Words and mix by Roger Bong

Aloha kakou! I know you’re hungry to hear the forthcoming mixtape by Aloha Got Soul and Fitted. I know you’re curious about the details, the music, the limited tee. You can’t wait for one of the biggest releases of 2012 to drop. Neither can we.

Aloha Got Soul and Fitted give you the Pupu Mix, a free appetizer mixtape packed with Hawaiian rare grooves. Thirty minutes of quality homegrown music that’s funkier than a Hawaiian mosquito’s tweeter. Did we mention this music is from Hawaii? Born straight from the ‘aina and filled with the aloha spirit. Our local funk and soul roots run so deep through these islands, it’s a mystery why so many people today haven’t heard these grooves. That’s about to change, because every track on the Pupu Mix hits harder than the last, building to a powerful climax that proves aloha got soul.

Aloha kakou!

New release in and readily available now, both in-stores and online. This t-shirt is influenced by “Coppe [kab]- From Old English. Originating from the Dutch invaders who populated the northeast midland region of England. The term cobweb, which is used to refer specifically to abandoned spider webs, comes from the root word, coppe. This tee references the forgotten remnants of those who have influenced the Hawaiian community and have since passed. Invisible to most, their cobwebs are an obvious reminder to those willing to see, with unclouded eyes, the connection between our past and our potential.” The shirt spells out FITTED in teal and white appearing in a cobweb style. We’re also offering a new teal, black and white Kamehameha snapback with black underbrim and black snap. Lastly, a heather gray FITTED pullover hoodie. Perfect timing as the winter winds are slowly blowing in.

Aloha kakou!

New release for tomorrow. Simple and straight forward, you know what it is. Black FITTED logo tee with a white fill and neon green splatter pattern printed on the inside with a Negro League Hillside Giants New Era.

Aloha kakou!

Along with our Primo pack dropping tomorrow, we also have a new pack dropping on Saturday. Dubbed All Roads Point To Hawai’i, the concept behind this is that we and a lot of the rest of the world look at Hawai’i as the center stage of the world. From a government / military perspective, it’s one of the most strategic places to set up military and naval bases (despite our objections). It’s a great place for import and export of commerce and if you ever plan on flying from the US mainland to anywhere across the Pacific, chances are you will end up stopping by Hawai’i anyway. Even in recent years, Hawaiian culture has infiltrated mainstream America in fashion, music and TV / movies. Ola has a saying… “There are some who have never been to Hawai’i and it’s a goal of theirs to come; they’ve been to Hawai’i and want to come back; or you live in Hawai’i and never want to leave.” Which is why, at some point or another, all roads truly point to Hawai’i. Along with the t-shirt is a black and Tiffany Kamehameha with white stitching on the brim.

Releasing this Saturday, Sept. 10th (in-stores and online)

Hilo is on the rise, homey. Paie’a Projects and Fitted are teaming up, once again, with a basketball jersey and New Era fitted cap. This Hilo pack recognizes the modern and historical influences of the capital of Hawai‘i County.

It’s sons and daughters are doing it big in mainstream culture. The eastside of Moku o Keawe produces world-class fighters: Shout out to former UFC Champ and Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt BJ Penn! Hilo is not only a breeding ground for scrappers, the city is also a flower garden for femme fatales like Hawai‘i News Now’s Malika Dudley. The Hawai‘i Island town is also a hotbed for creativity these days. Hilo songbird Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole is evolving Hawaiian music, and his cousin Kuha‘o Zane is redefining Aloha wear at the same time.

“I think Hilo is known as a gathering place for talented locals, the type that go to Merrie Monarch, type that place music, the type that dance, and everybody comes to Hilo because it’s the second biggest city in Hawai‘i so naturally they’ll come to Hilo,” says Kuha‘o.

Kuha‘o’s designs in the family business, Sig Zane Designs, brought a young demographic to the brand and garnered KZ mainstream recognition. A feature story in Contrast Magazine’s The New Vintage issue, Interisland Terminal art exhibit, and Na Hoku Hanohano award has kept Kuha’o on the media’s radar for the last few years. Throughout all of this recognition KZ always reps his beloved hometown: Hilo.

