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100% Latino -owned & -operated
History
In 1794, Francisco
Marin -- a Spaniard
-- became the first
Hispanic resident of
Hawaii.  
Francisco Marin
planted the first
pineapple in the
kingdom of Hawaii
on January 2, 1813.
    By José Villa, Senior Editor
           HONOLULU, Hawaii – Fashion, or moda, as we say in Spanish, is something more than just a pretty concept. Depending on what
    our desires are, it is more of a language, an art, a ritual and a necessity. We can all be fashionable with the right tools, right guidance,
    without spending tons of money and without feeling stressed-out. Brand names don’t make the person and for sure don’t define
    fashion…they just enhance it.
    Gucci, LV, Prada, Dolce & Gabana, Fendi, Ferrari, Lacoste, Polo, and Armani were some of the brands I followed on my recent four-
    week trip to Europe. I went to Milan, Italy, Europe’s fashion capital. I also went to  Budapest, Hungary;Villach, Austria; Pula, Croatia; and
    Ljublijana, Slovenia.

    Italy in the summer is like Hawaii, and many other countries in Latin
    America, that thrive in the essence of color. It is an important fashion tool.
    That is why I begin by telling my readers that “lucky we live Hawaii.” We can
    use color as a tool to look fashionable. And we can use it year round! Thank
    God!
    As a Colombian fashionista, since I was a kid back in Cali, I have always
    been driven by color. It defines moods, times, situations and much more. So,
    start putting some color in those wardrobes. It will take you far. You will stand
    out and look great!
    Based on my experience and knowledge, acquired through the years,
    fashion has a certain set of key elements somewhat comparable to a local
    buffet line. Most of them are based on some combination of these
    ingredients: beef, pork, chicken, and fish; and a diverse variety of vegetables
    and fruits. These basic ingredients can be of a higher or lesser quality, but
    they essentially serve the same function. Using these core elements, chefs
    and cooks can create an infinite variety of dishes or looks that distinguish
    their line from a competitor’s.
    To me, fashion can be viewed using this same “buffet line” analogy. Each person can create a look based on some combination of the
    same basic ingredients. These may be of a higher or lesser quality, but they essentially serve the same function. Using our individual
    ingenuity and creativity, each of us can play with the basic ingredients without spending tons of money or buying brands. That is unless
    you like to, can afford it or take pride in the “label thing.”   
    Having said all this, these are the following items needed to look great, to look fashionable all the time and, most of all, to define you as
    the person you are or want to be. The keys to fashion from an expert are in my eyes: color, style, essence, elegance, pride, character
    and balance.
    This month we will begin with color. By color I mean lots of it or none of it. Color gives us elegance and essence. It defines us. Use
    color without limitations.  Brighten your life with color; give your daily life color. Use color as your way to express success, happiness,
    pride, sadness, character and it should be done without limitations.  
    The Italians love color, and so do I, so I am advising my readers to add color to your everyday clothes. If you wear a blue skirt, go with a
    yellow blouse or a purple blouse. Same goes for the men. Guys can also do colors. For example a pair of jeans with a green or yellow
    shirt. Or a pair of khaki pants with any kind of shirt of any color.  
    Enjoy the fall season everyone. Laugh it up with color, and most of all, enjoy color. A little color goes a long way.  
    The colors I suggest for this fall season, which will make you stand out in the crowd, are anything within the purple and orange families.
    Those two are my selections from what I gathered in Milan this past summer.
    If you need detailed guidance, you can email your questions and concerns to me at: waikikilatino@yahoo.com. I will answer as many as
    I can.  And as we say in Italy…Ciao!!
Median Income          
                    $67,000

Own home:        45%

Own 1 or more
vehicles:            92%

Commute to work:    
                          82%
Hawaii Hispanic
Community
Statistics:
Latino fashionista returns to Hawaii with the latest colors from Europe!
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