About The Creator

Hey babes, Melanie here- owner, founder, and designer of Hanakini Swim! Delighted to introduce myself and tell you a bit about the brand. I am a FIDM Alum, graduated in 2012 with the impression I wanted to be in the LA fashion industry doing events and PR work (totally wrong for me!). Woke up one day and decided this wasn't for me and I bought a one way ticket to Europe after graduation.

My journey really began when I moved to Rome, Italy for 3+ years. I spent 5 years on the road traveling to nearly 50 countries around the world. Got a taste for what I love, and now in hindsight realize I was gathering heeps of inspiration for a future project. I made my way through the beaches of Greece, Italy, Morocco, and south east Asia, and all the way to Australia. I LOVED summer destinations and always found my way to a tropical place.

In the midst of it all I met someone who I shared a loved for travel with, where in 2016 we moved to Maui, HI after a long road of backpacking. Hanakini came a year into my time on the island, for months I was cruisin' with my girl gang learning to surf, and finding the best ocean spots on the island. I found a need to have a bikini that was so many things that I couldn't find. Affordable, practical, comfortable, sizable for my latina hips, and all around versatile for being on 12 hour adventures with my girls.

In 2017 I founded the label Hanakini, I still today work mostly as a one woman powerhouse but I am working on growing this self-made start up. Currently every package is still wrapped with love by me, and every design was inspired by somewhere special in the Hawaiian Islands. 

 

Please feel free to reach out, I am here to give back to you!

With love,

Mel 

xoxo