When Perri Ricci isn't swimming off the shores of Maui with her mask on and head down in the surf looking for puka shells—beach-worn apexes of cone shells that naturally form a hole, or "puka," perfect for jewelry-making, you can find her at The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. She showcases her popular Puka Perri jewelry line there and also works from her South Kihei home, forging her pieces by hand and handling the backend computer work that comes with running a business. Additionally, she can be found upcountry in Makawao at The Monarch Collective, a boutique she co-owns with her best friend, where she showcases her own jewelry and the creations of various other Hawai'i makers.

That Ricci has been productive for the last decade is an understatement. The chic designer has long been busy doing what she does best: marrying her love of the ocean and puka shells with her creativity and luxurious sense of design to produce her high-end Puka Perri jewelry line. “My journey in jewelry has always been about making jewelry that aligns with my style and lifestyle and feels good to wear,” says Ricci. “One of my mottos is ‘You have to stay inspired by your raw materials.’ I am drawn to very specific materials that keep my aesthetic cohesive and give me parameters when designing. This really helps as it can get crazy and limitless out there in the creative cloud.” These materials include 18k gold findings, metallic and natural-colored threads, high-quality Tahitian pearls, cowry shells and her beloved puka shells.

Her best-selling gold-filled puka hoops, custom puka rings and pendants are the fan-favorites seen on everyone from stylish surfer girls to women about town to celebrities. As for Ricci’s personal favorites? “I wear my 18k gold puka ring and dark brown leather-and-pearl Taha‘a bracelet daily. I switch off between my luxe puka necklace and my 24-inch gold rolo chain with my giant Golden South Sea drop pearl. I love that necklace as it goes right over my head, and the golden hue goes with everything.”

Ricci started Puka Perri in 2011 after moving to Maui from Pennsylvania. During college, she interned with her aunt at the Maui Film Festival and was so inspired by the North Shore Maui lifestyle that she moved back a couple of years later. Living in her aunt’s jewelry studio and informed by beading techniques she had learned during a study-abroad stint in Africa, she created her own jewelry using puka shells she found on the beach. “I feel so lucky to spend my days doing something I love that feels so true and personal to me,” Ricci marvels. “Sometimes I reflect and look at what I have created, and I go, wow, I created an entire world that started from a small seed of inspiration…the puka shell.”

A few years into running Puka Perri, Ricci felt thin between organizing various pop-ups and wholesale accounts. She had a vision for how she wanted her clients to experience her jewelry, and soon teamed up with her best friend and creator of Taurus Moon Jewelry, Nickoel Martyn, to start The Monarch Collective. “I’m a cheerleader at heart, so showcasing and supporting so many Hawai‘i-based artists is deeply fulfilling for me,” explains Ricci. The boutique is a modular, neutral space in the heart of Makawao aimed to allow each Hawai‘i designer’s collection to shine.

“We attract aligned customers that love being in our space and supporting makers,” says Ricci. “My partner and I both meet with clients for custom projects at the shop, and this really sets us apart from other boutiques. We are working on bringing the custom creation process more central to the shopping experience.” Another way clients can help co-create a custom Puka Perri piece is at The Four Seasons Resort Maui’s weekly Custom Jewelry Bar using pearl and shell heirloom pieces.

Additionally, yet another partnership that has been proven to be very popular is Puka Perri’s collaboration with Project You Be Well, founded by Ricci’s friend Neely Mack. California-based Mack has her own eponymous line of leather accessories such as handbags, footwear, belts and leatherwear. “Both of our designs come from the earth and sea and we both believe in quality high-end craftsmanship from start to finish,” explains Mack on why the duo initially hit it off. Together they produced a line of leather-and-pearl bracelets and necklaces, and ocean-inspired, solid-gold charms.

“I think what I love most is the people I interact with daily—from the raddest clients to the makers at Monarch to the incredible craftswomen I work with. I am surrounded by people I love dearly,” says Ricci, reflecting on how far she’s come with her various ventures. “And we get to put beautiful things into the world that didn’t exist before.”

You can find Perri Ricci’s jewelry at pukaperri.com and The Monarch Collective's website at monarchcollectivemaui.com.