Rooted on the Runway — Rocket Ahuna’s LIMAHULI collection

This stunning design honors the famed ʻōahi ceremony of Limahuli Valley, when firebrands made from pāpala wood were cast from the summit of Mount Makana, carried by the wind for miles out to sea. Pāpala, an endemic Hawaiian tree in the Amaranth family, grows naturally in the valley and has long been cultivated for this tradition. Its long, lightweight branches are perfect for catching the wind — and catching fire. The silhouette and movement of Rocket’s design channel the drama of those flaming pāpala firebrands streaking across the sky. And those brilliant hues? The vibrant yellow is from ʻōlena (turmeric), a Canoe Plant brought by Polynesian ancestors, and deep sienna from ʻalaea, Hawaiian red salt.

“Words will never fully capture what this dress represents. I feel as if I’ve been touched by the embers of Makana, carrying their warmth and love with me always. This collection, and the place it honors, will forever hold a special place in my heart.” — Rocket Ahuna

This show-stopping wedding dress draws inspiration from the hinano — the male flower of the hala tree. Rocket shares, “Known for its subtle, captivating fragrance and symbolic ties to masculinity, the hinano represents balance and resilience in Hawaiian culture, often celebrated in mele and poetry.” The dress’s bodice evokes the intricate patterns of ulana lauhala, the art of weaving hala leaves — a nod to both craftsmanship and cultural memory. Hala is a beloved plant throughout Polynesia, with deep ancestral ties. It is both indigenous to Hawaiʻi, having arrived on its own, and a “Canoe Plant,” intentionally carried by Polynesian voyagers. Its leaves once formed the sails of the canoes that crossed vast oceans. In this way, hala is both voyager and vessel — a plant that travels and empowers others to journey.

This dress’s stunning print—designed by Rocket—is a forested celebration of Limahuli’s biodiverse plant life. Reminiscent of camouflage, with this design one could likely blend into the grottos of peahi ferns, ʻekaha ferns, māmaki, kukui, kalo and other plants of the valley. Peʻahi, a rare endemic fern with a light fragrance, is deeply woven into the identity of Hāʻena. The saying “ka peʻahi ʻala o Hāʻena” or “the sweet peʻahi of Hāʻena” references the hospitality and warmth of people from Hāʻena.

This striking design features a Rocket original print celebrating Hawaiʻi’s endemic hibiscuses — including rare and storied blooms tied intimately to Limahuli. Among them is kokiʻo ʻalani (Hibiscus kokio subsp. saintjohnianus), with its brilliant orange petals, found primarily along the rugged cliffs of Nā Pali. Also present: the luminous kokiʻo keʻokeʻo (Hibiscus waimeae subsp. hannerae), an endangered white hibiscus that grows naturally in Limahuli Valley — and one that our Garden has worked to conserve and protect.

This design features a life-size photo print of a handwoven maile lei — gathered and crafted by Rocket and his ʻohana. The lei itself was lovingly made, then photographed and transformed into fabric, allowing it to be worn again and again, in a new form. Maile is one of Hawaiʻi’s most revered plants, traditionally used in ceremony, celebration, and to honor deep connections between people and place. In this piece, Rocket weaves that tradition into the very fabric of his work — a fusion of memory, craftsmanship, and aloha.

You can find all of Rocket’s LIMAHULI designs and an incredible video of the runway show on his Instagram @rocketahuna.