The Keiki Department

Proudly located on O'ahu

The Keiki Dept. was founded by Leilani, a Native Hawaiian mother of four. After the birth of her oldest son in 2015, she wanted to purchase clothing for him that featured Hawaii designs rooted in local and Hawaiian culture.

A natural DIYer, Leilani turned to YouTube, bought a sewing machine, and while she was on maternity leave, she taught herself how to sew. In 2016, she officially started The Keiki Dept. by selling baby bibdanas and harem shorts that featured locally inspired designs. This project was an outlet for creativity with the goal of paying for diapers and helping cover the cost of babysitting.

In 2019, this passion project grew into a full-time business when Leilani left her teaching job to stay home to raise her keiki and run The Keiki Dept. It is their vision to create one-of-a-kind pieces for keiki that inspire families to learn more about Hawaiian culture and the need to protect island homes by having conversations about the plants and animals depicted in the brand's designs.