The Power of Pausing: How Stepping Back Moved Us Forward
Last year, I made the intentional choice to pause and reflect on where The Keiki Dept was headed. After years of building this business from the ground up, I realized we needed to slow down to focus on what matters most - home, keiki, and nurturing my mental health.
Choosing My Word for 2025
At the start of 2025, I chose one word to guide my intentions: resilience.
As a mom of five keiki and a business owner, I've learned that resilience isn't just about bouncing back - it's about growing stronger through challenges, staying true to your values when things get tough, and finding the courage to keep moving forward even when the path isn't clear.
This word became my anchor throughout the year, reminding me that every setback was an opportunity to build something better.
Coming Full Circle
Now, as we enter the final stretch of the year, I can see this truly has been our year - a year to come full circle and celebrate all we've accomplished while dreaming about what's ahead.
We've navigated production challenges, celebrated milestones like joining the Mana Up Cohort 10, and continued creating products that connect families to Hawaiian culture.
Through it all, resilience has been our guiding light.
What We Stand For
We are The Keiki Dept. We create thoughtfully designed keiki clothing and accessories inspired by ʻāina. Our products feature native Hawaiian plants and animals, helping families learn together about the natural treasures that make Hawaiʻi so special.
Every print tells a story. Every piece is made with intention. Whether it's our Kapa Moe swaddle blankets featuring native plants like kalo and naupaka, or our Memory Game that teaches keiki about Hawaiian species, we're helping families connect with Hawaiian culture and creating moments for learning together.
Looking Forward with Aloha
I am so proud to look back at our journey - from those early days of struggling to find authentic Hawaiian clothing for my own keiki, to building a brand that serves families across the islands and beyond.
But looking forward? That fills me with even more excitement.
In a world that can feel heavy with negativity, especially on social media, I believe we have the power to choose differently. We can choose to create positive change. We can choose to support businesses that align with our values. We can choose to teach our keiki about the beauty of Hawaiian culture and the importance of mālama ʻāina.
Let's continue being part of creating a better Hawaiʻi - one filled with positive change, cultural connection, and endless aloha.
Mahalo for being part of this journey with us. Your support means everything to our small business and our mission to share Hawaiian culture through every piece we create.
With aloha,
Leilani
Written by Leilani Sills
Full time mama, Shop Owner and Teacher.
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.