Designer Hi'ilei Nai'a Berg

My name is Hiʻilei Berg, and I am a 14-year-old designer and the creator of Naiʻa Designs. 

I began sewing at just three years old, sitting on my grandma’s lap and helping guide the fabric through the machine. By the age of eight, I was making wedding outfits for my Barbies, and a year later, I sewed my own interview outfit for the Little Miss Kauaʻi pageant.

In 2024, I entered and won the muʻumuʻu fashion show in the avant-garde category. I created a holokū made from old jeans my ʻohana was going to give away—representing my ʻohana genes. Literally. That piece reflected not only sustainability, but also identity, creativity, and the deep connection I have to my roots.

Since then, my experience and passion for design have only grown. I started with patchwork as my signature style, simply because I never had enough fabric for a full outfit. Over time, that limitation became my story—each piece of fabric stitched together represents the hard work, dedication, and love poured into every design.

Now, as I continue to expand my horizons, I am exploring new techniques, styles, and ways to tell meaningful stories through my creations. With every piece I make, I strive to honor my culture, my family, and the journey that brought me here—one stitch at a time.

Ka mahalo nui, Hiʻilei