Meet Kalena McElroy of Kaiona Swimwear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalena McElroy.

Hi Kalena, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Waimānalo, Oʻahu just a short walk from Kaiona Beach Park, so the ocean was always a huge part of my life. I spent most of my time in a bikini, kayaking, paddleboarding, diving, boating or simply hanging out at the beach, but I could never find a suit that was both cute and functional enough to keep up with me. I needed a swimsuit that would stay put in the water, allow me to move freely, and still feel fashion forward and trendy. That simple frustration (that I would later find out is very common) planted the idea for Kaiona Swimwear. As I researched the swimwear industry, I also learned how heavily fashion relies on synthetic, petroleum-based materials and contributes to pollution and waste. Growing up in Hawaiʻi, where caring for the ʻāina (land) and ocean is such an important part of our culture, I knew I wanted to approach swimwear differently.

I went off to college in California at UCLA and also spent some time in Barcelona, Spain where I received a Master’s Degree. I didn’t study fashion or design, but I remained connected to the ocean and continued to notice the gap in the swimwear market. I launched Kaiona Swimwear in Hawai’i in 2020 with the goal of creating durable, functional swimwear for women who genuinely love and live in the ocean, all while being extremely conscious of the business’s environmental impact. Since its inception the brand has been featured in Teen Vogue, Sports Illustrated Lifestyle, and UCLA Magazine. My suits were worn on the runway at the Hawai’i Swim Show and I won the UCLA Business 100 Award twice. I’m celebrating the 6 year anniversary of Kaiona Swimwear with yoga and a beach clean up at Makapu’u Beach Park this month on October 17.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The most difficult obstacle for me was overcoming imposter syndrome. Since I had zero experience in the fashion world, I had a very hard time actually launching the brand and had lots of doubts. I researched for many years (and had dozens of Google Docs and Sheets) thinking I had to have everything planned out before actually taking real steps like getting a business license and website. I wanted everything to be perfect before I showed my idea to the world. It was all very overwhelming (and still is), but I later realized that I didn’t need to know every single thing or do everything myself and that I could have learned a lot of things along the way. “That would be so embarrassing if it fails, “what if no one resonates with it” are just a few of the things I’ve thought. The struggle was really just about believing in my idea and myself and taking that first leap.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Kaiona Swimwear?
Kaiona Swimwear is a Native Hawaiian-owend swimwear brand creating functional, sustainable swimwear for women who are active in the ocean, though we love a good tanning sesh as well. We’re known for our no-slip styles with minimal hardware and ties that are designed for surfing, diving, paddling, and everything in between and doesn’t sacrifice style or comfort. What sets Kaiona apart is that my designs are tested in the ocean by real water women, including myself, and are created with the active lifestyle of our customers in mind. We use recycled luxury fabrics with UPF 50+, produce in small batches to reduce waste, and take a low-impact approach throughout the brand, from our materials and ethical production to our plastic-free packaging and upcycling of fabric scraps into items like shell collecting bags.

Despite being featured in popular magazines like Teen Vogue and Sports Illustrated, I’m most proud that Kaiona is grounded by my own experience growing up in Hawaiʻi and represents my deep connection to the ocean and my Hawaiian roots. Beyond making swimwear, I want Kaiona to encourage people to spend more time in the ocean and become more conscious of issues like plastic pollution that surround it. Every piece is designed to be something you can actually live in and my goal is to make swimwear that helps women feel confident, comfortable, and ready for whatever ocean activity is planned for the day.

How do you think about luck?
I definitely feel extremely lucky to have been born and raised in Hawai’i. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Pricing:

• Recycled-fabric swim scrunchies $14
• One piece swimsuits $155
• Bikini separates $60-$70
• Stash pocket rashguards $85-$100

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kaionaswimwear.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaionaswim
• LinkedIn: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kaionaswim/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaionaswim