DESCENDANT

In the Hawaiian language, "ohana" means "family." However, it goes beyond just immediate relatives; it represents "the bond of family ties." Through my visits to Hawaii and time spent with local friends, I have gradually come to understand that this is more than about family alone; it is about community and friendship, all bound together by strong, lasting connections.

My cousin Sean was born and raised in Hawaii, and many of his childhood friends, classmates and former colleagues still live there. Now, as adults with families of their own, they are passing on the unique Hawaiian spirit of ohana to the next generation.

In front of the house where Sean lived at the time. They still live in the neighborhood.

This is Sean’s childhood friend, Cara, and her family. Growing up, her parents often took Cara and her brother, along with Sean and his brothers, on camping trips, beach outings, and barbecues. Although Sean moved away from Hawaii at the age of 10, they’ve remained close ever since. As a fun side note, Cara’s father has always worn SCOTT sandals, a durable Hawaiian sandal (locals refer to as “slippers”).

Whenever I visit Hawaii, I always stop by Kaimuki, a local town about 15 minutes by car from Waikiki. It's an area filled with small family-owned restaurants and shops. One of the shops you'll find here is a tattoo studio called Working Class Tattoos, a studio run by Steve, a longtime friend of Sean's since his early 20s.

About 25 years ago, Sean was managing a shop at Ala Moana Center when Steve was working next door. Eventually, Steve switched jobs and ended up working at the same shop Sean was managing. Not long after, Steve moved to San Francisco, where he developed an interest in tattooing and began apprenticing to become a tattoo artist. "At first, tattooing felt difficult, almost like magic," Steve recalls. "I started by tattooing my own legs to understand how the needle felt on skin. For my arms, I had an artist I admired do the work so I could watch closely and study their technique." Interestingly, both Sean and Steve have matching star-shaped tattoos on their ankles, inked by a group of friends during a memorable night out. Steve's adorable daughters also dropped by the studio that day to visit.

During this trip to Hawaii, I also visited the office of Keola, co-founder and creative director of the brand FITTED, as well as visited the farm he helps operate. Keola is someone I always make a point to see whenever I'm in Hawaii, and I hope to introduce him more fully in another segment. I also had the chance to catch up with Jared, who supports Keola with production and design, and I was happy to see his daughter, Banksy, who's now navigating her teenage years.

Keola's daughter, Banksy, is studying the Hawaiian language and culture. She enjoys surfing and recently shared that she’ll be traveling to Fukuoka, Japan, with her performing arts group to represent her school and heritage at an upcoming Hawaii festival.

Tetsu Nishiyama