The Hawaii Jewelers Association celebrated its 76th anniversary in 2025. Our annual banquet was October 11, 2025 at the Oahu Country Club in Nuʻuanu. The Design Contest was held concurrently and the winners for 2025 are:
Designer of the Year 2025
Designer of the Year 2025 - Joshua Edelstein of Edelstein Metalsmiths for Kamaʻehuakanaloa
Kama'ehuakanaloa, formerly known as Lōʻihi, is a deep-ocean volcano on the SE flank of Mauna Loa. Here, the molten caldera is represented by a vibrant Ethiopian fire opal glowing through the pelagic depths of a 24.5 ct London blue topaz, surrounded by 0.94 ctw of round brilliant whitecaps and 2.1 ctw of black diamonds niho-niho pattern seamounts set in 14k gold. The lozenge shape of the pendant refers to the old name "Lōʻihi" which means long, like the shape of the volcano itself. The opal, visible from the back, is surrounded by a stylized web of intaglio lava flows weaving over each other.
Under $5000 - Category I
Under $5000, 1st Place - Life's a Beach - Eiko Dunster of Opal Fields
Expertly crafted in 14 Karat gold, featuring a gem boulder opal and accented with brilliant hearts and arrows diamonds. This is the ring for a love as vast and unpredictable as the ocean itself. "Life's a Beach," it’s a promise to find joy in the waves and solace in the sand, always together. A miniature snapshot of the deep sea. It's rich, play-of-color erupting across its surface like the sun-drenched moments of a perfect coastal day. A piece of the seaside, forever preserved on your hand.
Under $5000, 2nd Place - Karkinos Ring - Joshua Edelstein, Edelstein Metalsmiths
This glittering bypass ring shows the astrological symbol for Cancer, known as Karkinos in the original Greek. The symbol is draw out in tiny rubies each literally smaller than a gnat, surrounding a half-carat F-color SI clarity center diamond and two smaller side stones of matching color and clarity. Set in lustrous 18K white gold, unplated to show the true luster of the metal.
Under $5000, 3rd Place - A Daughter of the Gods - Alex McFarlin of Na Hoku
This Siren rises from the depths carrying an exquisite treasure, a faceted 10mm Tahitian pearl. Her matte-finished sterling silver skin exhibits a dewy appearance, kissed with 14 karat yellow gold accents.
Under $5000, People's Choice - Diamond Flash - Carrie Nottage Smith of Na Hoku
14K yellow gold earrings with 0.63 ctw of diamonds. Designed for fun and sparkle, depicting our beautiful bright Hawaiian sun.
$5000 and Over - Category II
Over $5000, 1st Place - Mariposa - Jon Pirl of Opal Fields
A celebration of nature's most enchanting transformation, Mariposa features an extraordinarily rare Colombian Trapiche emerald--meticulously carved into the delicate form of a butterfly. The emerald's natural spoke pattern accentuates wings in motion, symbolizing harmony and renewal. The butterfly flutters through an etherial 18K yellow gold garden, where hearts-and-arrows diamonds glisten like morning dew, illuminating the piece with both precision and poetry. A masterpiece of artistry and gemological rarity, Mariposa captures a fleeting moment of beauty--forever suspended in gold and light.
Over $5000 - 2nd Place - Transformational - Eiko Dunster of Opal Fields
These sapphire earrings celebrate both the quiet intimacy of a deep connection and the dazzling joy of shared celebration. At their core rests a pair of exceptional Sapphire Gems precision set in 18 karat yellow gold post-style earrings. Worn alone, they are an elegant whisper of devotion, a classic promise of love that needs no adornment to be profound. But when the moment calls for a flourish, they can be dramatically transformed, surrounding the sapphires with brilliant, shimmering diamonds in 18 karat white gold jackets meticulously crafted to form a halo of brilliance around the oval sapphires. Whether presented as the classic sapphire stud for daily reassurance or fully adorned for a night of breathtaking romance, these earrings offer a beautiful duality ready to be styled for every chapter of life's journey.
Over $5000, 3rd Place - Pua Mele - Kacie Epperly of Honolulu Jewelry Company
14K yellow gold double plumeria ombre ring, with 0.95 ctw of white sapphires and 2.06 ctw of pink sapphires.
Over $5000, People's Choice - Groovy - David Heartson, Heartson Jewelry
14K yellow gold surfboard set in 0.45 ctw of VS diamonds and 0.75 ctw of blue diamonds.
Hawaiian Themed - Category III
Hawaiian Themed, 1st Place - Kamaʻehuakanaloa - Joshua Edelstein, Edelstein Metalsmiths
Kama'ehuakanaloa, formerly known as Lōʻihi, is a deep-ocean volcano on the SE flank of Mauna Loa. Here, the molten caldera is represented by a vibrant Ethiopian fire opal glowing through the pelagic depths of a 24.5 ct London blue topaz, surrounded by 0.94ctw of round brilliant whitecaps and 2.1 ctw of black diamonds niho-niho pattern seamounts set in 14k gold. The lozenge shape of the pendant refers to the old name "Lōʻihi" which means long, like the shape of the volcano itself. The opal, visible from the back, is surrounded by a stylized web of intaglio lava flows weaving over each other.
Hawaiian Themed, 2nd Place - Lelewaʻa - Alex McFarlin of Na Hoku
14k gold whale shark pendant. This gentle giant of the Hawaiian open ocean is encrusted with 30 diamonds and features a school of remora dancing across its belly.
Hawaiian Themed, 3rd Place - Hōkūala - Hailey Stockton of Lehua Jewelers
This captivating pendant is a celestial tribute to the ancient Hawaiian navigators who charted their course by the stars. Named Hōkūala, meaning "Pathway of the Stars" in Hawaiian, this piece honors the guidance, courage and timeless beauty of those journeys. Crafted in rich 14K yellow gold, this pendant is hand-engraved with precision, featuring a mesmerizing pattern of geometric triangles reminiscent of Hawaiian kakau and ohe kapala designs. A vertical row of brilliant diamonds symbolizes the guiding stars that light the way across vast oceans and time. The contrast between the textured gold and the sparkling diamomds creates an enchanting balance of earth and sky, tradition and modern elegance.
Hawaiian Themed, People's Choice - Loulu - Carrie Nottage Smith of Na Hoku
14k yellow gold handmade linked necklace with 1.0 ctw of diamonds. The Loulu is endemic to Hawaii and to Oʻahu in particular. The palm is symbolic of peace, celebration and good luck.