Maui native launches new bikini line

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Maui native goes from the hardcourts to the showroom, and she’s putting her education to good use.

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Faith Alvior, 20, first started her business, Kuluna Kinis, in high school during the COVID pandemic, but took a break to play volleyball in Arizona and California.

“I went off to play collegiate [for] two years, and then I was like, I’m going back to Oahu to fully focus on my brand,” she said.

The Maui native said the transition from the Valley Isle to Oahu was a big change, but she knew there were more business opportunities and knowledge to gain. Now she’s at the University of Hawaii, studying fashion merchandising.

“It actually was the most beautiful calling that I could ever receive to move back home and be closer to my family,” she said.

Alvior’s love for fashion design was inspired by her mother, who’s in the business industry and helped her understand the ropes of starting her brand.

“My mom is such an independent role model to me, and she’s done her business from the beginning of her selling at swap meets and then all the way to now, her second store opening on Kauai,” she said.

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Alvior recently launched a new bikini line on her website and plans to reveal a casual clothing line in two weeks.

“The description behind this launch is just me expanding and moving out to Oahu and being more disciplined and showing that girls, you could really do it if you put your mind to it,” Alvior said. “It’s gonna be an amazing journey and everybody really could do it.”

Alvior said being a full-time student and the sole operator of her business is the biggest challenge.

“Honestly, it was just the balance, like figuring it out, how to really balance it all,” she said. “It did take a little toll on my mental [health], I will say, but it was such a blessing for me to realize that this business has grown throughout all of these years of my life and it’s growing beside me.”

But her hard work is paying off, and she has sold more than 10,000 units.

“From zero to seeing that number has been amazing, and I’m so grateful for every single person that has purchased,” Alvior said. “I’m like speechless for words when I say that number because it’s truly like the hard work pays off, you know, it’s beautiful.”

You can check out Kuluna Kinis and Kuluna Wear’s latest designs on their social media.

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