Contrast Magazine

WEED & FISH from AlohaServedDaily on Vimeo.

Every culture and city has their must-have “necessities” in life. In LA, you have The Recipe: Women, Weed & Weather. In Hawai’i, two essentials that go together like salt and pepper: pakalolo & poke. What better way to unfold from a long day at work then picking up some fresh, ‘ono poke & pakalolo and having a small smoke session with our amazing sunset as the backdrop? Can’t get any better than that! Fitted teamed up with our friends over at Crooks & Castles for our second collaboration effort, with an offering of our Pakalolo & Poke snapback, Pakalolo & Poke tee (black and white) which will be available exclusively at FITTED, and the Tri Loc Airgun tee which will be made exclusively available at Crooks HI. We’d like to end this post with a special and respectful salute to Crooks family member Chris “Lewds” Natalio. Rest In Paradise!

PUNCH from AlohaServedDaily on Vimeo.

Dropping on Valentineʻs Day, this Vans Era features Fittedʻs OG Black Kala embroidery. Heard this collaboration is super limited with only 150 pairs (75 at the Fitted store and 75 at Eighty-Four Skate shop) on February 14. Another 150 pairs will drop on March 1.

I just came back from a West Side camping trip with the Fitted Fam for Father’s Day weekend and had a life-and-career-changing revelation on the last day: I want to be a dolphin when I grow up. Paiea Projects’ Paul Kema and I got to swim with a pod of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins and it was amazing. A little sketchy too because the dolphins were rolling 100 mammals deep. Plus, there were four dive boats, filled with tourists, following the pod all over the West Side. Needless to say, it was hard to tell if the dolphins were over humans. Shit, I would be if they hounded me like the paparazzi on Yeezy’s jock. While this oceanic experience gave me the necessary shot of adrenaline and inspiration, swimming with dolphins led me to change my career path.

Your author at his first day of Dolphin internship.

I’m over being a land-dwelling journalist. I’m over the deadlines, hours on the computer and the unhealthy snacks that come with it. I now aspire to be apart of the Delphinidae Family for the following 10 reasons:

1. Dolphins are the best surfers in the world. They can catch any wave, including the breakers off of boats, and punt 30-foot airs on the regular. Dolphins were landing back flips before Kelly Slater was born.

2. Dolphins are one of the few animals in the ocean that can kill sharks. They’ve been observed mobbing sharks who threaten their young or people. That’s so gangster!

3. Dolphins are down to help other species in distress. It doesn’t matter your color, creed or species, the dolphins got your back if they’re around.

All images by Paul Kema. Dolphins are intelligent, sexy, rip at surfing and love raw fish– pretty much everything I've been looking for in a human female.

4. Dolphins take a shit wherever they want. Paul and I saw so many dolphins taking a deuce while swimming it was ridiculous. I was also extremely jealous because I was holding it the whole weekend because I refused to dump at the Yokes’ public bathroom.

5. Dolphins spend the majority of their day playing and socializing.

6. Dolphins are sophisticated hunters that use echolocation to locate prey and communicate. In fact, schools of juvenile yellow fin tuna have been known to swim behind pods of dolphins to find bait balls of feeder fish sort of like how an entourage of scrubs follows a famous rapper to find groupie sex.

7. A dolphin’s diet consists of fish and squid. If I was a dolphin that would mean I get to grind poke everyday.

This is Contrast Contributing Photogrpaher Paul Kema posing with some hot dolphin booty. Your author couldn't swim fast enough to take a better shot and ended up with this sub-par picture.

8. Dolphins are very social animals.

9. Dolphins are extremely intelligent.

10. Perhaps the most important reason of this list: dolphins are the only other mammals than humans that have sex for pleasure. They’ve been observed fornicating when females aren’t in heat. Therefore, they’re boning just to bone, not for procreation. In my opinion, this supports the fact that dolphins are highly intelligent. Dolphins also have sex multiple times a day and males have a unit that can function like a hand.

I’ll be putting in my two weeks soon to pursue a career as a dolphin. I just need to find a potential employer looking for a good dolphin. I’ll be sending my resume to Sea World later.

I spent my Veteran’s Day in the ‘aina (land). The Fitted Hawai‘i and Vertical Junkies staff arranged a workday at MA‘O Farms. I tagged along on the Wai‘anae Valley excursion with Pai‘ea Projects and Kumu Kauanoe in tow. It was full-on Cityslickers in The Country. I should say though, that VJ’s Blaine showed up in boots and grew up on plant nursery in Kahalu‘u. But, for the most part a lot of the Townies weren’t accustomed to gardening let alone farming. They persisted though, working the ‘aina (land) by pulling weeds, sowing seeds and doing other various farming deeds.

There’s a way more informative blog post about the day on the Aloha Served Daily section of Fitted’s Web Site dropping Monday. The following are the out takes from the workday according to me with a twist of humor. All images were taken by Paul Kema and all the captions are by yours truly.

Nobody from the Townies, including myself, knew how to oli (chant) except for Kumu Kauanoe. It's a customary protocol to chant in order to be invited into a Hawaiian area.

VJ's Russ sowing the seeds for success in his daughter while she works the land.

Chefs Lindsey and Acre were also planting their seed.

The soil at MA‘O Farm has a great deal of clay in it which allows the dirt to hold more moisture. The mud also washes off your skin with just water because of high content of clay.

This is what the fertile soil of Wai‘anae Valley can produce. Get it? Produce?

Bass is from San Francisco, Calif.

Ito is from Hilo, Hawai‘i.

In the 15 years that we were friends I've never seen Pono (pictured on the left) volunteer his free time for any good causes. The guy isn't selfish, he just never found a good reason to extend Aloha that way, but he was more than stoked to work at MA‘O Farms. Here is one of my best friends hooking up irrigation with his girlfriend Kumu Kauanoe. I'm so proud of him.

