When you shop at Coconut Ave, you're taking home more than a beautiful swimsuit, breezy dress, or thoughtfully designed accessory. You're taking home a piece of a story—one that began on Hawaiʻi Island, inspired by the ocean, shaped by community, and brought to life by two local women who believed there was room for a different kind of island lifestyle brand.
Founded in 2017 by Big Island natives Mahealani Gambill and Kelly Pila, Coconut Ave was built on a simple idea: create elevated island fashion that feels authentic to Hawaiʻi while embracing thoughtful design, sustainability, and timeless style.
Today, Coconut Ave has grown into a Hawaiʻi lifestyle brand with boutiques across the islands, but the heart of the company remains exactly where it started—with two designers creating products they genuinely wanted to wear themselves and proudly share with others.
Whether you're visiting Hawaiʻi for the first time, planning your next tropical vacation, or lucky enough to call these islands home, we invite you to meet the women behind Coconut Ave and discover how every collection begins.
Designed in Hawaiʻi, Inspired by Everyday Island Life
Every Coconut Ave collection begins right here in Hawaiʻi.
From the earliest hand-drawn sketches to original print artwork, color palettes, garment silhouettes, fit adjustments, and final product details, every piece is thoughtfully designed on Hawaiʻi Island.
The islands aren't simply our backdrop—they're our greatest source of inspiration.
Inspired by Everyday Hawaiʻi
- A morning paddle before work
- Sunrise surf sessions.
- The colors of native flowers after a rain.
- The texture of lava rock meeting the sea.
- Weekend farmers markets.
- The changing light across the coastline.
- The quiet moments that remind us why we love calling Hawaiʻi home.
These everyday experiences become the foundation for every print, every fabric selection, and every silhouette we create.
Our goal has never been to chase fast fashion or fleeting trends. Instead, we design timeless pieces that capture the feeling of island life—pieces you'll continue reaching for long after your vacation ends.
This Is Who We Design For
If Coconut Ave were a person, she'd be the effortlessly stylish woman who reminds you that the best days aren't the most glamorous—they're the ones spent outside with the people you love, wearing pieces that feel as good as the memories you're making.
She wakes up early for a surf, packs a picnic instead of making reservations, chases sunsets instead of schedules, and believes the best adventures are often the simplest ones. She's confident without trying too hard, values quality over quantity, and would rather own a few timeless pieces she truly loves than a closet full of fast fashion.
This is who we design for.
Every Coconut Ave collection is created for women who love the outdoors, appreciate thoughtful design, and believe clothing should support a life well-lived—not distract from it.
Whether you're exploring a hidden beach on Hawaiʻi Island, hopping between islands, relaxing by the pool, or planning your next tropical getaway, we want you to feel comfortable, confident, and completely yourself.
Our hope is simple: that every piece becomes part of your story. The swimsuit you wore on your favorite vacation. The dress you packed for every summer adventure. The pareu that always finds its way into your beach bag.
Because we believe the best clothing isn't just worn—it becomes part of life's most meaningful moments.
The Founders Behind Coconut Ave
Meet Mahealani Gambill
As Coconut Ave's Brand and Product Developer, Mahealani Gambill is the creative force behind the brand's signature aesthetic.
Born and raised in Kalapana on Hawaiʻi Island, Mahealani grew up surrounded by one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. Her connection to the ocean, Native Hawaiian culture, paddling, surfing, and the natural beauty of Hawaiʻi continues to shape every collection she creates.
After earning her degree in Graphic Design from FIDM in Los Angeles, she returned home with a vision of creating a modern island brand rooted in authenticity rather than trends.
Today, Mahealani leads:
- Original print and textile design
- Product development
- Color story creation
- Merchandising
- Boutique buying
- Creative direction
- Seasonal collection planning
Every Coconut Ave print begins as original artwork created specifically for each collection. Rather than purchasing stock artwork or repeating generic tropical imagery, every design is thoughtfully developed to tell its own story inspired by Hawaiʻi.
This commitment to original artwork is what gives every Coconut Ave collection its distinctive identity.
Meet Kelly Pila
While Mahealani brings each collection to life creatively, Kelly Pila ensures every customer experiences Coconut Ave exactly as it was intended.
Originally from Glenwood on Hawaiʻi Island, Kelly has a background in fashion, boutique ownership, retail operations, communications, and brand marketing.
After earning her Communications degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, she combined her passion for thoughtful retail with a love for storytelling and creating meaningful customer experiences.
Today, Kelly oversees:
- Business operations
- Marketing strategy
- Brand storytelling
- Customer experience
- Retail operations
- E-commerce
- Public relations
- Community partnerships
- Wholesale relationships
Her vision has helped shape Coconut Ave into more than just a boutique—it has become a place where people can slow down, discover something beautiful, and reconnect with the feeling of being in Hawaiʻi.
