Aloha Kākou!
Since the mid-1800s, my ancestors have called the Hawaiian Islands home. They arrived as tenant farmers from the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, bringing with them a rich heritage of knowledge and culture that has become deeply woven into the fabric of the Hawaiian experience.

Music and woodworking has long been a part of my family. My great uncle, Ray Andrade, was a renowned early Hawaiian singer and actor and my Great Grandfather a Master Luthier of Koa Ukuleles and Guitars. João Gomes da Silva, my direct ancestor, brought the first Portuguese mini guitars over from Madeira, which would be used to model the early ukuleles. 

Each of my carvings is thoughtfully designed and handcrafted—not mass-produced or imported. These are one-of-a-kind, wearable pieces of Hawaiian or pacific traditional art, each with its own story. I hope you can feel and see the difference. 

While the Hawaiian Makau (fish hook) and Māori Matau designs are featured prominently in my work, I also create other unique pieces using natural materials such as bone, stone, billfish, exotic woods, and especially Hawaiian Koa Wood—an indigenous, sustainable Hawaiian treasure.

I’m grateful to collaborate with Mike and Craig at A.M. Ranch Hawaii and the Koa Wood Ranch Stores, who supply me with exceptional, sustainably harvested Koa wood. Their commitment to protecting the legacy of this extraordinary tree is truly inspiring. Together, they steward nearly 1,000 acres of old-growth Koa forest. Mike knows each tree personally. Like them, I care deeply about sustainability, so that future generations can experience the richness of the Hawaiian experience.

Though I don’t currently live full-time in Hawaii, the islands, my Kupuna, and the spirit of Aloha are always with me. Through every carving, I aim to share aloha ‘āina,  my sense of kuleana and to hanohano Hawaiians—one meaningful piece at a time.

Mahalo nui for your support,
Jonathan “Keoni”