About

My name is Fay, also known as Kaimana, and I named my business after my Hawaiian name, which means "diamond," because everyone shines like a diamond in my handcrafted papale (hat). I am the creator of the islander SunBun™ papale, a timeless piece made with authentic tapa cloth from the Polynesian islands. Each open crown papale is adorned with a tapa cloth band, a strand of shells, and topped with a pua (flower).

The Beginning

My mother, born and raised on Kauai, was the inspiration behind my hats. She grew up on a farm, later moving to Oahu where she graduated from Leilehua High School and worked at the Dole Plantation. Throughout her life, she always wore a papale to protect her sensitive skin. In 2015, she encouraged me to create my own style of papale, saying, "You can make your own kine style and do da kine magic on 'em. You can do it, Kaimana!" With her blessing, I created my first hat, and the SunBun™ was born. Her encouragement fueled my passion, and now these SunBun™ hats are loved by many around the world. To this date, Kaimana Krafts has sold hats in California, Arizona, Nevada, and has recently been featured at Kaidio in the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Oahu.

The Original SunBun ™

The SunBun™ papale is designed for both style and function. It offers sun protection, is durable for travel, and makes a unique fashion statement. The open crown top is perfect for those with long hair, allowing them to style it in a bun, keeping them cooler in the heat. To give it an islander touch, I added a tapa cloth band adorned with shells and finished with a tropical flower. The Sunbun can be worn casually with a t-shirt and jeans or dressed up with formal attire. I also create various styles, including the Pork Pie SunBun, Paniolo (cowboy) SunBun, Exploring SunBun™, and Fancy SunBun™, each uniquely adorned with special flowers, shells, feathers, or lauhala.

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Tapa Cloth

Tapa cloth, a traditional material from the Polynesian islands, is crafted from the inner bark of trees like the mulberry. The process involves soaking and beating the bark to create strips, which are then dried and glued together with natural plant adhesives to form larger pieces. These cloths are adorned with motifs and designs using natural plant-based dyes, each symbolizing aspects of Polynesian culture, nature, and heritage.

Tapa cloth holds deep cultural significance and is used in various ways, from clothing and bedding to home decor and ceremonial items like wedding and funeral adornments. It is often passed down through generations as a treasured gift. We proudly use only reclaimed and eco-friendly tapa cloth for our hats, ensuring sustainability and honoring the traditions of the Polynesian islands. The tapa cloth on SunBun™ hats may feature natural variations, such as differing densities, slight shedding, creases, and unique design and color differences, reflecting the artisanal and natural origins of this beautiful material.