Chad Van Wye

Chad Van Wye is the co-owner and founder of Hoku Props Inc., a small fabrication studio based in Southern California. Having grown up with a creative father, Chad was inspired to pursue a career in a creative field himself and started his journey by attending Gnomon—School of Visual Effects, Games & Animation in Hollywood, California. There he learned how to 3D model from some of the best in the industry before graduating from the University of California, Riverside, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a focus in arts management.

One of Chad’s biggest passions is advocating for inclusivity and ensuring that everyone has access to knowledge. When he’s not working, you can find him learning new skills or teaching others how to excel in their own creative passions. Chad has competed, judged, and consulted for cosplay competitions across the globe, and in 2020, he cofounded the Ultimate Cosplay Championship alongside Tock Custom. He hopes to continue making the cosplay community a place where everyone feels accepted and welcome.

Chad, with his wife Sammy and co-owner Jason of Hoku Props, were the grand prize winners of TwitchCon’s first ever cosplay contest in 2016, with their “Larger than Life” Lionhardt cosplay from Blizzard’s Overwatch. They have made out-of-this-world props and costumes together ever since.

Website: hokuprops.com - Facebook: facebook.com/HokuProps/ - Instagram: @hokuprops - Twitter: @hokuprop