Rocket Ahuna brings MĀNOA collection to Blaisdell Center on Nov. 13

Native Hawaiian designer Rocket Ahuna will show his Spring/Summer 2027 MĀNOA collection at Honolulu’s Neal S. Blaisdell Center on Friday, Nov. 13. The runway show draws on Mānoa Valley, UH Mānoa and the island’s college sports culture, with tickets still available through Ticketmaster.

Why it matters: - Rocket Ahuna is turning Hawaiian place, family history and campus culture into a runway collection that reaches beyond fashion. - The show spotlights a Native Hawaiian designer building a larger profile through local storytelling, red-carpet work and community ties. - The collection is also a commercial launch point, with MĀNOA available after the show at rocketahuna.com.

What happened: - Rocket Ahuna will present MĀNOA, his Spring/Summer 2027 collection, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. - Doors open at 7 p.m. - Tickets remain available through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com/event/0A006554E45A3A06. - The collection pays tribute to Mānoa Valley, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus and local college sports culture.

The details: - Ahuna researched archival photos, vintage jerseys and sports memorabilia from the late 1980s and early 1990s while building the collection. - The inspiration is personal: Ahuna’s auntie played volleyball for the Rainbow Wahine, and his father played football in the Hula Bowl. - The collection also reflects UH teachers, students and activists, along with the “Go āBows!” spirit associated with local fans. - Ahuna grew up on Kauaʻi and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. - He works out of studios in Kalihi and New York. - His designs have appeared on red carpets and in high-profile projects, including looks for the cast of “Chief of War” and for fighter Max Holloway ahead of his summer fight with Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. - Ahuna’s La Lei Fall/Winter 2026 collection is already available at rocketahuna.com. - The MĀNOA collection will be available after the show at rocketahuna.com.

Between the lines: - The collection frames Hawaiʻi through a less conventional lens, with Ahuna aiming to move beyond tourist-cliché imagery. - Ahuna’s stated mission includes uplifting kānaka maoli and helping them thrive. - His ties to Limahuli Garden and Preserve on Kauaʻi and his support for UH Mānoa fashion design students suggest the show is part brand-building, part community work. - The use of UH sports references taps into a shared island identity that can resonate well beyond campus.

What’s next: - The runway show takes place Friday night at the Blaisdell Center. - Audience members will be able to buy the MĀNOA collection online after the event. - Media inquiries are directed to Jen Williams at 808.349.2629 or jen@creativedifferencehi.com.

The bottom line: - Ahuna is using MĀNOA to merge fashion, Hawaiʻi heritage and UH pride into a single show with local and commercial reach.