Meet Ashley Personeni | Owner of Live Aloha Designs

At the age of 19, I started my career in the footwear industry. After many years dedicated to constant traveling, meetings, and landing accounts, I was able to climb my way to the top of the corporate ladder quite quickly – and while being a successful women at the height of my carrier, I was quite unhappy. It was when I took a trip to Hawaii and I was sitting on the beach contemplating my life and how hard I worked, I realized I had no balance in my life and discovered that I was actually quite unhappy regardless of the money I was making or the position I held. So, as I sat on Lanikai beach staring at the Mokulua islands, I had never felt more connected to a place, energy, community, but most of all the spirit of Aloha. I sat there and said to myself that I just want to live aloha, and at that time a lightbulb went off in my head. I had worked so hard for so many years for other people, and I knew it was time to start putting in that energy for myself and do it with the spirit of aloha.

After my realization, it was time to follow my dreams. My family and friends were quite shocked to find out I was quitting my job and starting my own company outside of footwear. I Called my mom that day from the beach and told her, she was very excited for me and said, ” sweetheart, you can do anything you put your mind to”. With the love, encouragement, and support of my closet friends and family I knew I could do this! I believe my success has come with the encouragement and love from them. As I started my journey, Kalapawai market in Kailua was the first place that gave me the opportunity to sell my new jewelry collection. My dear friend Ruthie Kaminskas helped push me to find as many locations as I could to start selling. She was always bring friends to me to shop my collection, and even let me use her home when needed during the crazy summers. My dear friends Cassie and Meri Hoffsten, who are incredibly talented photographers, helped shoot all my products and gave me photo content for free. Cassie Peech was my first sale. As I started to grow my business I have been doing pop ups at several different markets and my dear friend Camille Hughes came down for months to help my setup every weekend and sell my collection, I’m truly grateful to her. All my best  girl friends Jill, Wendy, Jannie, Bethany, Meri, and my sisters Christina and Katie were all a huge part of my support group when things got hard, constantly lifting me up and reminding me I could do this. In 2020 when I returned to the mainland due the pandemic I felt lost and unsure how to continue my business. My dear friend Jannie reminded me i’ve always wanted to start my own clothing line. She bought me a sewing machine and connected me with her family who’s in the industry, they gave my guidance and free equipment to launch my first clothing line. As the collection started to grow my neighbor and friend Jenn came to me and said if you need help let me know, she has been instrumental in my company, she works full time with me, and I could not do it with out her! As I started to grow my small business, it was all hands on deck at my house to prepare for my first whole sale show. My house was filled with my friends Camille, Antoinette, Alyssa, Molly, Emily to help prepare free of charge. They say it takes a tribe, and I will be forever grateful to my tribe my friends and family for all the love and support!