When the new kid on the wetsuit block decided to make a splash in the spearfishing wetsuit market, they went big! Waihana is the Oahu, Hawaii-based company founded by three long-time industry professionals. Steve Murphy, Nikolas Cartenian and Justin Baluch share co-founder credit while splitting the duties of a fast-growing brand.
DeeperBlue.com cruised over to the Waihana stand at The Blue Wild Expo to check out the offerings. Talking with Co-Founder Justin Baluch, who handles marketing, we learned that Waihana is actively promoting sustainable-material wetsuits, using the world’s best neoprene, limestone-based Yamamoto 39. He explained that the ethos of the company is to encourage best-practices fin the spearfishing community, promoting environmental stewardship over the taking of trophy fish…like offering prizes at tournaments for “most trash picked up” or “most invasive species removed”kills.
While the first things a diver will probably notice on the wetsuits is the amazing camouflage patterns and the anatomically-cut form of the jackets, there are some really exciting features like the integrated safety whistle on a lanyard that discretely tucks into a covered pocket on the right shoulder.
The highest-wear areas like the elbows, knees and the rear end of the suit are all coated in anti-wear material that adds a degree of friction to keep a diver from sliding all over the boat.
Besides being stylish, the bright, Safety Orange panel on the hood of the Kajiki wetsuits is designed to indicate the front for the boat operator to orient on.
Waihana has two primary lines, with the thicker Goliath Group line and the warm-water, Pacific Blue Marlin-inspired Kajiki Line.
Kajiki Suit Materials
- 1.5mm or 3.5mm Performance Neoprene
- Dye camouflage on Ultra-Stretch Poly Lycra Laminate
- .999 Silver Titanium Dioxide Internal Coating
Kajiki Jacket Details
- Hooded jacket
- 7 mm chest loading pad on exterior of suit
- Preformed arms for ultimate fit/comfort
- Glue-reinforced stitching on elbows, chest-pad, and whistle pocket
- Emergency Whistle with integrated pocket
- Protective screens on chest-pad, elbows and seat area
- Double closure clips on beaver-tail
- Smooth-skin seals around wrists
Kajiki Trouser Details
- 4? or 10 cm Super-skin seal around the waist
- Smooth-skin seals around ankles
- Protective screen on knees
Goliath Grouper Suit Materials
- 3.5mm or 5.5mm Yamamoto #39 Neoprene
- Dye camouflage on Ultra-Stretch Poly Lycra Laminate
- 24K Gold Titanium Dioxide Internal Coating
Goliath Grouper Jacket Details
- Hooded jacket
- 7mm chest loading pad on exterior of suit
- Preformed arms for ultimate fit/comfort
- Glue-reinforced stitching on elbows, chest-pad, and whistle pocket
- Emergency Whistle with integrated pocket
- Protective screens on chest-pad, elbows and seat area
- Double closure clips on beaver-tail
- Smooth-skin seals around wrists
Goliath Grouper Trouser Details
- 4? or 10 cm Super-skin seal around the waist
- Smooth-skin seals around ankles
- Protective screen on knees
Pricing starts at $219.00 USD For more information and to sign up for their blog, visit www.waihana.com
