Rocket Ahuna brings MĀNOA collection to Blaisdell Center 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, 2026. The runway show draws on Mānoa Valley, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa culture and Ahuna’s own family ties to Rainbow sports.

Why it matters: - Ahuna is using the runway show to spotlight a less conventional image of Hawaiʻi. - The collection also ties fashion to Native Hawaiian identity, UH Mānoa culture and island sports history. - The show extends Ahuna’s effort to uplift kānaka maoli and support students and community groups.

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 are still available through Ticketmaster, including event information. - The collection is a 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 for the collection. - The personal connection runs through Ahuna’s family. - Ahuna’s auntie played volleyball for the Rainbow Wahine. - Ahuna’s father played football in the Hula Bowl. - The collection also draws from teachers, students and activists connected to UH. - The designs nod to the playful “Go āBows!” spirit familiar across the islands. - Ahuna grew up on Kauaʻi and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. - Ahuna works out of studios in Kalihi and New York. - Ahuna’s work has 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 a summer fight with Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. - MĀNOA follows Ahuna’s La Lei Fall/Winter 2026 collection, which is available now at rocketahuna.com. - The MĀNOA collection will be available after the show at rocketahuna.com. - Show details list the venue as Neal S. Blaisdell Center, 777 Ward Ave., Honolulu. - Rocket Ahuna’s media contact is Jen Williams at 808.349.2629 or jen@creativedifferencehi.com.

Between the lines: - Ahuna is framing fashion as a way to connect place, family and public memory rather than just seasonal trend. - The emphasis on UH Mānoa, Rainbow athletics and community figures suggests the collection is meant to resonate strongly with local audiences. - The mix of runway work, red-carpet styling and cultural references positions Ahuna as a designer balancing commercial visibility with community-rooted storytelling.

What's next: - The runway show will debut the MĀNOA collection on Nov. 13. - The collection will go on sale after the show through Ahuna’s website. - Ahuna is expected to continue building on themes from his Hawaiian-rooted brand and his previous La Lei line.

The bottom line: - MĀNOA turns UH Mānoa memory, family history and island sports culture into a fashion show built for Honolulu.