Go to any celebration in Hawai‘i and it’s likely that someone—a teen, thirty-year-old or tutu (grandmother)—will be wearing Fighting Eel, a beloved local label celebrating 20 years this year. It’s common for new collections to sell out faster than Taylor Swift concert tickets and, for locals, it’s not a riddle why. Wahine (women) love to go bold in Ava Sky, an in-house line that’s made for people who love to have fun in everyday life and on vacation. Each flirty style, (think playful jumpers and rompers, relaxed palazzo pants, flowy dresses and tops), is splashed with a vibrant print inspired by Hawaiian florals and foliage. Fighting Eel’s basics appeal to customers who appreciate clean silhouettes in classic and muted hues. Although simple, don’t underestimate how the luxe texture of the fabric feels and falls. It’s like butter. As for gifts to take back home, Fighting Eel is a shopping mecca. There’s a grand selection of lifestyle goodies that, yes, fit in carry-on luggage. In the shops, find kitchen towels, reversible totes, toiletry bags, packing cubes, men’s socks, charms for Crocs, notebook sets and beach towels in prints that mirror the label’s tropi-cool aesthetic. It’s worth noting, the women-run company makes it a point to include keiki and men.The brand’s matching family sets, which include aloha shirts for the guys and unfussy dresses for little girls, are great for vacay snaps that will make memorable holiday cards.

Available at multiple locations across O‘ahu. @fightingeel