Owner/Operator, Stitchin’ Aloha

I was born and raised on Kauaʻi, where family and community mean everything to me. After 27 years in accounting, I followed my heart and opened Stitchin’ Aloha—a place where I sew, create, and share the spirit of aloha. I’m a proud mom of 5 and grandma of 7, and I hope my journey shows it’s never too late to chase your dreams and build a life filled with love and purpose.

What are your thoughts on aging?

Aging has taught me one of life’s greatest lessons: being liked or disliked by others doesn’t really matter. What matters is liking and loving myself and being loved by the people who truly count.

At 50, I feel stronger, braver, and more at peace than ever. I’ve learned to live by my values, follow my heart—even leaving a 27-year accounting career to start Stitchin’ Aloha—and embrace each year as a chance to grow. Aging isn’t about getting older; it’s about becoming more of who you were meant to be, and that’s something worth celebrating.

What wonderful things can younger women look forward to at your age? Younger women and girls, might think that it's scary getting older. Let's inspire them!

Getting older isn’t something to fear—it’s something to celebrate. At this age, you’ll find a freedom and confidence you may have only dreamed about when you were younger. You stop worrying so much about what others think and start truly living for yourself.

You gain wisdom from all the twists and turns of life, and that wisdom makes you stronger, kinder, and more grounded. You’ll discover that laughter gets better, friendships get deeper, and love—both for yourself and others—becomes richer.

Most of all, you’ll realize that dreams don’t have an expiration date. There’s so much joy in creating new chapters and embracing every season of life with grace and courage. Aging is where you finally step into your full, unapologetic self—and that’s beautiful.

Share tips on how you celebrate yourself, what you do for fun, and self care.

I celebrate myself by “doing me”—being honest with myself and living by my morals and values. For me, that looks like spending time with my besties at the pool or in my shop, laughing and making memories. I also love creating something meaningful, like a quilt for a loved one.

Self-care doesn’t have to be fancy—it’s about honoring what brings you joy and staying true to who you are.

Share one experience/story. We all have life struggles. But the big share is how did you over come and lift yourself up? Advice to other women to empower them.

One of the hardest seasons of my life was my first marriage and divorce. It left me heartbroken, empty and questioning my worth, but it also became a turning point. I leaned on my besties—we laughed, we cried, and we held each other up. That sisterhood reminded me I wasn’t alone.

I took the time to discover who I really was, outside of being a wife and mother or what anyone else expected of me. I went back to school, earned my MBA, and began living life in a way that felt right for me. My biggest motivation was my three daughters—I wanted them to grow up proud of the mother they had, seeing that strength can come from even the most difficult moments.

My advice to other women: Life as a woman ain’t easy. Allow yourself to feel the pain, but don’t get stuck there. Surround yourself with people who lift you higher. Invest in yourself and trust that your story isn’t over—you can rebuild and create a life you love.

What would you tell your 14-year-old self?

At 14, I had little self-confidence, was scared of everything, painfully shy, and cried at the drop of a hat. I’d tell that girl: “Put your big-girl panties on and hang on tight—life is going to take you on the ride of a lifetime.” Every twist and turn, every high and low, will grow you into a woman far stronger, braver, and more amazing than you could ever imagine right now. You’d be proud of yourself if you could see you in the future.

What is your definition of success?

True success isn’t measured by money, titles, or things—it’s measured by the happiness and peace you carry within. It’s waking up grateful for your life, living true to your values, and finding joy in the simple and meaningful moments. When your heart is full and you love the life you’ve built, that’s real success.

How is your age group relevant? We are under represented but one of the most powerful and influential demographics:

Women in our 40s, 50s, and beyond are often underrepresented, yet we are one of the most powerful and influential demographics. During my 10+ years working for the County of Kauaʻi’s Agency on Elderly Affairs, I saw firsthand the strength and wisdom of this age group. We are the bridge between generations—mentoring the young, caring for our kupuna, and contributing to our communities in countless ways.

By this stage of life, we’ve weathered challenges, built careers, raised families, and gained the kind of perspective and problem-solving skills you can only earn through lived experience. We have incredible buying power and community influence, but more importantly, we lead with compassion and resilience.

Personally, I’ve used my experiences to model courage and reinvention for my daughters and grandbabies, showing that it’s never too late to chase dreams and live with purpose. When women our age are seen and heard, we inspire others and strengthen our communities in powerful ways. 

Twenty years from now, when you look at these portraits we took together, what do you think you will say to yourself?

It was such a wonderful experience. And simply — she was, and still is, beautiful.