We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevin Cruze and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I dressed up as a ’60s hippie for Halloween 2021, for a party and DJ night my friend Casey produced. wig and everything. I needed some love beads, so I decided to make them myself. Then I couldn’t stop doing it.

I’m going to be 54 this year. I want to at least try to hear or listen to my artistic impulses instead of dismissing them as something I don’t have time for. I’m less interested in the relative success of it, than I am in learning about the culture and art.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My original vision was: make love beads that look like a stoned-out hippie in Haight-Ashbury made them in 1968. That has evolved. I just want to make “art jewelry” pieces that people love and want to wear. If I learn a bit about jewelry making and bead craft in the process, hey that’s cool. I looked for old articles and photos about love beads, including a lot of pictures of rock stars from the ’60s and ’70s.

The first few pieces I made, I made with this expensive silk beading thread that was personally hard for me too work with. My knots were not very good and they all broke. Then I noticed some inexpensive fishing line at my local grocery store that stocks fishing poles and supplies. Then I read up a little bit on how to tie knots. I love the beads. All the colors and textures and materials, from semi-precious stones to tacky plastic candy beads. I find that I have to spend at least a little time looking at the beads in my collection every day, or I don’t really get the inspiration and the ideas don’t come to me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Chinatown and the “outer” city of Honolulu (Kakaako, Kaimuki, Diamondhead, etc.) and other areas of Oahu (the North Shore, Kailua, Waimanalo) over the Waikiki same ol’ same ol’, always. I think one of the worst things people can do to themselves is spend a week or two-week vacation in Hawaii and never go beyond Waikiki and the tourist trap.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife who is the Queen of my world. My DJ crew and creative peoples here in Honolulu. My cousins and friends in Arizona.

Instagram: @hashburydesigns

Image Credits
Photo by hashburydesigns.

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