Kanoelea was born from a lifelong love of jewelry and a desire to create quality pieces inspired by my love for the ocean and my roots. “Kanoe,” my first name meaning mist in Hawaiian, and “Lea,” meaning joy. Together, they capture a sense of joyful calm and beauty, which is my inspiration for Kanoelea.

Rooted in California but deeply connected to Hawaii through family and spirit, Kanoelea merges the California sunshine vibe with the warmth, aloha, and rich nature of the ocean and island life. At the heart of the collection is a love for simple, timeless, gold jewelry accented with pearls.

Travel is a big part of my inspiration - I love discovering different types of jewelry and learning about unique pearls wherever I go. I was recently in Thailand, where a lot of my inspiration came from when I had the chance to visit a local pearl farm. Plumerias are my favorite flower, so I enjoy weaving their shape and spirit into some of my designs. I use gold-filled materials in every piece so Kanoelea jewelry can be worn all the time, even in the ocean; it’s made for everyday wear.