Henōhea Liner: A Love Letter to Your Body

When I gave birth to my son Henōhea in May 2024, I found myself navigating one of the most challenging chapters of my life. Postpartum depression weighed heavily on me, amplifying the chaos and uncertainty of being displaced by the Lahaina fire. Stuck in FEMA temporary housing in upcountry Maui, I felt disconnected from the person I used to be, struggling to find my footing in a life that had been turned upside down.

A few months after giving birth, I tried putting on a swimsuit, something that had always been a source of confidence and comfort for me. But instead of feeling like myself, I felt the sting of insecurity. My postpartum body, which I was endlessly grateful for because it had brought my baby into this world and continued to nourish him, felt unfamiliar. I didn’t recognize the reflection staring back at me.

In those moments, I began to turn to affirmations. As I slipped into my swimsuits, I’d whisper words of encouragement to myself: You are beautiful. You are strong. You are worthy. Slowly but surely, those words began to soothe the ache of self-doubt. One day, I thought: What if these affirmations could be a part of the swimsuits themselves? A constant, gentle reminder of all the beautiful things we are, even when it’s hard to see them for ourselves.

The Henōhea liner became my answer to that question. Each affirmation printed on the inside of our swimwear was handwritten with love notes I'd write myself in my journal, a tangible message of love and encouragement that’s there when you need it most. These affirmations reflect the journey I was on, and the journey so many women face in learning to embrace their bodies in all stages of life.

It’s not just about creating something beautiful to wear. For me, it’s about creating something meaningful. I want every woman who puts on a Henōhea swimsuit to feel like they’re stepping into their power, reminded of their resilience and the beauty that radiates from within. Whether you’re rocking it at the beach or wearing it as a bodysuit, I hope it serves as a source of confidence and connection.

Because no matter what your journey looks like, you deserve to feel seen, celebrated, and loved for the person you are today and for all that you’re becoming. And with each piece we create, my hope is to help women everywhere hold onto that truth a little tighter, just as I’ve learned to hold onto it myself.