Leeward residents take
on roles as 'Designing
Women'
Leeward Current, September 2002
by Don Robbins
Karen Kamahele of Pearl City has nearly two decades of experience as a manager for the Hilo Hattie clothing company.
Pearl City resident Dawne Hotema is employed in the production department for Anne Namba Designs.
Recent graduate Christine (Nagamine) Gardner of Aiea is beginning her career search in the industry.
Kamahele serves as manufacturing computer operations manager of Hilo Hatte. She supervises three pattern makers, one sample maker and a trim purchasing clerk. Many aspects of creating the clothing are computerized, including pattern making and cutting the fabric. "I'm responsible that a quality garment is delivered," Kamahele said.
She teaches a class at HCC and is attending other classes there toward her goal of earning a four-year university degree. She has served on the HCC fashion technology advisory board for 10 years.
Teaching is "my way of giving back. For the future success of designers, I want to help," Kamahele said.
She said she chose to get married, raise a family, and work to earn a living. Now that her youngest child has graduated from high school, she is able to pursue her education.
Kamahele has been sewing since age 10 as a hobby. When she realized she could get paid for doing something she loves, she seized the opportunity.
She joined Hilo Hattie in 1984 and later helped start the company's computer-aided design program.
"It was great to be a pioneer," she said. A teacher of Kamahele's at HCC even interned at Hilo Hattie to learn the new software.
Hotema graduated from HCC's fashion technology program in 2000, after working and raising a family.
"This is my second career," she said.
Her employer, Anne Namba, is known for redesigning elaborate kimonos into Western-style clothing.
"If you have dreams, they do come true. It took me years, but I got where I wanted to be," Hotema said. "You can still go back to school and you still can learn."
She said her goal is to own her own fashion business. "The fashion industry is hard, but why do we do it? Because we love it."
She praised the HCC program, saying, "I think they're doing a great job. They taught me what I needed to know."
Gardner is a 1994 graduate of Aiea High School and a 2001 graduate of HCC's fashion program. She served as a past president of the school's fashion society and participated in its shows held around the island.
She works at Surfline Hawaii Jams World and spearheaded their children's line of clothing. In addition, she specialized in custom dressmaking and fashion show productions.
Gardner and her husband Levon were married in February. She designed all the wedding party's clothes, including the bridesmaids' gowns and groomsmen's vests.
The couple plans to move to New York City, where Gardner will look for work in the fashion industry. "It will be nice to learn as much as I can when I'm there," she said.
