell print is an exciting new addition.
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New Stay-Put Bikini Style — designed for comfort and security while surfing or swimming. The top features a thick elastic under bust and thick, secure, adjustable straps for a secure fit no matter what you're doing in the ocean.
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Two Cropped Rash Guards — sleek, functional, and perfect for all-day sessions. The cropped rash guards have 50+ UPF sun protection and are available in short sleeve and full sleeve options.
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Back Zipper Pockets — stash your keys, credit cards or cash and head straight to the ocean without worry. Both cropped rashies come with a small back zipper pocket.
We’re so excited to share this next chapter with you and to keep designing pieces that honor the ocean and support your adventures.
A Big Mahalo
To our customers, stockists, collaborators, ambassadors, friends, family, and everyone who has supported Kaiona Swimwear since 2020, mahalo nui loa. Every order, every kind message, every tag on Instagram has helped us reach this milestone.
Here’s to five years of ocean-inspired swimwear, and to many more waves ahead. 🌊💙
