About
Aloha!
My name is Kawai Hong and I am the founder of Wailana Hawaiʻi! Coming from my middle name, wailana loosely translates to calm water or flowing water. To me, the ocean and water has always been so awe-inspiring that embracing its flow has allowed me with much of my inspiration and expression in life.
Iʻve always loved art! Growing up I would paint, draw, but most of all, work with things in 3D. I learned how to wire wrap and make jewelry from my mom when I was 12 and have done small projects here and there ever since. In high school, I took a ceramics class and instantly fell in love. I have been a potter at heart since 2018 and have loved making things with clay ever since.
Growing up in Kaimukī, I have always appreciated our island home. During the pandemic, my cousins and I would always play in the ocean. Whether it was bodysurfing, surfing, fishing, or diving, we always would find a way to connect with our roots.
My love for diving has since grown throughout summers spent back home from undergrad as it was a way for me to not only immerse myself in the underwater world, but also provide for my family and friends. Over the past few summers and into this year, my love for shelling has grown tremendously. After starting a small collection of shells, I decided to take a class at Bead It! in Kaimukī to start making bangles and the rest is history!
Currently, I am getting my Masterʻs Degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Management at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Being a kanaka conservationist at heart and in practice, Iʻve always known the importance of giving back to the community and place that has given me so much. That is why I want to ensure that while I collect shells from the ocean to support myself and business, I am also giving back through my work in conservation and the profits from this business.
As I continue to grow, I am excited to share my passions and creations with you all with my values of leading a life of aloha, kuleana, and mālama ʻāina.
Much Aloha!
Kawai