DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM There's a place for elegance on the sand with BCBG's $112 one-piece, or maillot, modeled by Kaitlin Metcalf. Go all the way with a $32 Liz Claiborne hat. Poolside socialite ensemble provided by Macy's Hawaii.

Splashing suits

A little creativity goes
a long way in matching your
swimsuit to your sun style

---

By Keiko Kiele Akana-Gooch
kakana-gooch@starbulletin.com

Whether you're a hardy athlete, beach bunny, casual visitor or sun avoider, the beach will have your name on it this summer.

How will you leave your mark in the sand? Here are a few fashion formulas for all beachgoers, from the active athlete to the sunbather, the beach regular to once-a-year beach visitor.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Above, left, Samantha Park models a Quiksilver Raisins tube top -- or bandeau -- and a string bikini bottom, at $49 for the set. Kawehi Kuhau is wearing a $69 Aaron Chang reversible tri-hipster, with the ocean on one side and a navy-blue print on the other. The looks are suitable for beach bunnies and sun goddesses.

Beach bunny/casual

For those of us who hang out at the beach to see and be seen, there are stylish halter bikini tops and your common, never-go-out-of-style string bikinis.

Don't throw away those apparently useless, out-of-style pieces of jewelry and accessories from the '80s or beyond. Like capri pants, bell-bottoms and other hip attire that hung in your mother's closet decades ago, they're back and they're in.

Macy's Ala Moana said detailing is the new trend for swimwear. Take your antique bamboo-ring drawer knob or your flashy, fluorescent-colored bracelet, combine that with a halter or Hawaiian-print bikini, and you're ready to throw a retro furniture/jewelry-to-swimsuit fashion beach party.

Tube tops are also back from the dark ages and perfect for colorful sunsets and shady palm trees. Best of all, you don't have to check your chest every five minutes or wave set -- whichever comes first -- to ensure your personal assets are still personal.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Beach bunnies can soak up some some sun in Rampage's retro-style halter top and hipster bottom, $76.

Active athlete

For the surfing sweetheart, Frisbee machine, volleyball spiker or serious swimmer, take your everyday fashion to the beach with a tankini or halter top to prevent stomach rash from surfing or accidental cleavage spill-outs. "Boy" shorts, which have no resemblance to shorts worn by most males and barely manage to cover your rump, are also great for the sporty athlete.

Then again, even the most hard-core surfer girls and volleyball players bare their bods in bikinis. If you dare to try your luck with a two-piece, double-knot those string bikinis, and pray your surfboard is the only thing you'll ever have to swim after.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Take your animal instincts to the shore with a $100 halter-hipster by Le Tarte, left. This Maui-made zebra print worn by Kawehi Kuhau has been featured in Sports Illustrated. Samantha Park sports a $70 Rampage Swim halter top and boy shorts, although there's nothing boyish about these shorts.

Poolside socialite

Want to make a splash at your next Hawaii Kai elite social function? With attitude, elegance and a stylish one-piece, you're sure to turn some heads. Seal the look off with a sleek hat, and you're ready to set sail on your next yacht cruise.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Park showers in a $76 Rampage Swim halter top and hipster bottom, left, while Kuhau models a triangle-top string bikini, ranging from $49 to $69.

Sun goddess

If baking your body bronze is what you're after, set your oven to some hot, skimpy attire. Your best bet is a string bikini, which provides the least coverage, thereby maximizing skin exposure for optimal tanning. Plus, string bikinis are easy to untie to avoid those pesky, noodly strap lines across your back.

DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM Kaitlin Metcalf goes sporty in a $86 Nautica floral two-piece, with tankini top from Macy's.

Sun rebel

Let's not forget the small population of vampire-like islanders who religiously avoid the sun , soaking up SPF-maxed sunscreens and donning windshield-size sunglasses topped off with round-table hats.

While your local swimsuit store may not stock its shelves with the appropriate beach attire to suit your needs, this is your chance to uncover your inner creativity and artistry in covering it all up with assorted long sleeves and long pants.

With innovation and resourcefulness, you, too, can enjoy salt-filled breezes in your hair and white imported sand beneath your feet.

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