Full-Circle: A Dining and Fashion Experience with HCC grads Kini Zamora, Ari South and Danene Lunn

Honolulu Community College and Honolulu Star-Advertiser present Full Circle: A Dining and Fashion Experience Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m., featuring the latest designs by HCC alums Kini Zamora, Ari South and Danene Lunn of Manuhealii, as well as current students of HCC’s fashion technology program.

Hosted by Honolulu Design Center at 1250 Kapiolani Blvd., the event takes place in Stage Restaurant and will include a fashion show, three-course meal and silent auction.

mw-style-110514-hcc-alumni-ac-02

Image 1 of 9

Keala Patterson: Manuhealii 'Alani' raglan sleeve dress in kaleinani print $72

“Our program is all about coming full circle,” notes Joy Nagaue, professor and program liaison of HCC’s fashion technology program. “Our alumni go on to have successful careers in the fashion industry and so many of them come back to share their experiences with current students, as well as give back to the program that helped build their foundation in fashion design.”

Zamora, a 2003 graduate of HCC and 2001 graduate of McKinley High School, made it all the way to the top three on the popular reality TV show Project Runway Season 13. After HCC, Zamora went on to New York Fashion Institute of Technology for a year-and-a-half, and then returned to Hawaii to work in retail and the fashion industry. Eventually, he decided to “take the plunge, wholly, into this life of fashion,” and became a full-time designer, creating garments described as “structured pieces with a feminine twist.” He also partnered with Dean “Dinko” Satta to start their company KINIandDINKO, and they recently launched their website KINIandDINKO.com.

South, a 2007 graduate of HCC and 2004 graduate of Waianae High, was a finalist on Project Runway Season 8. She has her own design and manufacturing company, Andy South, offering women’s contemporary clothing with a “severe chic attitude.” Her line is available at shop.andysouth.com or for custom orders, email info@andysouth.com.

Lunn, a 1986 graduate of HCC and 1980 graduate of St. Andrew’s Priory, is the creative director/owner of Manuhealii. The 29-year-old company is known for its modern aloha collectives for the family, and can be found at its Honolulu flagship store (at 930 Punahou St.), Kailua boutique (5 Hoolai St.) and online at manuhealii.com.

Tickets for Full Circle: A Dining and Fashion Experience range from $100 to $200, and include a special swag bag. Proceeds will go to support the Fashion Technology Program and Fashion Technology Scholarship Fund at HCC to benefit students in the program. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit uhfoundation.org/FullCircle2014.

photos by Anthony Consillio
page design by Nikki Thommes
On location at Honolulu Design Center