{"id":223640,"date":"2025-10-14T11:27:28","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T21:27:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=223640"},"modified":"2025-10-16T15:11:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T01:11:36","slug":"da-palaka-girl-manoa-pop-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/10\/14\/da-palaka-girl-manoa-pop-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumna\u2019s \u2018Da Palaka Girl\u2019 small business hosts successful UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa pop-up"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"Riana
Da Palaka Girl co-owners Riana Kawamura and Evangeline Kawamura.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa fashion design and merchandising<\/a> alumna Riana Kawamura returned to her alma mater to host a highly anticipated pop-up for her business, Da Palaka Girl<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The small business, which she co-owns with her mother, Evangeline Kawamura, is known for their palaka-print tops and accessories.<\/p>\n

\"Line
Hundreds of people waited in line for the pop-up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I noticed a gap in the market\u2014most palaka clothing was designed for older women,” said Riana Kawamura. “I wanted to create more modern, cute styles for younger women.”<\/p>\n

Riana Kawamura\u2019s classes at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience<\/a> piqued her interest in the field of merchandising and taught her valuable skills that have come in handy as a business owner.<\/p>\n