CB Grey x Mauna Kea

In the realm of design, there are projects, and then there are journeys that transcend the ordinary. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to design a collection (actually 2!) inspired by the iconic elements and spirit of the Mauna Kea Beach Resort in Hawaii.

Mauna Kea is one of Hawaii’s most iconic properties and was built by American businessman Laurance S. Rockefeller in the 1960s. At the time, it was the most expensive resort ever built in the world! The art and attention to detail throughout the property were unmatched, and it truly set the standard for luxury resorts around the world and put Hawaii on the map!

Mauna Kea invited me to visit the property last summer, telling me that "to truly understand Mauna Kea, you have to experience it first-hand." I have traveled to many incredible places throughout my life and kind of just expected this to be another beautiful resort - man, was I wrong! I fell under the spell of the Mauna Kea completely, and now understand why parents and children return again and again, for generations, to Mauna Kea. For the 5 days I was there, I immersed myself in the vibrant atmosphere of Mauna Kea and learned so much about MK's history, art, and culture. Mauna Kea’s low-key-luxe energy feels like a boarding pass straight back to “Old Hawaii” – a magical feeling so often lost with newer, more modern resorts.

The timeless vibe here is largely “no-frills," yet you will find many affluent families and couples (proudly clad in their head-to-toe bright orange Mauna Kea branded gear) all over the property. Many of them have been vacationing here for DECADES! Honestly, it feels a little bit like a secret society – a club that you don’t really “understand” until you stay there, and then you just get it. And before you know it, you’re wearing a bright orange plumeria logo hat on your flight home, and already dreaming about when you can go back again.

When I was first approached about this collab, I was initially asked to create just one design that embodied the spirit of MK, but after visiting, I knew that just wasn't going to cut it with the cult-like following that they have! I proposed to them that I create our original "story-telling" design, but also another one for the logo-loving guests that would feel "Mauna Kea" and house the logo, but in a very abstract un-"promotional product" type of way.

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While I was staying at MK I began to sketch. Sitting on the beach, Fredrico in hand (for inspiration, of course!), watching the guests and the way they all simply looked like they were home, and the design just began to pour out of me. I interviewed many of the guests while I was there and asked them all the same question: "What comes to mind when you think of Mauna Kea?" Almost every person said at least one of the iconic elements that you find around the resort. The parrots, the Buddha, the palm trees, the beach, the surfboards, the manta rays, the architecture, the Koi fish etc. I knew I could not fully encapsulate Mauna Kea without including all of these elements in the design. So I began sketching and selecting colors to bring to life a tangible representation of the spirit of this enchanting destination.

Presenting the finished collection to the world was a moment of pure joy and pride! It wasn't just a collab, but a celebration of the unique and captivating elements that make Mauna Kea Beach Resort an unparalleled destination. This project has been nothing short of magical, and I am forever grateful and honored to have been given the opportunity to share the Mauna Kea story through my art and design.