Aloha! I'm Tiana Leilani Gomes.

I was born on Oʻahu and come from a mixed background: Hawaiian, Tahitian, Portuguese, and Vietnamese. My family used to run Gomes School Bus Company in Kāneʻohe, and even though my parents were the first in our family to move to the mainland in 2004, Hawaiʻi has always been home in my heart.

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Growing up, my dad had big puakenikini trees in our yard. We’d sit outside stringing lei together, then give them to my papa or whoever we were going to visit. It was just a part of life, sharing love, aloha, and connection through something handmade.

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When we moved to the mainland, we realized how hard it was to find lei. That’s what inspired me to starting making them again—not just for myself, but for anyone missing the islands. For me, lei making is a way to stay creative, stay connected to my roots, and spread a little bit of Hawaiʻi wherever it’s needed.

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