What’s A Mejiro?

Aloha!

My name is Oona, and I am a one woman micro business, specializing in handmade one of a kind and small batch jewelry.

Originally from Hākalau on the Big Island of Hawai'i, I currently reside in Redmond, Oregon with my husband, 2 dogs (Nala & Ronin), 2 cats (Ragnar & Nova), and 2 hair sheep (Oreo & Shaun). Although we used to have more sheep, ducks, and chickens. Maybe when we move back home to Hilo we can have more livestock again.

Mejiro by Oona Menezes was opened in 2004, a couple years after I graduated high school. It has been a side hustle that's supported me financially and emotionally through the years. When I pushed to make it a full time career, I got an amazing response! And I will be forever grateful for all the support and compliments given during that time. But I quickly realized the art therapy it provided for my mental health was sacrificed, and it lost it's joy. My wrists and inspiration were shot as well, and I had to take a several months long hiatus from even picking up my tools to get back into the right headspace. Going forward I'll just be listing pieces as they're made, and unfortunately will not be accepting custom orders. Also as of late 2022, I've become a co-owner of the chocolate company I started with my dad. I spearheaded the rebranding from the former Hawaiian Crown (Hilo division) to Mahiʻai Made and have been devoting much of my time to it's growth.

So what is a mejiro? Mejiro (meh-gee-row) are little green birds otherwise known as the Japanese white eye, or Japanese rice bird. I grew up on a 12 acre tropical plant farm and nursery where these birds would love to flit around the lychee trees. They used to be much more rare and shy back then, only venturing out in early morning and dusk, so it felt special to see them. As a child I developed a connection with the experience, since I had to be very still and patient (waiting under the lychee trees, ignoring mosquitos) for them to show themselves. Nowadays though, I feel conflicted since mejiro have made such a resurgence they're invasive to endangered native manu.

My favorite materials to work with are gold fill, opals, labradorite, moonstone, Tahitian pearls, tourmaline, apatite, coral, fossilized shark teeth, and shells.

Potential inspiration can come from all over, and I usually find it through my multi cultural mixed background, different people I've met, places I've been, and emotions I've felt during those experiences.

I also strive to be a give back business, and especially like to donate to organizations for kūpuna, single mothers and their children, mental health, and the environment.