MAUKA/MAKAI RELEASE PARTY.

Vans Vault Mauka Makai Release Party from Sharks & Rays on Vimeo.

A video recap of how we chose to do the release party for our “Mauka/Makai” pack with Sig Zane Designs and Vans Vault in Hilo, Hawaii and surrounded by a night of friends, family, music, dancing and aloha spirit.

A DAY IN THE LIFESTYLE – “MAUKA/MAKAI” RELEASE PARTY (HILO, HAWAII):

Big mahalo to all the amazing residents of Hilo, Sig Zane, Nalani Kanakaole, Kuha’o Zane, Sig Zane Designs family, Contrast Magazine, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Merrie Monarch, and especially Vans Vault for helping this magic to happen. Many humble thanks and blessings.

YKWWS.

Big up the homie Eric and the entire Aloha Family crew. Been friends of the shop before KICKS/HI was even a shop. Love + Aloha.

MAUKA TO MAKAI.

Mauka.

Makai.

See you this Saturday! Love + Aloha, KICKS/HI

SIG ZANE for KICKS/HI by VANS VAULT – SATURDAY (4/14) RELEASE.

|x| What’s good, fam! This Saturday, April 14, marks the release date for a special collaboration put together with local, Hawaii brand: Sig Zane and the pinnacle boutique arm of the Vans family: Vans Vault.

You Know Where We Stay.a
Vans Vault recently approached us to do a collection of shoes that represents our unique perspective of Hawai’i, and we responded by creating a unique and limited edition Chukka LX & Era LX pack based on the theme of “Mauka to Makai” (from the mountains to the sea). To really deliver an authentic Hawaiian aesthetic – we reached out to our friends at Sig Zane Designs based in Hilo, on the Big Island.

Vans Vault x Sig Zane x KICKS/HI “Mauka” Chukka Boot LX Premium:
This boot body features a perforated suede and custom Sig Zane pattern printed linen upper, cut leather laces and gum sole. We chose an espresso brown colorway with lighter leather accents to reflect the Mauka (mountain inspired) feel and environment. The “Mauka” Chukka LX design incorporates Sig Zane’s hand-cut artwork of the endemic Hawaiian silversword, ‘Āhinahina, and the Mauka-inspired print, Pu’umanawale’a (based off the foothills at the base of the Mauna Kea volcano in Hilo).

Vans Vault x Sig Zane x KICKS/HI “Makai” Era LX Premium
The reflection of the blue sky with glimmers of white in Omoka’a pond is the signature of our paradise. Where the Pacific meets the islands, we are left with a tide pool palette unique to the Makai (the sea). With a sky linen body, white leather tongue and also with cut leather laces, this is the solid summer joint. The Olako’aka featured on the insole takes us back to the beginning of the Kumulipo creation chant. The mushroom coral is one of the first creatures mentioned in the Kumulipo and make up the origins of our Hawaiian islands.

The Hawai’i Compass: Mauka & Makai
“No matter what island, district, or homestead that you’re from, if you grew up in Hawaiʻi, you know your Mauka (toward the mountains) & Makai (toward the sea) – from Mauka Ko’olau, Haleakalā, or Hualalai, to Makai beaches and ocean that surround us. Being surrounded by the sea, we have a unique island compass built upon those Mauka to Makai directions. This is a part of our upbringing. It’s how we figure out where we “stay”. It’s engraved into us.

Based off the genius Kicks/Hi line ‘You Know Where We Stay,’ we were inspired by Hawaiʻi’s most basic directional cue points as a starting point for our efforts. On the Big island with the snow at the top of Mauna Kea every winter and on the same day the glimmer of Omokaʻa fish pond in Miloliʻi – It’s a natural wonder to traverse almost every climate zone available on earth in about half a day’s time. Packing trucks full of snow and heading for the beach on the reg here on Moku O Keawe.“ –Kuha’o Zane (Creative Director, Sig Zane Designs)

This video further explains the importance of “Mauka to Makai” to people who have grown up in Hawaii, and furthermore the significance of storytelling as a source of continuing the Hawaiian culture. Big mahalo to uncle Sig, Kuhao, Luke, Kema brothers, Sig Zane Designs staff, and the people of Hilo for opening their doors and arms to welcome us at every turn to make this video possible.

