Styled for Adventure with our Tanned & Salty friend, Tayler

As a self-proclaimed bikini connoisseur and (almost) mermaid, I know a rad bikini when I see one. Kaikini Bikinis have always been the experts on creating amazing designs with the surfer girl in mind. Their suits are perfect for stylish babes who live an active lifestyle, accentuating your curves while giving you the support you need while you surf.

When I heard Kaikini was releasing new and improved Okole bottoms, I was stoked! I couldn't wait to see what they had come up with, especially since their original styles were already fantastic. After giving both the original Okole bottoms and the new designs a spin, I am excited to give you all the deets! The original design was just what any beach babe would need, sleek, slimming, figure flattering, and super easy to adventure in. Oh ya, and they make your booty look AMAZING! I couldn't imagine how Kaikini could possibly improve on this already amazing fit.

Needless to say, Kaikini did it again! The new and improved Okole bottoms have all the great features of the original bottoms, but their new seamless design is simply outstanding. These bottoms hug your curves just right without pinching or squeezing. And trust me, if you wipe out hard, these babies aren't going anywhere.

I can't wait to show off my Okole bottoms, they are definitely my new beach day essential! If you are looking to accentuate your booty and do some serious shredding, the new and improved Kaikini Okole bottoms are a must have. After all, you didn't do all those squats for nothing!

 Your tan & salty friend,

 Tayler <3

Who's tougher than a boy but hotter in a bikini?

We are wrapping our month of giving thanks with our inspiring leader, Taryn! She's one of the toughest women we know, leading KaiKini fearlessly to spread aloha and conquer the bikini world; but she's also got a heart of gold and rocks a bikini like no one else we know! Let's catch up with the head KaiKini Wahine as we give thanks for this beautiful life we live!

Name: Taryn Rodighiero
KaiKini Position: CEO/Founder/Creative Director AKA "Da Boss"

What’s Your Sign: Cancer (July 19)

Hometown: La Cañada, CA

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite KaiKini at the moment: Plum Shell Bandeau & Kahuna Bottoms

Any secret talents?

I'm an excellent water skier!


Words to live by:
Do it with passion or not at all.

Top 3 destinations on my bucket list:

Bali - New Zealand - Antarctica (to see the glaciers)

Most expensive item I've ever bought?
Does KaiKini HQ count? :)

Cutting the ribbon with hubby Tyler at our new
KaiKini HQ!

Best way to stay fit:
Outrigger Canoe Paddling & Bikram Yoga

What do you collect?
Yoga shorts & Bikinis

Name the best thing about living on Kauai:
The lifestyle and sense of community. I've never lived anywhere that people genuinely wanted others to succeed as much as they do here. We all help each other succeed. Businesses collaborate and promote each other rather than compete.

Collaboration with Kauai designers to put on our
Grand Opening fashion show!

Such an honor to share the
runway with Louda Larrain!

Last book I read?
#Girlboss

What inspires me?
Success stories. I love reading about people that accomplish things that seem impossible.

Best gift I've ever received:
Taeya

Best. Gift. Ever.

Meet the Meanest employee at KaiKini

Okay... maybe she's not really the Meanest... but her nickname IS Mina! Our a capella singing, paper-cutting, cookie baking, stranger-than-strange(-in-all-the best-ways) movie critic does more than help sew each and every bikini - she makes sure they all meet our rigid quality standards and look perfect before reaching your mailbox. With her artistic flair she's also great at helping solve design problems and has helped bring some of our newest styles to life! Hooray for mean girls! Read on to learn more about why we're so thankful for Miss Mina...

Name: Marina Loew

KaiKini Position: Quality Control Manager & Seamstress AKA The Cookie Monster

What’s Your Sign: Cancer (June 25)

Hometown: Dryden, NY

Favorite Color: Fall Colors (at the moment!)

Favorite KaiKini at the moment: Kahuna bottoms!

Favorite thing about working at KaiKini: Other than the awesome group of girls I work with, I’d have to say that one of the awesome things about KaiKini is that it’s the first job where I've been able to put my art degree to good use. Education money NOT wasted!

What’s the last book you read? 

“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline. As a closet gamer and RPG addict, I LOVED it! 

Stripper Name (middle name + first road you lived on):
Sophia Lake…which sounds more like a cross between a stripper and an opera singer

Theme song at the moment?
I’m currently on a sick-of-all-my-music-especially-if-it-has-words kick (yes, random), so I’m gonna go with one of my favorite songs from the Amélie soundtrack, “Comptine d’un autre été, l’après-midi” by Yann Tiersen.

Any secret talents you’d like to reveal?
Not really a secret, but I've been a weaver since I was two and used to teach classes back in high school. I've got my own floor looms and everything.

What inspires you?
Art. Particularly from the Renaissance and Art Nouveau eras. And the amazing brush strokes of the Impressionists.

What are your hobbies outside of making bikinis?
If you haven’t guessed it yet, it’s making art. Knitting, painting, paper cutting, needlepoint, lithography, encaustic, carving, beadwork…if it’s a form of art, I’m doin' it.

Favorite way to stay fit?
Outrigger paddling. The main reason (other than Kaikini, of course!) that I’m still here on Kauai.

Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Can I answer “Hallothanksmas”?

Any secrets you’d like to reveal?
I joined an ocean outrigger club to face my fear of big waves.

What’s your favorite childhood memory?
Sappy answer, but my sister is my favorite childhood memory. Having ‘bull fights’, designing our own parachutes and testing them out on our dolls by throwing them off the balcony, water ballet in the St. Lawrence, getting buried in the ditch by the snowplow, bribing her with my stashed Halloween candy…we've been on a lot of adventures. Love you, sible!

What are you giving thanks for?
My island ohana; for embracing me so warmly and making me feel at home even when I'm so far from it.

Flattery or Foe?

Aloha 2014! 

Working in the bikini world is amazing in so many ways. With our Kinis being made by hand right in the studio, we have the rare opportunity to test out new ideas on the fly. With bikini styles constantly evolving and our ever growing desire to stand out among the crowd, we find ourselves inspired to create new designs quite often. On this particular Thursday, I watched from my desk as Becky and Taryn brainstormed to bring a new seamless design to life. Although I can't sew (but wish I did!) the girls asked for my feedback throughout the process and after an hour or two of trial and error we had a prototype! Our first reversible design was born.

It’s always challenging and exciting to bring new, unique designs to the bikini world. Over the past few years, we’ve found companies creating designs similar to ours or using our images without permission or giving us credit - it’s an inevitable part of the business…but it isn't always deliberate. Soon after releasing a pic of our new prototype, we were notified by another bikini company that we were close to infringing on their pending patent. 

"Oh no! Is our new design not original?!" We investigated further and were relieved to find out that their design was actually quite different from ours. "Phew!"

Situations like these can be frustrating, but we also find ourselves unexpectedly flattered. Flattered that another company considered us competition enough to reach out and warn us against making something similar; flattered someone wanted to use our designs or images to represent themselves or their business; but above all, it keeps us relentless in our pursuit of the perfect Kini! That’s why we’re constantly improving our designs and creating new styles as bright and adventurous as our wonderful fans!

We’ve got some exciting designs and announcements coming for 2014 and can’t wait to share them with you!

Xoxo!

Andrea