An Interview with the Designer

Full Interview from Hawaii Modern Luxury. Thank you for helping me reflect on my journey by asking these questions!

Where did you grow up and what brought you to hawaii? Where do you live on maui?

I grew up in a small town called New Hope, Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia. During my sophomore year of college my auntie who lived on Maui needed some interns for the Maui Film Festival. One of my best girlfriends from college and I hopped on that opportunity so fast. We had the time of our lives doing errands for the film fest and living on the North Shore with my aunty family. My mind was blown after experiencing this island lifestyle that was totally different than anything I had ever known. After college I knew I didn’t want to stay in Washington DC or move to New York City like all my friends so I reached back out to my boss who ran the film fest festival on Maui to see if they needed any help. She offered me a paying gig as a production coordinator and ten days after I graduated I packed my bags and flew to Maui knowing I wanted to build a life there, but no idea how I was going to go about it. My husband and I met and lived on the north shore for years, but moved to the south side right before we had our 4 year old son. 

When did you start making jewelry? 

I became curious about handcrafting and designing jewelry while I was studying abroad and traveling through Africa in 2010. I found myself moving at a slow pace and having time and space to sit with artisans who taught me macrame and beading. I moved to Maui in 2011 and landed living in a jewelry studio. This is where I first started putting pieces together with Puka shells and beads for myself to wear. I never had any formal training, just an eye for what I liked and didn’t like aesthetically. 

Why Puka Shell jewelry?

I made my first puka necklace in 2011 when I first moved to Maui. From the minute I laid eyes on a puka shell I was fascinated. And then when I found my first one diving in the shorebreak I was hooked. I was working for a goldsmith and was constantly having visions of puka shells and gold - necklaces, rings, earrings, and cuffs swirled in my mind. The visions were so strong that it felt like I had no choice but to bring these pieces to life. I started with the puka necklace design and wore it as a reminder to be nicer to myself. It laid between my head and heart and helped me shift into a more positive mindset. Little did I know that I would be thrust into a passionate love affair with making puka shell and pearl jewelry. 

Is it your full time job or more of a side hustle?

It started as just me experimenting and making jewelry for myself.  Quickly people started to notice my necklace design and wanted to order them. It wasn't until I scored my first vintage puka shell lot that I could actually fill orders in a timely manner. Now 9 years later Puka Perri has taken on its own life and become integral to mine. Keeping everything going and growing is a full time job. But really its more than a job- its a passion, its an investment, its my purpose . I’m still not sure how it happened this way, but now I can’t imagine life without it.

Who do you design your necklaces for? What type of woman wears a Puka Perri piece? 

I design for a multifaceted woman. The woman who loves beautiful quality jewelry but spends lots of time actively in life in and around the sea. I think women who are attracted to my designs feel beautiful wearing that perfect mix of raw nature and elegance. She's a woman that likes simplicity, quality, and wants something unique.  Everything I make is meant to be worn and loved in a t-shirt and jeans or with an evening dress. 

As I grow older the jewelry I crave elevates and I feel like I’m either taking my clients with me or they are pushing me to the next level. Popping a handmade 18karat gold bead here or adding larger or colored diamonds there. My clients are a source of endless inspiration. 

Could you talk about your creative process and how you put together your pieces? Where do you find your inspiration?

My creative process varies. Sometimes I have a vision that sits in my head for months or even years until I have figured out how to actualize it with full integrity to the vision. Like the Puka Rings and Cuffs, I have been visualizing and saving pukas for them for many years now. I was patient with the idea, and when I met the right casting partner to make it happen, it was like magic! It turned out a lot of other people were ready for this puka ring design too...it was an overnight hit.

When it comes to pearls I am inspired by their colors and shapes and textures. Sitting with my pearls is like play time with watercolors. I make different groupings, let them sit for a while, come back and see if I still love it or if I was thinking about it. 

My clients really inspire me. They are always pushing me to keep creating and elevating my designs and materials. I love working collaboratively with them.

What is your best selling piece?

No doubt, Puka hoops! They are great lightweight hoops that go with everything. Local girls wear them to be swim and surf and tourists love to bring them home as gifts. I now have 6 hoop sizes in gold filled and 3 in silver.. 

But the Puka Necklaces always sell as fast as I make them. They are the blood sweat and tears of the operation. The latest hot item are the puka rings. I have a nice line up of custom rings I am working on- gold, rose gold, silver.. diamonds, yellow diamonds.. its been FUN!

What's your favorite piece of jewelry, and why?

Right now, I wear my power puka ring on my middle finger all the time- I feel naked without it. I had a vision of "The Puka Ring" in my head for many years- chunky, bulbous, refined, one casted piece. It took years of trial and error to find the right casting partner to make it come to life the way I saw it in my head. I wear the first one that we made to remind me to stay patient and steadfast to reach my goals. Its so special and the chocolate swirl puka is large like a quarter and feels so amazing on! I have been getting lots of custom orders for rings in 18k and they are beyond beautiful and all so different since no puka is alike.

Could you talk a bit about your puka project?

I started The Puka Project because the pukas gave so much to me and I wanted to give back and spread their messages and healing energy with others. When I first moved to Maui I wore my Puka necklace as a reminder to love and have compassion for myself during a hard time in my life. The energy in the Puka shells felt so good and healing to wear. Fast forward a few years and a dear friend was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and I kept thinking I have to make her a Puka necklace to help with her healing. Then the idea came to me that it would be so much more Powerful if I collected pukas from her ohana to string up a supercharged healing Puka lei for her to wear during treatment and to remind her of all

Of the love and support that was with her. And the Puka project was born- I put drop jars at my friends cafes around the island and in went the pukas from our island community and out came a special gift for our island sister.

It felt so good for everyone involved that we kept going and sponsored 3 “Puka drives” last year for women in our community in need of extra love and support. This holiday season we will be collecting pukas and making necklaces for 3 more women. I love the project because it is inclusive and simple to be a part of- everyone can pick up a puka next time they are at the beach. We can teach ourselves and our kids about compassion with this action of passing a Puka on. A tangible example of each of us doing something small with good intention to create something big and powerful. Find out more at www.thepukaproject.com.