Made by Hand, Inspired by Hawaiʻi: A Gallery Where the Spirit of Hawaiʻi Takes Shape

Maui Hands was born from a desire among local artists to work with good people, surrounded by beauty. The business began as a tiny shop in Makawao and has since expanded to include bustling galleries in Pāʻia and Wailea. Representing close to 300 artists, artisans and jewelers, there is no better place to find that special piece of local artwork on Maui.

Glass is a magical medium that comes in many different forms, and some of the most cherished handmade pieces at Maui Hands are created by Hawai‘i Island-based flamework glass artist Chris Upp. Drawing inspiration from the creatures living in the waters around his home, Upp re-creates everything from the beloved honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle) and fascinating he‘e (octopus) to the revered koholā (humpback whale). While his work can be found on other Hawaiian Islands, on Maui you’ll find these unique works only at Maui Hands.

Refined by the ocean after tumbling through the waves, beach glass is used by several Maui Hands artists, including Sam Grim and Beba O’Brien. Grim has called Maui home for several decades, and he loves to holoholo, or stroll, along the island’s beaches. At his favorite secluded spots, he picks up the sea glass and shells to use in his jewelry, as carvings or just as Mother Nature made them. Another fan of walking the beach for treasures, O’Brien creates heartwarming, minimalist scenes using sea glass, sea pottery, shells, sea urchin spines and driftwood, among other finds.

Adornments made from natural materials are synonymous with tropical destinations, and the classically trained jewelry artists at Maui Hands create elevated forms, working with gold and silver. Born and raised in Ha‘ikū, Noryne Hiromoto Taylor crafts intricate wax casts of everything from sea turtles to cherry blossoms that are incredibly lifelike. Carol and Michael Schwarz match their signature bamboo motifs with only the finest gemstones in their off-the-grid jungle haven on Maui’s North Shore. And Bruce Tapley uses a wide variety of imaginative patterns to create some of the bestselling rings at Maui Hands.

But here, it’s not just about jewelry. John Bradshaw has acquired unusual woods—such as the uniquely patterned leopard Hawaiian koa—throughout his career, which he now uses to make heirloom furniture. Renowned self-taught woodturner Todd Campbell creates massive, simple shapes that reveal the beautiful and intricate designs of the woods he uses. Last but certainly not least, Kolton Kallas’s surfboards—made with wood from trees grown in Hawaiʻi and mixed media like resin—bring together land and sea in stunning artistic combinations that are never the same twice.

Discover the art that speaks to you at Maui Hands.