Meet the Owners

Hi, I’m Riana! I was born and raised in Honolulu and graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a Bachelor’s in Fashion Merchandising and a Minor in Art. Ever since high school, I’ve been into sustainable and ethical fashion, and I’ve always loved vintage pieces too. What really drives me is the pursuit of happiness. Graduating college was daunting because I didn’t know what I wanted to do or what I was passionate about. Starting Da Palaka Girl has completely changed that. It has given me the chance to do what I love, feel inspired, and share a piece of Hawaiʻi with others.

My mom, Gel, moved to Hawaiʻi from the Philippines when she was fourteen. She comes from a long line of seamstresses, and crafting has always been part of her life. She has always worked hard to find extra ways to support our family, whether it was doing craft fairs or selling Filipino food. Even now, while working a full time job, she comes home every day excited to get on the sewing machine. Her skill, patience, and attention to detail shape everything we create together.

On my dad’s side, our family has been in Hawaiʻi for five generations, with roots in plantation work across Maui, Hawaiʻi Island, and Oʻahu. Palaka started out as tough workwear for plantation workers and paniolo, but we wanted to make designs that are cute and girly, perfect for any local girl. More than just a popular print, palaka tells the story of Hawaiʻi’s people, culture, and history. It stands for resilience, hard work, and community.

We started Da Palaka Girl by sewing every piece ourselves in our living room on a basic home sewing machine. Thanks to our loyal customers, our online drops and markets often sell out fast. While we don’t come from a family with business experience, we are learning every day, figuring things out as we go, and putting our hearts into every piece we make.

Everything we make comes from where we come from, what we believe in, and the people who inspire us every day. Mahalo for being here and growing with us!

— Riana and Gel