About us
We are a Samoan-Chamorro-Japanese couple living in Hawaii. After our farm burnt down on Oahu, the Garden Isle called our name… and while harvesting mamaki for tea at our new Wailua hale one morning, we felt the healing properties of the leaves in our hands, as if the plant was guiding us to do something about it.
That’s how the Coconut Mamaki Balm was born, simply out of listening to nature. Now based on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, we continue to use 100% beyond-organic, natural ingredients to make Mamaki Skin products, available on our online shop and at select retailers in Hawaii and beyond.
We also do live music events and create backyard foot forests inspired by our life rooted in nature and our cultural heritages. We are in the process of setting up our new farm here, stayed tuned for updates on instagram @mamakiskin.
You can read more about how we met and started a farm here.
photo by Su Ruan
Our backgrounds
Douglas is a green-thumb islander with acrobatic capabilities and numerous craftsmanship skills, from woodworking to carpentry. He spent many years in the construction industry building for high-profile projects, but his heart has always been with the plants and animals. His Chamorro, Samoan, and Hawaiian aunties and uncles showed him how to grow food at an early age, and using various parts of plants for medicine. He has several years of experience working for nursery and landscaping operations on Oahu and Kauai, and cow and horse-whispering on a ranch. Along with Mayu, Douglas was the manager for Hanalei Farmer’s Market.
Mayu is a lifelong performer/speaker and entrepreneur, a third-culture kid who grew up in Japan while receiving American education. She comes from a family of educators, healers, and entrepreneurs. She was heavily influenced by her maternal grandfather, who was a holistic healer and master swordsman. She grew up as a traditional Japanese dancer, musician and visual artist, and received her degree as a vocalist and board-certified music therapist at Berklee College of Music in Boston, then traveled as a performer and recording artist. As the lifestyle of a musician took a toll on her body, she studied to become a certified holistic therapist, BodyTalk practitioner and aromatherapist. She has an extensive knowledge of herbs, essential oils, and various therapeutic methods, and provides remote healing sessions for clients around the world. As a multi-instrumentalist/vocalist and singer/songwriter, Mayu has been featured on over 30 records worldwide. You can find Mayu's music and dance videos here.
Our team
Jennifer Hakuʻole
Jen has joined the Mamaki Skin team as a tea producer and sales representative. A mother of two teenage boys, she has extensive managerial experience in the food service industry, and brings her ʻaina-based skills, positivity and expertise into each batch she helps us produce.
Loui Cabebe
Uncle Loui Cabebe is our father figure and advisor, both spiritual and practical. With his wife Fumi, he was the owner of their popular Hawaiian clothing brand Puahina for over 20 years. He is known for his deeply spiritual Hawaiian blessing ceremonies and anchors us with his knowledge and wisdom on the plants, the land, the ocean, and traditional Hawaiian practices.