Along with the “Mauka” Chukka LX and “Makai” Era LX, Sig Zane and KICKS/HI has created limited edition “Mauka” & “Makai” t-shirts, which will also be available this Saturday, April 14th.

This limited Vans Vault pack will be released exclusively at KICKS/HI (Honolulu, HI), Sig Zane Designs (Hilo, HI), KICKS/HI Guam (Tumon Bay, Guam), and Saint Alfred (Chicago) on during Merrie Monarch week, April 14th, 2012. The shoes will be available online at: Sig Zane & KICKS/HI ONLINE SHOP the following Monday, 4/16.
“Mauka” and “Makai” shoes will be available in men’s sizes 5.0 thru 13.0. “Mauka” and “Makai” tees will be available in men’s sizes small thru XXL.
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PHONE ORDERS ACCEPTED*: 808.941.9191
All orders are shipped via UPS with delivery confirmation.
3-4 business days for delivery.
A minimal shipping & handling fee is included with every order.
*Not all items shown are able to be shipped. Please call to verify.
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ONLINE ORDERS ACCEPTED 24/7: KICKS/HI ONLINE SHOP
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FACEBOOK: KICKS/HI FACEBOOK
TWITTER: @KICKSHI
WEBSITE BLOG: KICKS/HI BLOG
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Thank you for your continued support + building with us!

ALOHA & MAHALOBACK,
CK + KICKS/HI ohana

RANDOM TOP 5 // TUES. 04/10:
1. MERCY
2. THERAFLU
3. casey veggies “customized greatly 3″ (mixtape)
4. Bulls winning without Rose, but lord knows they need him for the playoffs or its a wrap
5. BDP “my philosophy”

KICKS/HI CONVERSE CHUCKS RELEASE PARTY at SHAKE+POP.

On the night of the release for our KICKS/HI ‘Tiger Camo’ Chucks, we teamed with our SuperHandsome DJ team to throw a release party at our monthly dance party: SHAKE+POP. We were able to get the extended fam FourColorZack (Fool’s Gold/The Tighten Up/SuperHandsome) to be a special headline DJ, and then to top it off, the big homie JAYCEEOH (TaylorGang/Super7) was in town and dropped a surprise set! Another excellent jumpoff!
Thanks to everyone who made that day ultra memorable for us!

Photos courtesy:
Matt Higa / stussyHNL
LaCutie / dosomethingtonight.com
Rob / PARTYYYFACE.com

KICKS/HI x CONVERSE FIRST STRING ‘TIGER CAMO’ CHUCKS.

Every project we partake in is a big deal, but this one has been definitely one of the most fulfilling ones we have done in the entire 10 years of our existence.

We cannot thank each and everyone of you who have been down with us over the years enough. You all play a huge roll in who, what and where we are to this day and into the future. This 10 year anniversary is as much about y’all as it is about us. Thanks for all your support and feedback. We truly love you all.

….and speaking of feedback…Salute x Shakas to all the amazing feedback shown by all the culture/lifestyle blogs that we all admire and obsess over:

Bifuteki.com – http://www.bifuteki.com/2011/10/kickshi-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star/

ClicUniversity.com – http://clicuniversity.com/?p=17536

Complex.com – http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2011/10/kicks-hi-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-tiger-camo

EuKicks.com
- http://www.eukicks.com/kicks-hawaii-x-converse-chuck-taylor-hi/

FressnessMag.com – http://www.freshnessmag.com/

HighSnobiety.com – http://www.highsnobiety.com/news/2011/10/17/kicks-hawaii-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star/

HypeBeast.com – http://hypebeast.com/2011/10/kickshi-x-converse-first-string-chuck-taylor-all-star/

JockMyFresh.com – http://jockmyfresh.com/fashion-music-entertainment/2011/10/kickshi-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-tiger-camo/

Jumz.com – http://www.jumz.com/entry/38667

KicksAddict.com – http://kicksaddict.com/2011/10/17/kicks-hawaiiconverse-chuck-taylor-all-star/

