About
Naupaka (nau·pa·ka ) is a husband and wife collaborative and ethical boutique. Nick, from the mountains and Lauren, raised by the sea. They met working as deckhands in Alaska, where the mountains meet the sea.
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Naupaka is based in Hawaii and hosts pop-up markets around the island of Maui where you can shop in person and say hello! Be sure to follow us on instagram to stay up to date with our next pop up! @naupakastore
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Our heart:
We are committed to ethical and fair trading practices. We support fair labor laws and safe working conditions for all of our partners. Our brand shirts are Fair Trade Federation certified, WRAP certified and/or made in the USA. All shirts are printed in the USA. Naupaka brand jewelry and decals are handmade by Lauren. All of our retail pieces from other designers and vendors have undergone rigorous interview processes to verify their ethical manufacturing policies and transparencies. Additionally, many of our products carry the Fair Trade Certified seal. We are all about transparency and welcome any questions about our policies and procedures.
Why is ethical production important?
Ethical production and manufacturing is extremely important to us. We believe in doing things the right way. You may have heard of sweat shops, forced labor, slavery, or human trafficking. Sweat shops and human trafficking are real, and they're happening right now, to our brothers and sisters around the world. These are just some of the terrible things often directly linked to the fast fashion and garment industry. Mass producers only care about the bottom line (money) and disregard the health and well-being of the people making the garments, necklaces, shoes, ______ (fill in the blank).
Are ethically made garments more expensive?
Yes and no. There is a true cost associated with garments made in unsafe conditions. While the sticker price a consumer pays may be $7.99 for a shirt, it's likely the person who made that shirt paid for that shirt in the their physical and mental health. If you have a moment, look up the devastating collapse of the Rana Plaza Garment Factory.
Ethically made garments may cost more than budget clothing but they also of higher quality (meaning they will last longer), retain their resale value, and provoke a sense of pride in ownership.
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Our mission:
Our mission is to glorify God in all that we do, to provide our clients with access to worldly goods made by empowered artisans and talented designers, and to create a warm, welcoming, family friendly space for everyone.
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Our name:
Our name was inspired by the Naupaka (nau·pa·ka) half flower:
If you have ever visited Hawaii, it's likely you have seen the white Naupaka half flower growing on a bright green shrub on the beach. The Naupaka half flower grows in two places on Hawaii- the bottom half of the flower grows by the sea and the top half grows by the mountains.
The Hawaiian legend of Naupaka tells a love story about each half flower symbolizing two lovers, Princess Naupaka and the fisherman Kaui. The two had a great love for each other but were eternally separated by the jealous Goddess Pele. When each half is brought together, a full flower is created and the lovers are reunited.
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Sustainability:
We believe mankind to be stewards of the Earth. We take sustainability seriously and are constantly evaluating our footprint and making strides to improve our sustainability practices. Our packaging has been thoughtfully chosen. Our poly mailers are resealable & reusable mailers, so please hold on to them and reuse them to mail your next package in. Our decals and jewelry are placed in biodegradable packaging to provide protection. Please know that we will always choose paper over single use plastic when it is appropriate. “Ugly packaging” may be available for your order. “Ugly packaging” is just that- we will mail your order in our own second (or third) hand packaging that we have acquired from shipments. If you would like to request “ugly packaging”, please send us an email before or at the time of your order!
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Our Community:
Giving back to our local community here on Maui is very important to us. As of October 2020 1% of every purchase made at Naupaka is donated to VILLAGE OF HOPE. Additionally, you may round up your purchase or make a donation at checkout! Village of Hope partners with foster parents, social workers to help provide support and resources to the some of the most vulnerable young members of our community on Maui. To learn more about Village of Hope Maui or to fill a "Journey Bag", please visit their website.