“In Hawaiian, Mālama ʻĀina means to take care of the land,” said Aiu. They quit their day jobs the next year and have steadily grown their business ever since, continuing to travel the world (packed perfectly light and stylishly) and opening the Waikiki store in 2021.Ī portion of Aloha’s sales goes to support conservation efforts. “Voila! Our first small and mid pouches were born!” Soares said.Īfter raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign, they launched their first print in 2015 and were a hit in Hawaii. I didn’t want to use plastic and I needed a multi-functional bag that compresses into nothing and fits in my carry-on.”Īiu was doing hot yoga at the time and needed a reusable bag to put her sweaty yoga clothes in after her workout. I searched the world and I couldn’t find a cute lightweight wet bikini bag. “I never leave home without a bikini and sarong but I had one problem. Everything packed needs to be multi-functional and lightweight,” Soares said. “As a flight attendant, there is only so much real estate in your carry-on suitcase. At the time, Aiu was working as a private mortgage banker and Soares was an international flight attendant.
The idea for the Aloha Collection was born in 2013 out of the women’s shared love for travel, adventure and the ocean. “A couple years later I answered a roommate ad on Craigslist and moved in with Rachael.” “I immediately fell in love with the charming town and friendly people. During her senior year, she went to San Diego for the first time to visit a friend from Encinitas. “Encinitas is a quintessential beach town and we feel right at home.”Īiu was born and raised in Kauai and had never left the state until she went to college at Loyola Marymount University. “Travel is our inspiration, and the beach is our home,” said Heather Aiu, who co-founded the business with friend Rachael Soares. This is their first store on the mainland-their original location is in Oahu, Hawaii at the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Honolulu. The Aloha Collection is a line of splash-proof bags, pouches, totes, hip packs and duffels in a variety of colorful beachy and island prints. The Aloha Collection opened its flagship store in downtown Encinitas on June 26, offering travel and active lifestyle accessories that carry hints of Hawaiian style.
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