I grew up in the mountains of Hawaii, surrounded by the ocean. That’s where my love of jewelry and gold stems from. My earliest memories are the sounds of Hawaiian bracelets jingling together, whether it was my mother’s or at my grandma’s house; the women in my life walking down the hall as I slept. My father’s gold rope chain during the 80’s never left his neck and the way that it sparkled in the sun while we played in the ocean is an image I’ll never forget.
Gold jewelry in my homeland runs deep and holds so much meaning. I'm now a mommy to an incredibly dynamic 14 year old, who has also been raised to love and keep her gold jewelry near and dear.
A globe trotting photographer and model who first started in front of the camera at the age of 11, Acting brought me to Los Angeles at 14 as one of the original Disney movie girls. Now, as a self taught photographer who picked up a camera 10 years ago, I prefer to be behind the lens these days.
Photography has been my main creative outlet but in the past few years I've immersed myself in the age-old process of lost wax and I’m embracing my creativity in jewelry making. Each piece is handmade in wax before being cast in gold. Using my hands to sculpt and create is a fresh breath and good balance to my photography. To be able to step away from the edits and the computer and the constant social media - to sit down and direct my intentions into something I can hold - is healthy and needed.
I’ve always loved jewelry. From the days of playing in my mom’s jewelry boxes, and even back then, marveling in how jewelry was passed down from one generation to the next.
I create my pieces with that in mind. They're meant to be worn. And to last lifetimes. Whether it’s sleeping in it, swimming in it, showering, exercising, diving off cliffs - it’ll take your beating and just get better with wear. No thin bands bending or breaking here. Nothing plated or gold filled. Just solid gold. Future heirlooms.
