Page 2 - MidWeek Kauai - Dec 21, 2022

2 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK DECEMBER 21, 2022
Sharing Culture Through Clothing, Film
Dear Darah,
We are so grateful to Aunty Nita Pilago of Wahine Toa Designs for help- ing bring our Native Hawaiian delegation dignity and repre- sentation of the Hawaiian cul- ture through her clothing line.
We feel blessed to have her beautiful fashions throughout the tour of our film The Wind & the Reckoning. Our delega- tion that included our lead ac- tors, cultural team (kumu) and filmmakers traveled to various film festivals on the continent and throughout the Hawai- ian Islands including O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i and Moloka‘i. Awards include Hawai‘i In- ternational Film Fesitval’s Made in Hawai‘i Award for Feature Film and, in Holly- wood, it was honored with the Ambassador of Culture award from the Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival. Ad- ditional awards bestowed on the film include the Audience Choice Feature Award and the Kumeyaay Award (usually reserved to recognize Native American films) at the San Di-
25TH ANNIVERSARY
Pilago and Wahine Toa De- signs, for your aloha and sup- port of our film and making ev- eryone look their absolute best.
David Cunningham director of The Wind & the Reckoning
Dear David,
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Clothing from local company Wahine Toa Designs graced red carpets at The Wind & the Reckoning tour locations. PHOTO COURTESY
DAVID CUNNINGHAM
Thank you for your beau- tiful tribute to a woman who continues to give back to her community by spreading her aloha through her designs. Owner and designer Nita Pilago started her clothing company, Wahine Toa De- signs, 12 years ago and runs her family business from her home in Kona. Her clothing is printed with original art drawn by herself, her hus- band Angel and their two sons, Kaleo and Che.
ego Film Festival. It also won eight awards at the Boston Film Festival.
the movie would then begin. After the film, the actors, kumu and filmmakers would conduct a Q&A with the audience.
Pilago says, “Collaborat- ing family art tells a story and depicts experiences from each artist’s life les- sons. We are surrounded by beautiful colors, from the mountain to the sea, and that’s where I get my inspi- ration. I design clothing to flatter all body types, and my goal is to make everyone feel beautiful.”
The tour would include a Native Hawaiian protocol with a blessing for the audi- ence, as well as a presentation of Pi‘ilani’s genealogy in ‘ōle- lo Hawai‘i, which was memo- rized by young actor, Kahiau Perreira, then followed by kumu Leina‘ala Fruean, who would quote Pi‘ilani’s words. With the sound of the conch,
It was beautiful to see Pila- go’s Wahine Toa Designs on the red carpet throughout the tour. Her designs that marry traditional Hawaiian prints with a modern and current look could not have been a better fit for The Wind & the Reckoning film festival tour.
Mahalo nui loa, Aunty Nita