When her mom told her to study radiology, it sounded like a smart plan. Good pay, job security, a stable future. But for Alexis Akiona, stability never sparked joy. She traded X-rays for Aloha shirts, turned risk into runway, and built one of Hawaiʻi’s most recognizable local fashion brands: Lex Breezy Hawaiʻi.

No handouts. No blueprint. Just movement.

That’s how Keola Rapozo built one of the most iconic clothing brands in Hawaiʻi—from a kid hustling in Kahalu’u to co-founding FITTED, a streetwear staple woven into the identity of the islands.

Kūhaʻo Zane, the lead graphic designer at Sig Zane Designs from Keaukaha, Hawai’i, didn’t just follow in his family’s footsteps, he forged his own path. But to do that, he had to leave home first.

Keola Rapozo, a Castle High School graduate from Kahalu‘u and co-founder of the popular brand and clothing line, FITTED, demonstrates how thinking outside the box and embracing different approaches can lead to extraordinary success.