Pam and David Braun have created one of the most elegant lines
of the most elegant lines of uniquely designed handcrafted jewelry
in the Hawaiian Islands. Inspired by the centuries-old native
weaving of coconut palm and Hala Tree leaves (called lau hala
in the Hawaiian language), the Brauns plate 14K and sterling
silver into rings, bracelets and earrings of surpassing beauty.
The husband and wife team of jeweler designers studied lau hala
weaving at the famed Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Lyons Arboretum
and with Hawaiian Weaving Master Arthur Kapi'eo, then adapted
the techniques to their work in precious metals. With painstaking
workmanship, they handweave together long, thin strips of 14-karat
gold, shaping them around a metal core form. These handsome pieces,
linked with Hawaii's cultural past, include rings and bracelets
made of interwoven strips of yellow, white or rose gold. They
sign this special jewelry collection “Ulana
0 Kukui” which in the Hawaiian language means "weavers
of light".
The Brauns came to Hawaii some twentysix years ago from New York,
where David had been a professor of design at N.Y.U. Pam
and David met at NYU where she was pursuing a degree in Studio
Arts and, later Art History. Pam actually graduated with
an R.N. degree. She ultimately learned goldsmithing from
David.
Before moving to Hawaii in the late 1970's, the Brauns owned
and operated a highly successful jewelry design business in New
York. But they wanted a slower pace of life than that found on
the East Coast, and moved to Honolulu to enjoy a more leisurely
lifestyle. That however, was before their jewely design fame
spread throughout the islands and their pieces began to be acquired
by visitors from all over the world. Now days they are nearly
at the same hectic pace as they were in New York. But at least
the weather is better!
