A New Chapter for Manukai Designs

Our studio, the land, and the ocean—this is where our story begins.

Since returning to my family homestead on the Big Island in 2003, we’ve been building a creative life together—raising our daughter Kia‘i, stewarding the land, and shaping our studio practice. After completing our education at the San Francisco Art Institute, we wanted a lifestyle that balanced creativity, work, and life in nature.

Creative Exploration

In 2015, a simple idea became Manukai Handboards. As lifelong surfers, we were already deeply connected to the ocean when Keith, a second-generation surfboard shaper, crafted a handboard from an old board. We discovered a new way to experience the ocean through bodysurfing. Keith continues to create these boards by hand, and they’re now available in our shop. Around the same time, we began experimenting with jewelry using leftover resin and foraged wood. These explorations often inspired new directions in our artwork, creating a back-and-forth between product and fine art.

A Seasonal Approach

As we move into this next phase, we’re embracing a more intentional, cyclical way of working. Seasonal releases allow us to explore a theme over time, crafting jewelry, surfcraft, and artwork that reflect that moment in our journey. Each release offers a limited collection made in dialogue with our materials and environment, allowing space to pause, reflect, and gather feedback from our community.

We continuously offer custom orders for wood and foam handboards through our Shop page, and welcome inquiries for artwork commissions of all sizes (studio@manukaidesigns). Seasonal collections of jewelry, handboards, and editioned prints will be available only by release—each one part of a continuing rhythm of making, sharing, and reflection.

Mahalo for being here with us—we can’t wait to share what’s next.

– With aloha, Sally + Keith

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