Shaely C.

Aloha. O Sheili Ko'ulinoa. For my garment, I chose to sell a hoodie and cargo pants. For accessories, I designed my own laser-cut wood earrings. I created my garment to bring attention to the coral reef bleaching. Coral depend on a certain algae to survive, thus giving them their color. However, when temperatures rise, the algae loses their color and end up dying. The coral reef is a vital part to ocean life, including the starfish. This issue impacts not just Oahu, but all of our islands. My spearhead earrings are a symbol of perpetuating Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. Being a native Hawaiian makes me even more passionate, grounded, and protective of this cause. As an individual and as a collective, I believe it is our kuleana to malama and protect our ocean and coral reef. you