Whether someone discovers Coconut Ave while vacationing in the islands or shops online from thousands of miles away, Kelly hopes they leave feeling like they've taken a little piece of Hawaiʻi home with them.
More Than Swimwear
Although Coconut Ave first became known for sustainable swimwear, it has grown into a complete modern island lifestyle brand.
Today our collections include:
- Sustainable women's swimwear
- Islandwear
- Island apparel
- Dresses
- Matching separates
- Pareos
- Beach accessories
- Everyday bags
- Hats
- Lifestyle goods
- Men's apparel
Alongside our in-house collections, our boutiques also feature a carefully curated selection of locally owned and globally loved brands that complement the Coconut Ave lifestyle.
Every product is chosen with the same philosophy:
Beautiful enough for vacation. Comfortable enough for everyday life. Timeless enough to wear for years.
Designed in Hawaiʻi. Thoughtfully Produced.
One question we're often asked is where our garments are made.
Every Coconut Ave collection is imagined, designed, developed, and refined in Hawaiʻi before being produced in small batches with our trusted manufacturing partners in Bali.
We intentionally chose this partnership because of Bali's exceptional garment craftsmanship and experienced artisans who share our commitment to quality.
Working in small batches allows us to:
- Reduce unnecessary overproduction
- Maintain exceptional quality standards
- Create thoughtful seasonal collections
- Minimize excess inventory
- Focus on craftsmanship instead of mass production
While our garments are sewn overseas, the heart of every collection lives in Hawaiʻi.
What We Design in Hawaiʻi
- Our original artwork
- Our silhouettes
- Our fit development
- Our color stories
- Our branding
- Our merchandising
- Our marketing
- Our photography
- Our customer experience
Months of creativity, collaboration, and refinement happen here before a single garment is ever produced.
Sustainability Matters
Thoughtful design also means thinking beyond the finished garment.
Many of our swim collections are made using recycled materials, helping reduce waste while maintaining the comfort, durability, and performance our customers expect.
We also prioritize:
- Small production runs
- Long-lasting quality
- Timeless design
- Eco-conscious packaging whenever possible
- Creating pieces meant to be worn season after season
Rather than encouraging disposable fashion, we hope every Coconut Ave piece becomes one of your favorites for years to come.
Four Boutiques Across Hawaiʻi
What began as a dream between two friends in 2017 has grown thanks to the incredible support of our community.
In 2023, Coconut Ave opened its first boutique in Waikoloa on Hawaiʻi Island, followed later that year by a second location in Hilo—bringing the brand back to its hometown roots.
In 2024, we expanded to Ala Moana Center on Oʻahu, and in 2025, opened our fourth boutique, a pop-up location at The Shops at Wailea on Maui.
Each location reflects the Coconut Ave lifestyle while celebrating the unique community surrounding it.
Whether you're visiting one of our boutiques during your Hawaiʻi vacation or shopping with us online, our goal is always the same: to create an experience that feels warm, welcoming, and authentically local.
Built by Community
One of the greatest gifts of growing Coconut Ave has been the relationships we've built along the way.
What Community Means to Us
- Customers become friends.
- Visitors return year after year.
- Families stop in each season to see what's new.
- Many people first discovered us online before making a point to visit one of our boutiques while traveling through Hawaiʻi.
That sense of connection means everything to us.
We don't simply design clothing—we design pieces that become part of your memories.
- The swimsuit you packed for your honeymoon.
- The dress you wore to sunset dinner.
- The pareu that traveled with you across the islands.
- The tote that carries your beach essentials every weekend.
Those are the moments we hope to be part of.
Mahalo for Being Part of Our Story
Whether you've shopped with us since our earliest days, discovered us while visiting Hawaiʻi, or are just finding Coconut Ave for the first time, mahalo for supporting our journey.
As a women-owned, Hawaiʻi-designed small business, every purchase allows us to continue doing what we love: creating original collections inspired by the place we call home and sharing modern island style with people around the world.
More than anything, we hope Coconut Ave reminds you to slow down, get outside, and make memories with the people you love.
The best days are rarely the most extravagant—they're the ones spent barefoot at the beach, chasing sunsets, exploring somewhere new, or simply enjoying the little moments that make life beautiful.
That's the feeling we hope every Coconut Ave piece carries with it.
Not just beautiful clothing, but a reminder to live a little more like you're in Hawaiʻi.
A little piece of paradise, wherever you are.
Mahalo,
Mahea + Kelly
Continue Your Coconut Ave Journey
Explore our latest Hawaiʻi-designed swimwear, resortwear, and accessories inspired by everyday island living.