Island Jewels, a new small business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is the creation of two students, Elly Brennan and Genesis Gonzalez. The jewelry brand, which launched in January, offers affordable, customizable pieces made from shells found on Oahu.
Brennan, a junior from Northern California studying nursing, and Gonzalez, a freshman from Southern California studying kinesiology, met while at UHM.
“Our goal for Island Jewels is to create affordable, handcrafted jewelry that allows people to express their creativity and personalize their own unique pieces,” said Brennan.
The duo’s jewelry collection includes bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and more, all priced between $20 and $25. Customers can personalize their designs by choosing shells like cowrie, scallop, and cone, as well as sea glass. They also have the option to select between gold or silver hardware.
“Our deep love for the ocean and seashells inspired us to start making jewelry as a hobby. What began as something just for ourselves soon turned into a passion for creating ocean-inspired pieces for others,” Gonzalez shared.
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