In 2005, Tiffany Lizares started making jewelry as a hobby and soon discovered a passion for it. She also learned she had a talent for it, and she later signed up for classes at Honolulu Academy of Arts (now Honolulu Museum of Art), as well as private lessons from local artists in a variety of styles, including metalwork, glass, ceramics and jewelry.
She made pieces for friends and family, and showcased some of her designs at museum’s end-of-the-year student sale. The response was overwhelmingly positive and, in 2011, she turned her hobby into a business called Lino Hau.
“I don’t sell anything that I don’t love or wouldn’t wear,” says Lizares, who, along with husband Rylan, owns Gracie Technics Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy. “Each piece is modeled after the unique culture and geography of the Islands. My Aina Collection incorporates earthy elements like rocks and crystals, and the Ocean Collection was inspired by the elements of the ocean floor.
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Alaine Akau: Lino Hau 'Starry Nights' handcrafted earrings made with miniature starfish, sea green pearls and white rice pearls $108
“Also, the Sand Collection is a costume line designed especially for the purpose of omiyage, the Japanese custom of gift giving. And my next collection will have some pieces influenced by my travels, and some limited-edition pieces. Six countries later, I found inspirations in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and Greece.”
Lino Hau is available in art galleries and boutiques throughout the Islands. For more information or a list of retailers and events, visit LinoHau.com.
For models Alaine Akau and Sharnay Cablayan, hairstyling by Shinell Rios at Vivi Salon and makeup by Judy Wright of l.u.x.x.e. Artistry Hawaii
Sharnay Cablayan: Lino Hau ‘Piilani’ Hawaiian dream-catcher earrings hand-crafted in sterling silver or gold-fill, and made with pearls, natural stones and mother-of-pearl leaflets $98 (sterling silver); and (necklaces, from top) one-of-a-kind hand-forged fine silver heart necklace made of pearls and ocean scenes, prices start at $128; and ‘Druzy Aina’ necklace with natural druzy crystal pendants on sterling silver chains made with dove shells and freshwater pearls, prices start at $128
Sharnay Cablayan: Lino Hau ‘Lani’ earrings made with tumbled aquamarine, speckled dove shells and white seed pearls $68; ‘Hokulea’ necklace with tumbled aquamarine, white starfish, and pink and white seed pearls on a long sterling silver chain $82
Kellene Chun: Lino Hau ‘Hau’ necklace with shells, beach-kissed glass, pearls and other shoreline-claimed remnants, prices start at $78
Kellene Chun: Lino Hau ‘Sunrise Aina’ necklace with Hawaiian sunrise shell available in gold-fill wrapped moonstone, blue aquamarine, white micro seed pearls, purple amethyst and earth-mined pyrite, prices start at $168
Alaine Akau: Lino Hau ‘Starry Nights’ handcrafted earrings made with miniature starfish, sea green pearls and white rice pearls $108
Alaine Akau: Lino Hau ‘Shinell’ earrings made with hand-picked Hawaiian sea fan shells from Oahu’s North Shore, pink pearls, mother-of-pearl leafs and delicate sticks of aqua coral $138 (sterling silver) and $128 (gold-fill); starfish hairpins $9.75
Sharnay Cablayan: Lino Hau ‘Shallow Water’ earrings with pyrene shells, orange coral, blue turquoise and aqua coral, available in sterling silver and gold-fill $118 (sterling silver)
Kellene Chun: Lino Hau oneof-a-kind asyemmetrical hand-textured sterling silver earrings with rare Hawaiian sunrise shells, chalcedony, quartz and keishi pearls $278; custom hand-wrapped beach necklace in fine metals with your choice of sterling silver or gold-fill, along with scavenged beach shells, coconut husk, a variety of colored pearls, beach frosted glass, recycled glass beads and a variety of other organic materials $288 (sterling silver)
Alaine Akau: (bracelets, from left) Lino Hau bracelet made on gold-fill with mother-of-pearl shell and complementary gold and bronzed pyrite micro stones $72; bracelet made on gold-fill with dove shells, pearls, and gold and bronzed pyrite micro stones $98; ‘Oh Tahiti’ bracelet made on gold-fill with Tahitian pearl, and gold and bronzed pyrite micro stones $148 (necklaces, from top) ‘Oh Tahiti’ long necklace made on gold-fill with five Tahitian pearls and bronzed pyrite micro stones $595; ‘Druzy Hau’ necklace made with a sliced Druzy individually hand-wrapped with babbles and pearls on gold-fill, prices start at $148