Sustainable Fashion & Wearables

Honor the sacred kiʻi (carved images) that stand as divine guardians at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau with this powerful design. Made from 100% sustainable reclaimed waste cotton in a vibrant lehua red colorway with Matsui ECO Series white water-based screenprint.

pattern: He kiʻi hawaiʻi ka mea akua nō - A Hawaiian Image is a Divine One

fit: loose, boxy, regular

ink: white water-based ink

model: 5ʻ7”, 160lbs, wearing a size M

This meaningful design celebrates the sacred kiʻi named Kiʻei and Hālō—cloud form kinolau (physical manifestations) of the akua Kāne and Kanaloa—inviting us to look deeper and recognize the sacred in what has been trivialized.

The lehua red colorway honors the sacred lehua blossom of the ʻōhiʻa tree, beloved by Pele and deeply connected to Hawaiian ʻāina. This vibrant red echoes the life force and mana carried by these sacred kiʻi guardians.

Key Features:

• Made from 100% reclaimed waste cotton (Trash Tee Collection)

• Screen printed with water-based ink in white

• Regular fit, unisex sizing

• Lehua red colorway with white ink

• Hand-inspected for quality

• Designed and printed in San Francisco Bay Area

Cultural Significance - Sacred Guardians of Puʻuhonua:

The "He kiʻi hawaiʻi ka mea akua nō" trash tee honors the sacred kiʻi (carved images) that stand as guardians outside Hale o Keawe at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau on Hawaiʻi Island. These powerful figures are named after the cloud form kinolau (physical manifestations) of the akua Kāne and Kanaloa—Kiʻei and Hālō—whose names carry deep kaona (hidden meaning).

The Hawaiian phrase "He kiʻi hawaiʻi ka mea akua nō" is screenprinted on the front of this tee alongside the two kiʻi, while an English translation "A Hawaiian Image is a divine one" appears on the reverse just below the back of the neck. This design carries an important message: kiʻi are sacred, godly objects created by oceanic peoples and should be held in reverence—not reduced to party themes or bar décor, with their divine vessels misused as drinking cups.

This tee invites us to look deeper, to peer beyond surface-level appropriation and reveal the truth in things. The names Kiʻei and Hālō themselves offer another layer of kaona—both can be translated as "to peer," "to gaze out," "to look through," and "to watch." In wearing this design, you carry a call to reorient how we see and honor Hawaiian culture, encouraging others to recognize the sacred in what has been trivialized.

The lehua red colorway carries additional cultural significance, honoring the sacred lehua blossom of the ʻōhiʻa tree. In Hawaiian tradition, the lehua is beloved by Pele, goddess of volcanoes, and represents the deep connection between akua, ʻāina, and lāhui. This vibrant red echoes the life force, passion, and spiritual mana embodied by the kiʻi guardians of Puʻuhonua.