Fashion firsts
By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Vicky Cayetano shows her wedding gown, right, and the holoku she wore at her wedding reception, Both will be on view at the Bishop Museum.

Gowns worn by Hawaii's first ladies will be displayed for public viewing

Star-Bulletin staff

Just think of the exciting fashion sense of the governors of Hawaii so far: William Quinn - black suit. John Burns - black suit. George Ariyoshi - black suit. John Waihee - black suit. Ben Cayetano - black suit. One more governor and we'll have enough pallbearers, thank you.

Which is why there's a display of first ladies' gowns going up at Bishop Museum's Hawaii Hall on Jan. 15. Would you really want to be subjected to an exhibition of governor-wear, unless it was Quinn's stash of plaid boxers or Ariyoshi's collection of tie-dyed Grateful Dead T-shirts? No.

It's more interesting to catch trends in first lady-wear, to see Hawaii's 20th-century history told through gauze and chiffon, to witness the way they wore.

The collection is based on the Smithsonian's archive of presidential first lady apparel, the exhibited portions of which draw thousands of visitors. It was a little hard to get off the ground here until Cayetano got married, so way to go, guv!

Vicky Cayetano is donating her wedding dress and a Princess Ka'iulani holoku worn at her wedding reception. Other pieces include a 1962 holoku worn by Nancy Quinn, a 1964 black lace gown worn by Beatrice Burns, a 1986 silk chiffon gown worn by Jean Ariyoshi and a 1994 silk number worn by Lynn Waihee to greet the emperor of Japan.

Bishop Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Information: 847-3511.