My shopping cart
Your cart is currently empty.
Continue ShoppingWe sell our products on-line and in-person with the Lahaina Arts Society. In August we are showing on the 29th at the Cannery Mall in Lahaina (10am to 3pm). We will be away teaching for AKS Sept 18 - 29th. In addition we are selling with Hawaiian Council at https://nameahawaii.com/collections/necklaces (We also book in-person appointments at the Kihei Studio). In Sept 2026 we will be away teaching for the American Kumihimo Society (18th to 28th 2026). Classes focus on confident beginners and emphasize the blending of Japanese tradition with island inspired Hawaiian necklace lei.
We reimagine traditional Hawaiian Lei to create "Aloha Inspired Forever Lei." Our designs merge an ancient Japanese braiding technique of kumihimo with the beauty of island colors and textures. We showcase our jewelry with the Lahaina Arts Society on Maui's West Side at the Cannery Mall .Check schedules on our website. All of our jewelry is handcrafted exclusively on Maui..
Copper and Brown Ginger Lei - 22.5"
The end sections begin by using matte brown seed beads, but then the "Ginger Lei" transitions into a translucent copper mini Rose Petals section while the more vibrant solid copper of the larger Rose Petal Beads make up the center focal section and pop out with volumes of color - truly remarkable. The copper magnetic end cap secures this design with an added groove to ensure it stays put. Modeled after the beautiful Hawaiian island flower lei, this necklace is available exclusively at Akalei Designs.
This pattern of beading combines the best of the Orchid and Haku Lei with literally hundreds of rose petal leaves and is accented with additional seed beads for a lovely Hawaiian lei look which are typically made from flowers, leaves, or natural fibers resulting in vivid color combinations but nothing can match these colors in nature.
This unique glass beaded braid, available exclusively at Akalei Designs, was inspired by the beautiful floral Haku (also known as Po’o) Lei traditionally worn around the head. Akalei is Hawaiian for "bead reflections" which describes this unique necklace lei design style handcrafted only here on Maui. We reinterpret traditional Hawaiian Lei using a vast assortment of glass and natural beads, Japanese silk and synthetic fibers, and a wide variety of braiding techniques and inspirations from across the globe.
The necklace is woven together using an ancient Japanese braiding technique called Kumihimo, a Japanese word for “gathered threads". This art form goes back hundreds of years as braids were made for use in armor for Japanese samurai warriors. In modern times these braids are designed as belts (obijime) that are worn as a belt with a kimono.
It is my goal to provide you with a long lasting, beautiful piece of jewelry that you will enjoy wearing for years to come. I take great care in the construction of my pieces to ensure just that. Please note: colors may slightly differ from their appearance on your display, as it depends on your monitor settings.
Send a message with questions or comments. Thanks for stopping by!
Aloha Aku!
© 2026 Akalei Designs | Powered by Shopify