Inspired by Royalty 

If you live here or have visited Hawaii, you have a sense of the spirituality and magic that abounds here—the Aloha that is offered to all and is a way of living, not just hello and goodbye.  And it flows down from the Ali’i (the Hawaiian line of rulers). 

Ratna has particularly been inspired by Queen Lili’uokalani, the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The queen loved elegant jewelry, following the clothing and jewelry fashions of the British Royals whom she visited in the 1880s. She combined British concepts into what is now known as Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry.

Queen Lili’uokalani’s jewelry collection reflects a worldly woman who was fiercely loyal to her Hawaiian people and traditions. And she would be the Kingdom’s last ruler. In 1884 a group of American businessmen staged a “coup” and took over the islands. Wishing to spare her people a bloody conflict, she stepped down.  The following January Lili’uokalani and a group of her supporters were arrested by the new government and charged with treason for their implication in an attempted insurrection. After several months of house arrest in her palace, she formally signed a document abdicating her throne in exchange for the release and pardon of her compatriots. She lived out the rest of her life as private citizen. On July 7,1898, the Hawaiian Islands were officially annexed by the United States.  Hawaii became a state on August 21, 1959.

An example of her collection is a gold butterfly brooch containing 159 diamonds with two tiny ruby eyes purchased in London in 1887 and worn in the Queen’s hair.  Hidden springs allowed the wings to quiver as she moved.

Ratna is very partial to this piece as in the 70’s her jewelry shop in Monterey, California was called “Magic Butterfly” because of the Monarchs who migrated there and filled the trees each year…and today she breeds and releases Monarch butterflies!

And today, there are many Native Hawaiians who are working to re-establish the Kingdom of Hawaii who do not recognize the United States as owner/controller of the Hawaiian Kingdom…and we honor them.