The Story Behind Hawaii Dept. | Founded by Projectjev

Projectjev (Jevin) founded Hawaii Dept. during a major turning point in his life, shortly after graduating from Kamehameha Schools Kapālama with both his high school diploma and an associate degree.

After graduation, he underwent surgery and began recovering with plans to return to football at the collegiate level. During that period, he started his clothing business to earn extra income.

What began as a small community idea became a larger ambition: to create a Hawaiʻi streetwear brand built on faith, Hawaiian culture. The goal was to challenge conventional clothing through bold silhouettes, detailed textures, custom panels, and statement pieces that carried meaning beyond appearance.

As Hawaii Dept. grew, Projectjev made a defining decision. He put aside his college scholarship and chose to focus on building the brand.

Since then, Hawaii Dept. has grown to more than 19,000 TikTok followers and 9,000 Instagram followers in 1 year, selling thousands of pieces to customers across all 50 U.S. states.

For Projectjev, that reach represents more than sales. Every garment worn beyond Hawaiʻi creates another opportunity to share Hawaiian words, identity, history, and creative expression.

What started during recovery became a business built around conviction, culture, and a commitment to creating something different.

Faith. Hawaiian Culture. Streetwear.

The foundation of Hawaii Dept. remains unchanged.