“Getting together with Pai’ea Projects and Fitted, I was glad that they asked me to rep Hilo for this one and I was happy to be apart of it. I feel like Hilo has been sung before, but never in the modern way like with [this pack],” says Kuha‘o about the pack.

Like all Pai‘ea Projects designs, the basketball jersey and Fitted Kam, pays homage to Kamehameha the Great. The green in the hat and jersey represent the lushness of Hilo– as everybody knows that it’s a rainy old town. The black in the design celebrates the story about Kamehameha lifting the Naha stone. The great pōhaku weighs over 5,000 pounds and the #5 on the jersey gives props to Pai’ea’s achievement. The name “PAIEA” on the back refers to the nickname of Kamehameha, which means “hard-shelled crab.”

Today, the Naha stone lives in front of the Hilo Public Library, right where Kamehameha left it hundreds of years ago. Kuha’o and We Home Steady’s Malani, took Cuzzo, Skillet and Paul Kema to checkout the Naha stone. The two Keaukaha residents also took the O‘ahu boys around Hilo. Peep the video of their tour.

Hilo is known for many stunning natural scenery and spawning creative expression, like the Merrie Monarch Festival, Sig Zane Designs and Big Island Candies. There’s also a notorious side to the second largest city in the State.

“Drunk people?” laughs Kuha’o, when asked about what Hilo is known for. When it comes to the crip, Hilo is also home to many marijuana connoisseurs. Not surprising, Hilo is in a transitional period from rural to urban says Kuha’o.

“I would say [Hilo} is right in between right now. In 20 years it will be ‘city,’ but there’s still ‘country’ five minutes out [of Hilo town],” he explains.

Nobody can definitively predict the future of Hilo, but it’s sure to be on people’s radar. This Fitted x Paie’a Projects Hilo Pack helps put the city on the map, something that Kuha‘o will always be passionate about.

“I remember when I used to come Honolulu and tell people I was from Hilo and people would be like: ‘Wait, where is that?’ and totally tripping about it,” says KZ. “To bring the attention [with the Paie’a Projects x Fitted collaboration] to Hilo then that’s what’s worth it.”

Aloha kakou!

We recently linked up with Punch Cigars for a limited edition, custom Special Blend for FITTED. The special blend is called Gran Puro Pico, where in cigar jargon, Puro means that all of the tobacco used in the cigar’s blend originates from one single country / location, these specific cigars originating from Honduras. It is a medium-to-full-bodied smoke with a spicy, earthy core and a creamy finish that is unmistakably Honduran. While others may gravitate toward Cohibas, Habanos or other cigars that are from Cuba (it’s more of a novelty and “cool factor” because of the US embargo against all imported goods from Cuba), Punch Cigars are considered one of the hardest cigars to come by and listed as third most popular cigar all over the world.

This Thursday at The Roof Top Bar at D&Bs, FITTED is holding a special private party with limited seating. Tickets are $10 each and with each ticket purchase you will received a limited edition Special Blend FITTED / Punch cigar. Come through and politic with your FITTED ‘ohana. Also, that same day we will be releasing a custom FITTED & Punch hat along with a t-shirt. The blog with product info and photos will be up soon, please look out for that as well! See you this Thursday. Big mahalos to Punch and Tantriq.

Last Friday June 24, 2011 the Cukui and FITTED family held a collaborative event @ Manifest in Chinatown, entitled Native Rights. Along with this event we released a Native Rights t-shirt, which is still available. The evening conveyed a family-like atmosphere, with a mix of the familiar Chinatown cuddy feel. Musical ambiance was provided by DJ Cutso from the Bangerz. Special thanks to all who attended! and for those who missed out, you missed out! 

Special shout out to Manifest, Cukui Family, Danny (Dandiggity) Le , DJ Cutso (Buckles O’Leary) and to Mr. & Mrs. Jason and Genevieve Locquiao Congratulations!