Intention: Stepping Into 2026 With Purpose

Every year, I choose a word.

Not a resolution. Not a checklist. Just one word that helps me come back to what matters—especially when life (and business) gets loud.

Last year, my word was resilience. And whew… 2025 asked for it.

It was a year of ups and downs—hard moments, sweet wins, big lessons, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes growth. And even though The Keiki Dept isn’t a huge business (and on most days it’s truly just me), you all showed up in the biggest ways.

To everyone who placed an order, shared a post, left a review, stopped by a pop-up, or sent an encouraging message—mahalo. Your support means more than you know. You’re the reason we’re still here, still creating, still telling stories through every piece.

The truth about being owner-operated

If you’ve been here for a while, you already know this: we’re learning as we go.

We’re owner-operated. We’re building in real time. And we go through the same struggles so many families and small businesses feel—especially here in Hawaiʻi.

The cost of living. The cost of doing business. The constant balancing act of providing for our families while still trying to create something meaningful.

But we keep showing up because we believe in what we’re making.

We believe in products that feel useful for everyday life here in Hawaiʻi. And we believe in creating pieces that can bring a little bit of home wherever you are—especially if life has taken you away from the islands.

My word for 2026: Intention

This year, my word is intention.

Because I don’t want to rush. I don’t want to react. I don’t want to build from pressure or panic.

I want to move with purpose.

Intention looks like:

• Creating with meaning (not just to keep up)

• Making decisions that align with our values

• Protecting my time and my energy

• Staying rooted in why The Keiki Dept exists in the first place

A Hawaiʻi reminder: we’re a melting pot

Living in Hawaiʻi means living in a beautiful mix of cultures.

And I’m a mix too.

I’m part Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese… and more. (Fun fact: I have seven ethnicities listed on my birth certificate.)

That blend is part of how I see the world—and part of how I approach this brand. We’re always trying to honor where we come from, stay respectful, and create in a way that feels true.

From shedding to moving forward

In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 was the Year of the Snake—and honestly… it fits.

It felt like a year of shedding.

Letting go of what wasn’t working. Releasing what we didn’t want to carry into the next season. Learning the hard lessons.

And right now, even though the calendar year has started, we’re still in that in-between space—because Chinese New Year doesn’t begin until February.

A few extra weeks to breathe. A few extra weeks to reflect. A few extra weeks to reset.

To set our intentions… and shed the last of what we don’t want to carry forward.

Then, when the season shifts, we’ll step into 2026’s Chinese zodiac: the Year of the Fire Horse.

From what I’ve been reading, Fire Horse energy is about momentum—bold action, independence, ambition, and powerful forward movement.

Not reckless. Not rushed. But strong.

For me, that’s where intention comes in.

Because if the Fire Horse is the fuel, intention is the steering wheel.

How we’re approaching 2026 (with intention)

Here’s what I’m carrying into this year—both as a mom and as the owner of The Keiki Dept:

1. Create with clarity

   Not everything needs to be a big launch. Not every idea needs to become a product. We’re focusing on what truly serves our keiki and ʻohana.

2. Move with courage (even when it’s scary)

   Growth requires boldness. Sometimes it’s a new design. Sometimes it’s a new way of doing things. Sometimes it’s simply trusting myself.

3. Stay rooted in home—wherever home is

   Whether you’re raising your babies here in Hawaiʻi or you’ve had to move away, I want our pieces to feel like connection. Like memory. Like belonging.

4. Build sustainably

   A business can’t thrive if the person behind it is burnt out. I’m choosing rhythms that support my family, my health, and the long game.

Mahalo for being here

If you supported The Keiki Dept in 2025 in any way—big or small—thank you.

Thank you for keeping this dream alive. Thank you for letting me create for your families. Thank you for caring about stories, culture, and the everyday pieces that become memories.

Here’s to 2026.

A year of intention. A year of forward movement. A year of building something meaningful—together.

Me ke aloha,

Leilani