Jared: Ges? WTF? My blowtorch doesn't work anymore. What do I do?

Ges: Shit. I dunno.

Ges: If you burn my hand I'm gonna be pissed. Jared: No worry, Beef Curry.

VJ's Mikey sampling a Japanese turnip called Hodai. Still get mud on 'em, but dats minah bird.

Cuzzo "watering" the corn.

The MA‘O Farms staff calls the interns in from the field.

Washing of the workday at Turtle Beach with C-minuses while Cuzzo and Kaboe design their upcoming skate project at The Contemporary Museum of Arts.

Thrive.

Checkout some dope ass skateboarding at A‘ala Park today. The contest starts at 11 a.m. and don’t forget to bring your cooler and red cups. Chee!

On Saturday morning at 11 a.m. there were 250 of Kekoa Cazimero’s signature Ali‘i Kamehameha New Era hats on sale. Three hours later they were all sold out. That’s because guys were waiting in line in front of Fitted Hawaii on Makaloa Street to get the hat two days before the release.

“This was the second time we had people waiting in line on Thursday,” says Fitted founder Ola Rapozo. “This is one of the most anticipated drops we had. The concept was to take Kekoa’s swag and put it on the hat.”

Cazimero was on hand to witness the line of people, sign autographs and promote his new movie Riding With Koa. In addition, Koa Boi was also there to educate people on his non-profit organization the Koa Tree Foundation. Proceeds from the sale of the hat go directly to the Koa Tree Foundation. In a week, those who purchased the hat can redeem a copy of Riding With Koa at Fitted Hawaii by showing their hang tag from the Ali‘i Kamehameha New Era.

(From left to right) Ola Rapozo, Hawaiian Hurricane, Koa Boi and Ryan Kelly. R.Kelly was clutch and kept everyone hydrated with Vitamin Water. Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

Kekoa's signature Fitted. Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

The beginning of the line that stretched all the way around the building. Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

The first satisified customer and Cuzzo. Dude was there since Thursday. Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

The Fitted Hawai‘i Opening Ceremony celebrated the launch of their revamped Web Site and online store on a sunny Saturday afternoon on April 18, at Ala Moana Beach Park. The staff of the hat boutique wore Maile leis from Hilo, and they launched the online store went 3:00 p.m. with a release of three limited edition Hawai‘i New Eras. Dope hats, dude!

Kona winds kept the party people warm and thirsty. Red Bulls and a plastic cups were in hand. The Grill and the girlies were firing while the boys were steady repping for Fitted.

The Aloha spirit was being served heavily with the canned food drive for the Hawai‘i Food Bank. Fitted’s ‘ohana sat proudly in the shade, watching their loved ones’ dream of a 24/7 online hat boutique realized.

Jeff Peterson brought that Kiho‘alu, slack-key guitar in the beginning of the BBQ. With Tassho Pearce flowing on the mic, spitting hot fire with a bonkers “Day and Night” remix. Westafa dropped that sick dancehall reggae, bumping a Wayne Marshall “Blame It On the Weed” dub plate that had your author screaming for more. J Boog capped off the afternoon with a soulful, acoustic set with “Love Season.” Chicken skin, bule!

Through all of this good music, good times and good fun the Open Sign traveled through it all. Contrast Magazine documented the Open Sign’s schmoozing, boozing and cruising around the Opening Ceremony. Surprisingly, the Open Sign was familiar with everyone’s nicknames, but didn’t know anyone’s last names. Go figure, huh? The following are the Open Sign’s recollections of the “kick-ass” Fitted Hawai‘i barbeque.

“This girl was so pretty she put my “I” out at the Opening Ceremony.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Yea boys!” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Me, Ola, his Pops and Uncle shooting the cruise, bah.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Bass looking stressed out 5-minutes before the Web Site goes live.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Future Fitted skate team rider on his grind.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“The Fitted ‘Ohana celebrating a long year of work to make the Web Site happen. G’yeah!” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Aloha served daily with the Hosoi double watch steez.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“The ladies leading the canned food drive. I’m loving the dude to chick ratio in this picture.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Big ups to the Teecee (Tongs Controller), Buba of Vertical junkies, for cooking up the ‘ono grinds. I still got ribs stuck in my grill.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“T-Wats, Juice, Red Bull Rob, Noyle and Koi Boi are having fun.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“What up, groms?” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Ola, J Boog, Kaboe, Bobby Filipino and the Polynesians high rolling.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Koa Boi gives Kalei his Arakawa. He should have gave me that board. Even though I’m a sign I still rip.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Dude about to buy something from the online store. Cha-ching, cha-ching.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Me, Bass and his better half trade smiles.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“The King, his Queen and Princess in the shade and on the throne. Long live, Cuzzo.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Repping with Tassho Pearce and Westafa, word.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Yo, me and Under-16 World Junior Champ Keanu Asing had these Red Bull girls eating out of our palm. But, when Keanu bounced to go surf, the chicks ditched me: weak sauce.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Look at that. Dude had to carry me and the bull dog. C’mon baby girl, help out the cause.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Contrast’s Race Skelton getting all Johnny Cash and artsy.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“T-Wats and I rollin’ the old-school mope through Ala Mo Beach Park, what?” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“The Fitted 2nd Generation and I get crunk.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Me, Ola and the 5-0 just kickin’ it.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“Yep, Rawson got this sick Fitted hat for free.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects

“I’m donating a canned good to the Hawai‘i Food Bank and I get a raffle ticket for my donation. I neva won nothin’, but I still feel good.” Photo: Kema/Pai‘ea Projects