Puamana Crabbe grew up under the guidance of her mother, who she calls the Hawaiian-style Martha Stewart. Her mother’s seamstress skills fed a passion for design that blossomed as early as eight years old. Influenced at that young age by Life magazine fashion photography, she knew that fashion design would be her career. Through redesigning hand-me-down clothes for herself and sewing outfits for her family, she laid the foundation for a lifetime of artistic expression.

In the late 1960s, she honed her craft at the Japanese Sewing Practical school on Young Street, where she developed discipline, technical expertise, and an eye for detail. Moved by the film Endless Summer, she began designing swimwear for her family and friends. After graduating from high school she was mentored by Allen Akina at his studio on 52 N King St. Observing and learning about his process motivated Puamana to pursue a career in fashion design.

In October of 1980 she had her first design collection at Liberty House under the name Puamana of Honolulu. She graduated from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa with a degree in fashion design in 1981. Not long after graduating, she opened the Puamana of Honolulu studio off of Pi’ikoi, eventually designing for local, national and international hula hālau, Waikiki shows, entertainers, pageants and Merrie Monarch participants.

Inspired by European and New York fashion, Puamana began creating her own signature appliqué style. Drawing from her heritage of ancestral Kapa quilt makers, she started with Kapa Kuiki Pepe (Hawaiian baby quilts) and gradually evolved the designs to include appliqué on mu’u, aloha shirts, and more. By 1989, she opened a new studio off of Wai’alae Avenue and rebranded as Designs by Puamana Crabbe. This unique approach to fashion and design expanded into Hawaiian weddings and one-of-a-kind commissioned pieces, leading to steady work though the end of the 1990s.

Her career took a pause in 1997 when she embraced motherhood, dedicating herself fully to raising her daughter, Ka’ili. Although the responsibilities of motherhood demanded most of her time and focus, fashion remained a constant in her life. The lessons learned from fashion design influenced her approach to parenting, teaching and living with creativity and care.

Though her career shifted focus, she never let go of her love for fashion. Over the years, she took on private design commissions for Kūmu Kahua Theatre and Tau Dance Theatre, keeping her passion alive and her skills sharp while balancing her different roles. Then, in the early 2010’s the Pa’i Foundations MAMo Wearable Arts Show revived Puamana’s love for design and moved her to start designing again.

Starting in 2024, she has relaunched her brand with a focus on limited, one-of-a-kind handmade pieces. Her collection celebrates Hawaiian heritage with hand-appliquéd aloha shirts, dresses, and quilts.

The mo’olelo (story) of Puamana Crabbe Designs is one of tradition, craftsmanship, and aloha (love) for design. With her return to the fashion and design world, she builds on her legacy of Hawaiian designs inspired by what is seen, heard and felt in the na’au (heart) and from generations of traditional ‘ike (knowledge) passed down from Na Kūpuna.