Our Story

Why Uku’s Candles?

 

Ok so like all nationalities there are somethings that are passed thru generations…

Like caring for our homeland, taking care of our elders and nick names. Being Hawaiian all things ring true.

To us our lands provide life and a closeness to our ancestors. All life is worth protecting and our lands provide that life. Sustainability is an emotional connection to Us.

 To be able to care for our elders. It is not only our responsibility to take care of our elders but also a pleasure we pride ourselves on.

Then, there’s that nickname thing.  A nick name that sticks in a lot of our homes, Uku. Well, that has been mine. Uku means louse or sand gnat. Not a name most people would find pride in…

Recently, my mom has not been doing well. She was diagnosed a few years ago with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Just a few months back she was also found to have small cell lung cancer. Treatment for her was radiation. Not that we weren’t warned but her dementia got worse. Saddened to say, they were right. It shot up another stage which made her symptoms even worse.

At this time her memory is worse than ever and most of the time she’s calling me by my aunts' name or Uku. Uku is much less likely as the days go by.

One night after I had her settled down for the night, I did my usual. I went into the kitchen to make candles.

See, since her diagnosis of cancer she had been in and out of the hospital. Being her only child I had to make some life adjustments; one being leaving my job and spending more time two states away from my home. Selling candles were a way to help one end see the other, even if they didn’t meet up.

This particular night, out of nowhere she showed up in the kitchen. (Dad and I often tease we need to put a bell on her.) She picked up a candle, smelled it and just like someone had turned on a light bulb, she turned to my dad and said, “Smell, these are Uku’s Candles!”

Holding back the tears I looked at my dad, silently we all agreed. "Uku’s Candles it is."

I hope sharing my story with you gave you some insight on me as a person and why I love doing what I’m doing.  

I do appreciate you supporting my Small Business and hope to continue to serve you for many years. Mahalo.