Manu and I share a passion for our islands, their environment, and their culture. We have devoted much of our lives to perpetuating and protecting them. We use our art to help us spread our message.
Manu is known for his work in bamboo, using invasive introduced varieties so that they not only are removed from the environment, but become a resource during that removal.
I work with trash. Why? Our islands import 90% of our food. And that food comes in containers. It comes in plastic containers. It comes in metal containers. It comes in glass containers. And most of those get thrown away. Our Hilo landfill is closing. The trash problem in Hawaiʻi is so bad that CNN did a story on our trash. Where will it all go?
We strive to recycle our trash, but even that has a huge cost. We are the most isolated population center on the planet. The carbon footprint to send out trash away for recycling is huge. What do we do with it all?
One day I was planning my errands, and looking at a huge pile of bottles we had gathered for recycling. I also was planning to order some glass for my jewelry work. Then it hit me. Why was I going to fly a bunch of glass here to work on, and send a bunch of glass to be shipped off-island, when I had the glass right here?
So, my new lines of recycled glass jewelry were born.
If you prefer to shop in a physical store, I am honored that my jewelry is now available at:
Kapoho Kine Adventures in the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo, Hawaiʻi.
If you shop on-line, please visit our Etsy stores:
Pacific Islands Shipping & Trading -Hawaiʻi-inspired jewelry includes recycled glass pendants and earrings with 22 carat gold petroglyph designs
Brazen Wench – Brutalist-inspired jewelry and housewares.
