About HokuProps!
HokuProps is a team lead by propmaker Chad Hoku and seamstress Sammy Hoku.
Chad’s background in 3D has him designing props and costumes digitally and utilizing different fabrication techniques to produce armor, props, and other costume components.
Sammy’s love for cosplay at a young age had her eventually studying fashion and costume design. She primarily works with fabric, covering all sewn requirements for cosplay projects. HokuProps is best known for their Lionhardt cosplay which won TwitchCon’s 2016 Cosplay Contest’s grand prize.
Values that lead us
Mission Statement
To bring innovation and insight to makers across the globe.
Vision Statement
One day, all creative makers will have the inclusive opportunity to attain success in life.
Partners, not clients
We believe in forging deep relationships, viewing every interaction as a partnership.
Always be learning
We commit to continuous learning, ensuring we innovate and excel in an ever-evolving world.
Brands We Partner With
See our ideas come to life
Step into a world where imagination meets reality. At Hoku Props, every idea undergoes a transformative journey, evolving from a mere concept to a tangible masterpiece. Our projects page offers a window into this process, showcasing the dedication, craftsmanship, and innovation we pour into each creation. Dive in and witness the magic for yourself. Click to explore!
Meet Our Team!
Chad Van Wye
Chief Executive Officer
Growing up with a creative father inspired a young Hoku to become a creator himself. Starting from his childhood with small props, he realized his passion and persevered as he grew. This drive continued on to his education, when he started at the Gnomon School of Visual effects to learn 3-D modeling from the best of the best in the industry.
He later went on to graduate from the University of Riverside with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Arts Management.
While making was his main devoted interest, it wasn’t until 2011 that he could make the leap to professional maker and has never looked back.
A workplace accident took his left eye, but fortunately not his life. Despite his new handicap, Chad was immediately figuring out how to turn it from a disadvantage to yet another creative outlet, looking for ways to make LED eyes and finding some new eye patches to complete his new look. He is a devoted . His work has taken his career into several niches of engineering, all of which he has taken in stride and used to make his creations better and better.
Samantha Rumbaugh
Chief Marketing Officer
From a childhood passion for cosplay, Sammy transitioned into studying fashion and costume design. Her skills were instrumental in crafting the Lionhardt cosplay, which won the grand prize at TwitchCon’s 2016 Cosplay Contest.
As Chief Marketing Officer, Sammy drives our public relations, social media, and community engagement. Her genuine interactions and audience resonance are key to Hoku Props’ vibrant community presence.
Beyond work, Sammy occasionally streams on Twitch and frequently showcases her beloved corgi, Sevro, on social media, highlighting her diverse interests and connection with followers.
Sammy’s blend of creativity, leadership, and personal touch makes her an invaluable asset to Hoku Props. We’re privileged to have her lead our marketing endeavors.
Jason Wong
Chief Financial Officer
Jason, better known as Kurokami, is the embodiment of technical prowess at Hoku Props. Specializing in CAD design and programming, his handiwork is evident in our diverse range of electronics. Often referred to as the “Swiss army knife of fabrication,” Kurokami’s expertise spans a vast array of fields: from electronics, programming, and engineering to manufacturing, casting, prototyping, CAD modeling, product development, and mechanical design.
His experience is as varied as it is deep, having worked across industries like sheet metal, automotive, biomedical, robotics, aerospace, activations, and recreational facilities (including trampoline parks). As a propmaker, Kurokami doesn’t just create; he understands and designs intricate systems. He’s the driving force behind the backend processes that keep Hoku Props operational and efficient.
Kurokami’s unparalleled skill set and dedication make him an invaluable asset to our team. Whether he’s designing a new product, troubleshooting a backend process, or crafting a prop, his expertise ensures Hoku Props remains at the forefront of innovation.
Khanh Nguyen
Chief Operations Officer
Khanh, affectionately known as the “Weirdo,” is the mysterious force propelling Hoku Props’ operations forward. As our Chief Operations Officer, he’s been instrumental in managing our workshop facility, ensuring every aspect functions seamlessly. While his presence might occasionally baffle us, his accomplishments stand as a testament to his pivotal role in our success.
Beyond his managerial capabilities, Khanh is a masterful 3D model designer and fabricator. His meticulous attention to detail ensures our designs come to life with unmatched precision. He diligently oversees our shop inventory, right down to the last “potato,” and expertly runs our fleet of machines, from laser cutters to CNC machines.
Khanh’s unique blend of skills and his enigmatic nature make him an invaluable asset to Hoku Props. With him steering our operations, we’re consistently poised to deliver excellence.
Chad Hoku
Lives in a computer half the time
3d Artist, propmaker, quirky one-eyed human, Chad has a background in a little bit of too many things. It is this diverse background that enables him to solve many of the issues confronted when trying to take a physically impractical design from a game and produce it in reality.
Sammy Hoku
Black Magician of the fabriic arts
While studying the dark arts Sammy discovered a means of taking simple scraps of fabric and instilling life into each fiber, with her iron will directing each minion and enough time she will summon forth a monster of tangled horrors to destroy us all.
Khanh
(KMN PROPS)
weirdo
We call him the Weird One, his presence confounds us and his accomplishments are mysterious.
Jason
(Kurokami)
Master Engineer
Kurokami is our in house Mechanical Engineer, he specializes in CAD design and Programming. You can see some of the work he specializes in whenever you see our array of different electronics.
Pawel
(Gamerz)
Video Wizard
The Polish Wizard of Video Editing, Gamerz works his magic producing our video content,
Proficient in: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premier, and Sony Vegas.
He is available for hire so if you like our video content send him email by clicking one of the icons below.