Keito Hirakawa is my assistant manager and friend at Pualani Honolulu. She is an ambitious, humble, and rising jewelry designer. I chose to interview her for the Woman of the Month for August, to learn about and showcase her artistry.
photo of Keito by: http://www.mikography.com/
Deanna Totaan: Keito, what inspired you to become a jewelry designer/artist?
Keito Hirakawa: (smiles) Ever since I was a little baby, I have been good at crafting. I would make tiny origami from paper. There was this one time where my family's flight got cancelled from New York to Japan. So for a few days, we stayed with my dad's coordinator "Kuniko." Kuniko was a jewelry designer, I would watch and learned from her how to do simple stuff like gluing a gemstone onto a ring. Both my parents are also clothing designers, my mom encouraged me to be independent.
DT: Did you go to art school?
KH: When I was younger, in Japan I went to a local crafts school for ten years. I learned how to do crafting and oil painting.
DT: Have you taken a jewelry class?
KH: No, I have not, I always wanted to make jewelry. But the feeling always comes and goes, because I thought I had to go to school for it. But this upcoming fall I will be attending FIDM in Los Angeles to major in jewelry design. I am going to get educated, to create better quality in my jewelry.
DT: Wow, congratulations! How did you get back into jewelry?
KH: Its always been off and on, nothing serious. When I was eighteen, I moved from Japan to Hawaii. In Hilo, I was super bored, I didn't have many friends and had no car. There wasn't much to do, so I decided to start making jewelry again. I practiced a lot, there was no pressure, I did it for fun!
DT: What is your technique when learning how to make jewelry?
KH: I don't like looking at the instruction book. I learn by observing, then giving it a try. By trying out all the methods, I learned which is the best wire, gem stones, combinations, and sizes.
DT: You have so many beautiful pieces, you make it look like its so easy to make, when really a lot of effort and time go into making each one, any jewelry confessions?
KH: (giggles) In the past, I've made jewelry that I thought looked okay, but still sold them to my friends. And they would buy them! It's also hard for me to price my jewelry, since I do it for fun.
DT: (giggles) They must have been really nice for them to buy it!
KH: "I look at my jewelry that I made yesterday, and always feel I could do better."
DT: How did your hobby transition into a business?
KH: I would post pictures of my pieces on facebook and started selling them to my friends. Then I started selling my line at my friend of a friend's boutique in Japan.
DT: Where are the four hot spots on the island of Oahu, where your jewelry is sold?
KH: My jewelry is sold at Peace Cafe(homemade vegan food restaurant in Moiliili), Pualani(swimsuit boutique at Kaimana), Barefoot Dreams(organic clothing/accesorie boutique at Kaimana), and the Green Room(an art gallery in Waikiki).
DT: Your Sunrise Shells is selling well and really popular. Sunrise shells can be common among local artists, what makes yours unique?
KH: My line is simple and delicate. A lot of local artists who make sunrise shells, drill holes to make them. I don't want to do that. I also notice that when the shell flips, you can see it from different angles. So I thought it would be cute, if when it flipped over, you can see the gold charm I glued on the inside (star fish/sea horse). I make sunrise shells that will last for years. It means a lot to the locals, so I want to respect them.
DT: Your signature earrings are gorgeous! Tell me more about them...
KH: I hand make the hoop from wire. Then I wrap the natural, precious gem stones around the hoop for fine detail.
DT: What is your ultimate jewelry line goal?
KH: I want to open my own jewelry line business/showroom. I also want to have my line featured and sold at Barneys New York.
DT: What advice would you give to aspiring jewelry designers/artists?
KH: Be original, don't follow anyone, some people get lost trying to find their way, stay absolute and true to yourself.
Keito Designs:
"I always make my jewelry out of passion."
"Another unique thing about me, I don't like to wear jewelry, unless it means a lot to me."
"If you live with me, you can here me hammering like at two in the morning making jewelry."
"Let your natural beauty shine through to make the best."
photos by Miko Walczuk:
Some extra interesting facts about Keito:
-Her name is the capital town of Japan, where she was born. In Japanese it means "beautiful ancient city."
-She did hula in Japan for eight years.
-She is trained in Reiki-Hypnotherapy.
-She knows how to do eye lash perms!
Sending out my support and wishing the best for Keito's upcoming journey,
Deanna
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