HONOLULU Staff Favorites: Where Did You Get Your Face Masks in Hawai‘i?
Our team has found some very stylish and locally made fabric face masks (plus one surgical and one N95 mask) online and in stores here on O‘ahu.
PHOTO: KERRI MOKULEHUA
“We got Manuheali‘i masks ($10) made with the Honolulu Fire Department’s old aloha shirt material!”
—Kerri Mokulehua, advertising executive
Photo: Christi YOung
“My family is wearing a mix of masks we sewed out of old shirts (tsum tsums are my daughters’ favorites), masks we ordered from Allison Izu ($20 with proceeds going to make masks to donate to local hospitals) and homemade masks from one of my daughter Cassera’s friends, Mia Villarimo.”
—Christi Young, editorial director
Photo: James Nakamura
“I approached the elevator in my building with a homemade mask cut out of an old black T-shirt. When the elevator door opened, a little girl looked up at me and hid behind her mom. ‘I’ll get the next one,’ I said and smiled, although they probably didn’t know I was smiling. I must have looked vaguely militant wearing this hand-cut mask with its frazzled ties hanging loosely off my ears. So I appreciate these much nicer masks that my brother and sister-in-law David and Kayde made. Now I look more a part of this world, and less like a cheap Fortnite character.”
—James Nakamura, creative director
Photos: Katie Kenny and James Kenny
“I always have a box of surgical masks around in case I get sick but when my supply started to empty I ordered three masks from Island Slipper ($8) for myself, my dad and my grandmother. The mask was a little big for me at first (pictured) but after I washed it at a hot temperature it fit perfectly. I’ve also seen a number of locally made masks from Sundot Marine Fish Flags (@fishflags), at Down to Earth (starting at $6.59) and at the Saturday Kaka‘ako Farmers Market (starting at $20).
—Katie Kenny, digital editorial specialist
SEE ALSO: Meet the Designers and Local Businesses Making Face Masks for Hawai‘i’s Brave Essential Workers
PHOTO: Christine Labrador
“Found some scrap material from an old project sewing scrunchies* for my tween and used them to make masks to donate to health care workers and for my family. With an appointment to Fabric Mart next week, I’ll be making more for our health care heroes!
*Still can’t believe scrunchies came back, but so relieved they’re gone … again—bumbai they learn.”
—Christine Labrador, art director
“A friend of a friend sewed colorful reversible fabric masks ($15 each) for my family and me.”
—Jayna Omaye, staff writer
Photo: Scott Schumaker
“We bought reusable neoprene and some cloth masks for $5.99 each at Island Country Market (ABC Store’s upscale brand) at Ko Olina Resort across from the Four Seasons O‘ahu.”
—Scott Schumaker, publisher
PHOTO: SCOTT SCHUMAKER
“$5.99 Island Country Market at Ko Olina for pack of two disposable KN95 masks.”
—Scott Schumaker, publisher
PHOTO: SCOTT SCHUMAKER
“We bought disposable surgical masks at Nijiya Market by Ala Moana Center for $12.99 for 10.”
—Scott Schumaker, publisher
PHOTO: SCOTT SCHUMAKER
“Got this one free at Ohio State University vs University of Michigan game. The James is Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center Cancer Hospital.”
—Scott Schumaker, publisher
Photo: Robbie Dingeman
“I'm fortunate to have talented and generous friends who are helping keep our family stylishly safe. Our dear friend, Alan Lemieux, who is a talented maker of many things, started sewing masks in March when he heard that some medical crews were running short. He made several versions for us. And then I received the super-cute bonus masks of the dancing bears and the honu through my friend and colleague Molly Solomon, the former Hawai‘i Public Radio reporter, now working at KQED in San Francisco. After I admired the handiwork of her auntie and her mom, Ann Nakao, they kindly mailed me two friendly animal masks.”
—Robbie Dingeman, editor at large
Nonprofit Every1ne For One Hawai‘i wants to supply free masks to whomever requests one online with the #Masks4AllHawaii initiative. Sign up is temporarily closed but follow them now to find out when the next batch will be available. You can also donate to the cause online. every1nehawaii.com
