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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Monday, December 6, 2004

Jewelry retailer designs own line

By Paula Rath
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.

Lo and Clyde Kaimuloa have designed a sterling silver bracelet for men and women with silver discs linked together and engraved with Hawaiian words on one side and the English translation on the other.

Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

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 $115 at Riches Kahala.

Reach Paula Rath at 525-5464 or prath@honoluluadvertiser.com.