Celebrating 30 years of representing artists, artisans, and jewelers of Hawai'i! Maui Hands began small, first opening in August 1992 at The Courtyard in Makawao with just 25 artisans. Now with a roster of close to 300 creatives and four fascinating locations to explore on Maui, we are grateful to continue sharing the art of aloha with residents and visitors alike almost three decades after Owner Panna Cappelli's dream — a desire to work with good people while being surrounded by beauty — became reality.
Mingle with some of Maui's best artists at our Shops at Wailea official grand opening on Saturday, March 19! Beginning at five o'clock in the evening, guests will enjoy bubbles and pupus — appetizers in Hawaiian — while exploring all our newest space has to offer. From gorgeous gemstone jewelry by Galit Breman and lustrous pearls in every color of the rainbow from Pratima Design, to stunning large-scale paintings by artists including Avi Kiriaty, Betty Hay Freeland, Jim Powlan, Linda Whittemore, and Suzy Papanikolas, as well as three-dimensional works in clay, glass, wood, and more by Chris Richards, Curt Stevens, Kirsten Bunney, Lee Oululani Plevney, Shaun Fleming, and Steven Smeltzer, the spot is a phenomenal feast for the eyes.
Read on to learn more about happenings on Maui, a rare collection of prints and originals, and more!
Thar She Blows! Maui's whale watching season extends well into March, so make sure to book a whale watch cruise if you'll be on island.
Maui Marathon ~ April 24, 2022: The Annual Maui Marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifier event, follows a 26.2-mile course across the island from Kahului to Ka'anapali and is considered one of the 10 most scenic marathons in the U.S. Learn more at mauimarathon.com.
Happy Birthday to the Lahaina Banyan Tree: The largest tree of its kind in the U.S., the famous Ficus benghalensis — known in Hawaiian as Paniana — is 149 years old in April.
A little about March & April
Faceted Aquamarine Ring in 18K Bezel/14K Band by Galit A. Breman
Birthstones are a popular and colorful introduction to the world of gems. Whether or not you believe the myths and legends surrounding the attributes that birthstones have, learning about them can be educational and entertaining.
March ~ Aquamarine: Evoking the colors of the sea, the aquamarine birthstone's name comes from the Latin for seawater, with ancient mariners claiming the gem would calm waves and keep sailors safe at sea. This stone was also thought to make the wearer unconquerable and amiable, to quicken the intellect, and to bring happiness in marriage.
April ~ Diamond: Those born in April are lucky enough to call the diamond — from the Greek word adamas, meaning "invincible" or "unbreakable" — their birthstone. An anonymous second-century poet maintained that diamonds warded off the evil eye, and, over the centuries, this gem was also thought to be an antidote to poison and provide protection against the plague.
Revisiting a renown painter from the past
"Land Where The Gods Dwelt" Archival Giclée Print by Margaret Bedell
We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of original works and archival giclée prints from world renown artist Margaret Bedell's private collection, now available in our Makawao and Wailea locations.
Known for her use of saturated color, Margaret (1924-2016) was both a printmaker and painter in her lifetime. A highly celebrated artist with prints and original works in private and public collections around the world, she was featured in countless exhibitions as well as the book Artists in Hawaii, with her commissioned pieces appearing everywhere from private resorts to public spaces.
Margaret was born in Toronto and initially educated in Canada and England. Sometime in the 1960s she became a professional artist, studying under watercolorists in the "California Light" tradition and earning her Master's in Art/Printmaking from California State University at Long Beach.
In 1976, Margaret established her own studio in Corona Del Mar, California, where she evolved her unique method of making printing plates from plant material. Thousands of original prints emanated from that studio, finding their way into corporate offices, hotels, and hospitals as well as the homes of private collectors.
After spending anywhere from a few weeks to several months in Hawai'i over the years, Margaret and her husband Harlan finally made the move to Maui in the early nineties. They remained married for more than 50 years.
The spellbinding shells of Ni'ihau
Ni'ihau shell lei showcasing the intricate poepoe weave technique
As the owner of the largest collection of Ni'ihau shell lei on Maui, and one of the largest in Hawai'i as well, you could say Owner Panna Cappelli is obsessed.
Panna's first introduction to pupu 'o Ni'ihau lei was in 1994, when longtime artisan Ella Kanahele walked into her Queen Ka'ahumanu Center location with her creations. Fascinated with the intricate artwork of the tiny, rare shells, she learned about the lifestyle of the native Hawaiians who live on Ni'ihau and the importance of the funds the sale of these works produce for their community. From that point on, Panna made it her mission to purchase as many of these treasures as possible to help support the continuation of this ancient Hawaiian craft.
From the Ni'ihau Cultural Heritage Foundation: "...It is evident that this was a craft that was alive and well long before the arrival of any Western foreigners in Hawai'i. Although 'shell ornaments' described by early visitors were primarily made of seashells, some were also made of land shells which were once common throughout the Islands. In the mid-1800s, hula dancers were described as wearing necklaces of shells as well as flower garlands and feather ornamentation. Fabricating shell lei was not limited to Ni'ihau, but it was there that this Hawaiian fine folk art flourished, most likely due to the abundance of shells available on the island's beaches and the scarcity of flowers because of the arid climate..."
As the most popular items at Maui Hands, at any one time you can find hundreds of authentic Ni'ihau shell lei, earrings, and bracelets spread across all four gallery locations. One of the more intricate weaves used in the craft, the lei pictured above are either woven entirely in the poepoe style or incorporate it as part of the overall look of the piece. From left to right:
19" Two-Tie Kipona/Pikake/Poepoe ($2400): Featuring the kahelelani shells 'ākala pua, 'ula'ula, and māku'e, accented with momi lenalena kahakaha. (REF: PANM1490)
19.5" Poepoe ($4375): Featuring the kahelelani shells 'ōma'oma'o, 'ele'ele, and 'ākala pua. Finished with two kauno'o 'ele'ele and a 14K gold ball clasp. (REF: PANM1495)
21" Four-Tie Poepoe ($5100): Featuring the kahelelani shells 'ākala pua, 'ākala wai papipi, 'ele'ele, and kāmoa 'ili'ālani. Finished with two pōleholeho ke'oke'o and two puka shells. (REF: PANJ1024)
22" Six-Strand Crochet/Poepoe ($7500): Extremely rare find! Featuring three groupings of momi ke'oke'o alongside the kahelelani shells 'ōma'oma'o, 'ula'ula, and 'ākala pua with a traditional hook-and-eye finish. (REF: PANM1263)
18" Poepoe ($4375): Featuring the kahelelani shells 'ōma'oma'o, 'ele'ele and ke'oke'o. Finished with two puka shells and a 14K gold ball clasp. (REF: PANM1460)
22" Four-Tie Poepoe ($4600): Featuring the kahelelani shells 'ele'ele, kāmoa, 'ākala pua, and 'ōma'oma'o accented with momi ke'oke'o in the crown flower weave. Finished with pōleholeho ōpule and a handmade 14K gold clasp. (REF: PANM1318)
19.5" Poepoe ($3200): Featuring the kahelelani shells ākala pua, ke'oke'o, māku'e, kāmoa lenalena, and kāmoake'oke'o. (REF: PANM1484)
Plan your visit to Maui Hands
"The Lotus Effect" Original in Acylic on Clayboard by Annamarie Sheehan
Whether you're planning your trip to Maui and want to meet your favorite artist or are just looking for inspiration, we're here to help. Our ongoing Artist-In-Residence program provides regular opportunities to converse with some of the talented folks Maui Hands represents.