KixAndTheCity.com – http://www.kixandthecity.com/converse-all-star-chuck-taylor-x-kicks-hawaii-tiger-camo/

MarcusTroy.com – http://marcustroy.com/footwear/footwear-the-kicks-hawaii-for-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star/

NiceKicks.com – http://www.nicekicks.com/2011/10/kicks-hawaii-x-converse-chuck-taylor/

SlamXHype.com – http://slamxhype.com/fashion/kickshi-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-tiger-camo/

SoleCollector.com – http://solecollector.com/news/kicks-hawaii-for-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-holiday-2011/

SneakerFiles.com – http://www.sneakerfiles.com/2011/10/17/kickshi-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-hi-release-date-info/

SneakerNews.com – http://sneakernews.com/2011/10/17/kickshi-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star/

SplashJoy.com – http://www.splashjoy.com/2011/10/17/kicks-hawaii-converse-chuck-taylor-star/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kicks-hawaii-converse-chuck-taylor-star

TrendOracle.com – http://trendoracle.com/449306/kicks-hawaii-x-converse-chuck-taylor/

TheFancy.com – http://www.thefancy.com/things/266284455/Kicks-Hawaii-x-Converse-Chuck-Taylor-All-Star-Sneakers

FreshNGood.com – http://www.freshngood.com/?p=62484

IndividualSole.com – http://www.individualsole.com/2011/10/18/converse-x-kickshi-chuck-taylor-all-star-%E2%80%98tiger-camo%E2%80%99/

TheShoeBuff.com – http://theshoebuff.com/news/kickshi-converse-string-chuck-taylor-star/

SneakerFreaker.com – http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/sneaker-releases/Kicks-Hawaii-X-Converse-All-Star/

SwagSoFresh.com – http://swagsofresh.com/footwear/kickshi-x-converse-tiger-camouflage-chuck-taylor-all-star/

TheWellVersed.com – http://thewellversed.com/2011/10/18/freshness-kicks-hawaii-x-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star/

When we opened our first KICKS/HI door 10 years ago on Makaloa St in Honolulu, we felt that a boutique that was built upon our collective aesthetics and firmly rooted in island lifestyle would work, but little did we know that it would grow to become one of the premier shops and brands worldwide. It has been a humbling, organic journey that was been laced with as many pitfalls as there has been success, but therein lies the beauty of a strong business with ties embedded within and drawing energy from the community and people it services. We have always strove to put on for Hawaii and the shop with as much forward thinking and design as it is drawn from the rich traditions and cultures that are bountiful here.

This limited edition Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi is a milestone in our 10 year anniversary. A shop mascot of sorts, and recurring motif since we first opened for business September 12, 2001, has been the tiger shark, which is native to the island waters. With this shoe being our third collaboration with Converse, we wanted to step outside of a material play and run with a pattern, which we chose a tiger camouflage to do so. The tiger camo is a subtle reference to our tiger shark mascot. The camo pattern is technologically advanced in that it is pin-point laser-printed on the material used for the upper. The orange outsole is an ode to our signature shop color: orange.

The video for the release not only celebrates the launch of the shoe, but it also embraces the friends, family, and Hawaii living that has got us this far – with 10 upon 10 upon 10 more years of continued growth and success shining brightly in our future. Special thanks to: Luke Aguinaldo for the video edit, Tassho Pearce & Syze One for licensing us their song for the soundtrack, and Converse for always showing love and support of the shop.

Love + Aloha, KICKS/HI

HALFWAYCROOK x KICKS/HI CHUCKS.

Our friend Minami is a talented photographer with a penchant for vintage ‘lo gear. She took a road trip from L.A. to the Nevada desert over the weekend and snapped some pics with her wearing our KICKS/HI Chuck Taylors.
You can see more of her outstanding photos via her website: HALFWAYCROOK.com

STUSSY x PARRA for KICKS/HI 10th ANNIVERSARY.

KICKS/HI SS’11 DELIVERY LOOKBOOK.

6 FOOT 7 FOOT.

Don’t forget the Baby, please say the Baby…Weezy in Saint Alfred ‘GO! New Era fitted cap on Angie Martinez Hot 97 radio show. PLEASE BELIEVE!