American Girl Dolls: 1st Hawaiian Native Goes On Sale

HONOLULU. HI — American Girl's first Native Hawaiian doll is on sale now — for $115.

The doll's name is Nanea Mitchell and she went on sale Monday. The doll is 18 inches tall. Her character grows up during World War II and her outfits include 1940s-era clothes, hula attire and many accessories.

A five-member advisory board was tasked with ensuring historical accuracy and cultural authenticity when creating the doll, the company said.

"We hope Nanea's powerful story of resilience, responsibility to others, and contributing for the common good — or kokua, as it's known in Hawaii — will resonate with girls and show them they have the power within to face the obstacles that come their way," said Katy Dickson, president of American Girl.

To celebrate the doll's launch, American Girl will be collecting donations for the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program through the end of the year, matching every dollar made at its website and stores up to $75,000. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Photo credit:

American Girl