Alexis Akiona
Name Alexis Akiona
social media @lexbreezyhawaii @lexbreezy
Age 29
Town/Moku Hilo
Island Hawaiʻi Island
Leadership Category Business Development
Nominated by Gabrielle Kaea
Share with us a little about yourself and what you do.
Aloha, My name is Alexis Akiona. I am a Hilo native and a 2nd generation aloha wear designer. I followed into my mothers footsteps in to fashion and took it on as my mission to inspire the young generation to embrace the daily adornment of aloha wear. I started Lexbreezy Hawai'i in 2016 and since then opened up our storefront in Kailua, O'ahu.
Why is the work that you do important to you? The community?
Being a native hawaiian fashion designer I am able to continue to tell our stories of what aloha wear is today by connecting to the younger generation. I hope to inspire the young generation to work hard and go after their dreams. If I can do it, so can they.
Share with us the qualities of leadership you admire and how you express those in your life.
I admire leaders who are passionate, self motivated, who take care of the people around them, who give back, and who are humble. As an owner of a small local business I have 13 wahine who work under me and it's my job to lead our team everyday. By working alongside them, communicating and setting them up for success so they can do their job well.
Who has inspired you to do the work that you are doing?
My mother, Lola Miller has been the biggest inspiration to me. As a 2nd generation designer I followed my mothers footsteps into fashion. My mother really inspires me to give back and to take care of everyone around me.
What is one word that describes something you are excited about for the lāhui?
Representation. Being able to put Hawai'i on the map worldwide. And to be able to share stories of generations of aloha wear to everyone around the world. To influence the young generation to embrace our hawaiian culture.
What is one word that describes a pressing issue that is facing our lāhui?
Cost of living. To continue to live here in Hawai'i we have to work 2-3 jobs to survive.