Kama‘ehuakanaloa

October 2025 
London blue topaz, Ethiopian fire opal, diamonds, black diamonds, 14 karat gold

🏆🏆 DESIGNER OF THE YEAR 🏆🏆 
Hawai‘i Jewelers Association 2025 Design Competition 

🥇🏆 FIRST PLACE WINNER 🏆🥇 
Hawai‘i Jewelers Association 2025 Design Competition 
Hawaiian-Themed Jewelry category 

Kama'ehuakanaloa, formerly known as Lōʻihi, is a deep-ocean volcano on the southeastern flank of Mauna Loa. Here, the molten caldera is represented by a vibrant Ethiopian fire opal glowing through the pelagic depths of a 24.5 ct London blue topaz, surrounded by 0.94 carat-weight of round brilliant whitecaps and 2.1 carat-weight of triangular black diamonds set in 14k gold.

The lozenge shape of the pendant refers to the old name "Lōʻihi" which means long, like the shape of the volcano itself. The opal, as seen from the back of the piece, is surrounded by a stylized web of intaglio lava flows weaving over each other.

The black diamond niho-niho pattern represents:

• Other underwater mountains formed by the Hawaiian hotspot
• Sharks swimming in the depths of the sea ("niho-niho" means "teeth" in reference to the triangular shape of a shark's tooth)
• The Lāhui (the people of Hawaiʻi) because niho-niho is a noa pattern (the opposite of kapu) which meant it was not restricted to royalty and the whole community could use it
• Along with the depth of the pendant itself, the carved shell of a pahu (a traditional drum used in hula and ha‘a).

The pendant comes with an 18" 14k-gold-plated sterling silver popcorn chain that evokes olonā fiber cordage.