Woolley Brothers

Woolley Brothers

Screen Printing in the old Sugar Bar

T-Shirts

Woolley Brothers are screen printing t-shirts on the North Shore of Oahu in the town of Waialua in the former Sugar Bar!

OTIS would grow
Written by Christen Vidanovic
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 2007
Story from www.mixedplatespecial.com

The Woolley brothers’ underground label surfaces at the old Sugar Bar
Nat and Shaun Woolley are making good things happen in Waialua. With matching nostalgic grins, they look out their new front doors at the Waialua library, where they both got their first library cards. Inside those doors, there’s more creativity thriving than the historic Bank of Hawaii building has ever seen.

The landmark building is now the home of the Woolley Bros. screen-printing shop. With its freshly painted walls and new bathrooms, it’s easy to forget that this really is the old Sugar Bar. The drastic transformation leaves no trace of the former dive—and while everyone is fond of old memories, there are some (what went on in the Sugar Bar stayed in the Sugar Bar?) alcohol-induced moments of glory that just shouldn’t be resurrected.

Nat Woolley is the artistic half of the dynamic twin team. (He also creates board designs for Hawaiian Island Creations.) Shaun, who’s primarily in charge of the business end of things, is the duo’s screen-printing guru, having learned the trade at ScreenTech in Kahuku. The brothers also have another creative partner, Nate Tyler, a graphic designer whom Shaun met in California during college.

But what the Waialua High School grads plan to do with their business goes far beyond just screen-printing. Part of their mission is to create something that benefits their childhood community. In addition to customizing boards and replicating surfboard art onto t-shirts (another way for surfers to brand their identities), the Woolley brothers want to make a space for other local artists and bring fresh creative energy to the predominantly industrial area.

“We want to breathe some life back into Waialua and give people a reason to not just come into the airport in Honolulu and drive straight through to Sunset,” says Shaun. “We want to have art shows, movie nights. We want to be able to do all kinds of stuff.”

Nat’s surfboard art isn’t just for the fish that swim underneath. According to Shaun, surf photographers are stoked on the stylish designs since it brings extra recognition and pizzazz to an otherwise visually conventional photo. In the end, the artwork benefits everyone.

“It works for the photographers because they’re able to sell more pictures, it works for the surfers because it gets them that shot that they need, and it works for us,” Shaun explains with a smile. With popular surfboard designs being transferred to a limited number of T-shirts, the North Shore can expect a new fashion craze, too.

Even if you don’t recognize the Woolley Bros. name, it doesn’t mean you haven’t seen their work. Most of their designs go under the label “On The In Side,” a slogan that they say refers to the way you should live your life—from the inside out. OTIS designs can be found adorning the boards of local pros like Megan Abubo, Reef MacIntosh, Ned Snow, and Kekoa Bacalso.

The shop, newly opened in late August, is still under construction, but the brothers are excited about visitors. So feel free to stop by and get your fix of surf talk, art talk and all-around good vibes.