Taken from the The Honolulu Advertiser
July 1, 2005

Jewelry retailer designs own line

Article by Paula Path
Advertiser Staff Writer

After more than 15 years as a jewelry and accessories retailer, Lo Kaimuloa decided to try her hand at designing jewelry herself.

She turned to her business partner and husband, Clyde Kaimuloa, to brainstorm.

Together they designed a bracelet to showcase the Hawaiian language. The Kaimuloas consulted Keoni Martin, Lo's kumu hula, who offered guidance regarding words of particular importance to the Hawaiian people.

The result? A sterling silver bracelet with eight disks (nine for men) with a key Hawaiian word on one side and the English translation on the other. A little chain and honu (turtle) clasp finish it of.

The words are: aloha (love), hanohano (honor), kuleana (purpose), hilina'i (trust), 'ohana (family), makoa (courage), pono (righteousness, also the name of the Kaimuloas' youngest son) and 'olana (hope).

As with most start-up businesses, production has not been pain-free. The first bracelets were completed when the Kaimuloas realized the okina had been left off "'ohana." The entire shipment had to be returned to have the okina added, by hand.

While their goal was to have the bracelets made in Hawai'i from beginning to end, the costs of the first run were so high they contacted New York jewelers to see if they can bring the costs down.

The jewelry line is called He'e Nalu after the dog that surfed with Clyde and became a legend among the regulars at Ala Moana Bowls. During the production of the first prototypes, He'e Nalu died.

The He'e Nalu bracelets sell for $130 at Riches Kahala.

Article URL: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Dec/06/il/il03a.html