ku’ulei hawai’i started in 2023 from my college bedroom on O’ahu. a small idea that quickly turned into something meaningful, something that would change my life. As a way to escape the busyness of student life, I visited the north shore almost every weekend. sometimes with friends, sometimes alone. There, I would slip on my mask, enter the water, and begin to look for shells. Quickly, my collection grew, and in just three months, I had filled three bottles.

After I graduated from college, I moved back to my hometown of Lahaina. Not long after, I lost my town and everything I knew to the Lahaina wildfire. Seeing the devastation, the look of despair in everyone’s face, the feeling of hopelessness was overbearing; it was hard to leave the house. My family had lost everything. My friends had lost everything. In an attempt to cope with the loss of my home, I began to research “how to create a shell bangle.” I spent two months in my room teaching myself how to solder, how to drill a shell, and how to hammer a bangle. After many failed attempts, I finally began to be successful in my creations. I expanded, made earrings, necklaces, and a few rings as well. And I gave them all away for free. custom replacement pieces as well. It was the only way to cope with the loss.

Today, Kuʻulei Hawaiʻi is rooted in community. Every design is inspired by the islands—especially Maui—and by the stories of my grandmother. What began as a personal escape has become something much greater: a way to honor where I come from, share beauty, and give back.