Leonard “Len” K. Kaae, Jr. was born in Hawaii but was raised between Guam and Hawaii for most of his adolescent years. Len now lives on Guam with his Guam-born Chamorrita wife, Tara Kaae and their five beautiful children.
Living on these two incredible islands gave Len the opportunity to observe the intermingling of cultures, and note the idiosyncrasies of everyday island life… and anyone who knows Len will vouch that his quick witty comments and uncensored humorous remarks about bizarre and unexpected day-to-day occurrences will leave you in stitches. For Len, Håfaloha is more than just a business — it is a way to express his ideas, humor, love for island life, and creativity through unique clothing designs. For Tara, Håfaloha is an outlet through which she conveys her love for people and passion for customer service.
Tara came up with the “Håfaloha” name, in part, as a representation of the Hawaiian and Chamorro cultures intertwined within their family. But the name also has a deeper significance based on the very special meaning of the phrases "Håfa Adai" and "Aloha."
Hafa Adai!
“Håfa Adai” is a greeting used by the Chamorro people of the Mariana Islands (Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan). It invokes the familial spirit, warm affection, and “what is mine is yours” communal mindset of the Mariana Islands and its people.
“Hello” and “Hi” are friendly, but there is no greeting here quite like “Håfa Adai.”
Aloha!
“Aloha” is a salutation used by the natives of the Hawaiian Islands. It is often thought to have a dual meaning of “hello” and “goodbye,” but it is also used at times to say “I love you.”
“Aloha” is more than just a simple greeting: In Hawaiian, it has a deeper significance, including qualities like energy, life, and joy.
Our desire is that the “Håfa Adai” mindset and “Aloha” spirit (as described above) would be combined in you. Our apparel is designed to reflect the beauty of island living, and to bring the warm mood of the islands to everyone wearing our apparel, no matter where they live. And our cool desserts will refresh you on a hot day with the sweet taste of the islands.
But “Håfaloha” is more than just our products or our brand; it is a lifestyle and a way of life. Our hope is that your entire experience with us — from the island feel you get from wearing our clothing, to savoring our refreshing sweet treats, to visiting our store and interacting with our friendly staff family — would leave you immersed both in “Håfa Adai” and “Aloha.” We want you to truly feel: Håfaloha.