MEET AN EMPLOYEE: MARIETTA

Marietta, Shipping Manager & Personal Cosmetic Batch Maker


Marrietta moved to Hawaii in 1971 after marrying her husband. Before that she had been teaching sixth grade in the Philippines for almost eight years. When she first arrived she worked as a pantry worker at the former Kuilima Resort, now it's known as Turtle Bay Resort.

Three years after that she was hired at Kukui Nuts of Hawaii. When the company went bankrupt, it was bought by Dana Gray and Oils of Aloha was born. Now Marietta, has been with us for over 20 years. And although her roles have changed over the years, she has always filled in where she is needed being a true team player.

When she started, she was the supervisor in charge of the employees who hand-made authentic Hawaiian kukui leis. Eventually, that part of the business became no longer profitable due to cheap imitation leis being imported from Asia. (Side note: if you happen to have an authentic Hawaiian kukui lei consider yourself lucky and hang on to it. They are pretty rare these days and very special.) Marietta's role then switched from lei maker to what she does today: making cosmetic batches of our various products including lotions, creams and shampoo. She also leads our shipping department as the Shipping Manager. Assuring you and us that your package will arrive securely and undamaged.

Marietta has been a resident of the North Shore, Oahu for nearly forty years. When I asked her what her favorite part of living here was, of course, she answered the beach. She shared fond memories of going to the famous surf spot Pipeline with her husband and just watching the waves. Her favorite products are our pure kukui oil and the moisturizing cream. She remembers when she was making the leis and working with the raw kukui nuts how soft her hands would become.

KUKUI FOR MY KEIKI

Many babies and very young children have what is called infant stages of eczema:  very noticeable inflamed, red and itchy skin.  As any observant mom would do, once I noticed this on my son, I educated myself on the symptoms of eczema.  Doctors play a major role toward helping parents maintain a healthy regimen for their children, but at the same time, I believe it is vital for parents to make great decisions for the care of their children and their overall health.

My son suffered with eczema throughout his infant years and during this time I wanted to find any means possible to ease his pain.  As an Oils of Aloha employee, I knew all the benefits of Kukui Oil and decided to try the  Kukui Conditioning Shampoo that I spotted in the shower.

As I prepared him for a sponge bath, I placed my son on the bed and noticed large red patches on his butt cheeks and behind his knees.  I decided to try the Shampoo as a bubble bath.  I applied the Kukui Shampoo to the washcloth and then I gently stroked the cloth over the inflamed area.  From the time I bathed him, until I laid him on the towel in the room, the inflammation and redness disappeared.  

Seriously, there was no redness, no inflammation at all.  His skin was cleared.  I thought to myself, "Amazing!"

I remain a Believer in our Kukui products...

M. Hatchie

FUNDRAISER FOR LANIKAI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Oils of Aloha is happy to report that Lanikai Elementary School’s Fundraiser this month was a huge success. With the support of the parents and children of Lanikai Elementary, Oils of Aloha helped raise money for the school to purchase a new bookshelf for Ms. Ramos’s Kindergarten class. The children enjoyed homemade brownies made with our Hawaii’s Gold Macadamia Oil while the parents sampled products from our KUKUIæ Skin Care Collection.

As a token of appreciation, the class drew a Thank You card (pictured above).

Do you have a fund raising idea? Please let us know, email jri@oilsofaloha.com.

SOAP MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR SKIN

"I must admit I gave up on bar soaps ages ago, even for my hands. I humbly and happily eat crow! The Kukui Glycerine Soap felt like silk, not like soap! I used it with my loofa mitt and it cleaned like a dream, but didn't leave my skin tight or dry."

Jessica Skropanic, Spa Review

Dec., 2004

If you are suffering from dry flaky skin despite the constant application of moisturizers and frequent bathing, it could be due to the nature of the soap you are using. Mass-produced commercial soap that is usually sitting on the shelves of your local grocery or department store is not actually soap - it's a form of detergent. Instead of natural vegetable oils, these " detergent soaps" are actually made fromh petroleum. In addition, these types of "soaps" may retain the caustic lye used in processing as well as potentially irritating perfumes.

GLYCERIN SOAP, however, is a sound choice for people with sensitive and/or delicate skin. Glycerin soap is known as a humectant - it actually attracts moisture, leaving your skin hydrated and supple. Beyond hydrating your skin, glycerin is also known to be a natural remedy for yeast and fungal infections, such as eczema and psoriasis. They also don't contain synthetic ingredients that cause skin irritations keeping your skin looking and feeling healthy and soft.

Glycerin can be animal, vegetable or synthetic. All of our KUKUI Glycerin Soaps are made with vegetable-based glycerin and have the added benefit of the moisturizing affect of kukui oil. Check them out at Oils of Aloha KUKUI Glycerin Soaps.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Everyone at the Oils of Aloha office has a different perception of what a beauty regime means to them and we are all probably right. We want to have beautiful skin and put our best face forward. After all, it's what makes our first impression on the world. But no matter how different our perceptions of beauty or what lengths we go to achieve it, we all can agree on one thing (when it comes to our beauty regimes, that is), Keep It Simple.

Here are some of our employee's techniques:

"Every morning I put about 3 drops of pure Kukui Oil in the palm of my hand and rub my hands together to warm up the oil. Then I "press" the oil onto my face. It doesn't leave a shine and it stays on until I wash it off at night and apply it again before bed. I use the 3 different fragrances of Kukui Oil Pacific Mist, Tropic Breeze and Paradise." Jean, TOP (The Office Person)

"I started having a beauty regime at the age of 10 when I received my first bottle of moisturizing face cream. I started applying it in the morning before school and haven't missed a day since. Of course, my skin needs have changed since then and now in my late twenties, I use a combination of three products: a gentle cleanser for my face in the mornings followed by our Kukui Moisturizing Cream. At the end of the day, I apply a clearing moisturizer that calms and soothes redness of the skin." Jessica, Sales & Marketing Assistant

"In the morning I use Kukui Moisturizing Cream on my face and neck. It absorbs quickly and completely. At the end of the day when I first get home, I wash my face with Kukui Cleanser and apply a few drops of Kukui Oil around my eyes and on my face. Before I go to bed I use the Moisturizing Cream again. My preference is the Pacific Mist fragrance." Barbara, Graphics and Advertising

"At bath time, I apply our Kukui Conditioning Shampoo to my hair. It brings out the body and leaves it very clean. Then, I wash my face and neck in an upwards circular motion with our Kukui Moisturizing Cleanser. I prefer the sparkling mango fragrance. It makes my skin feel smooth, clean and refreshed. At nighttime, I apply a cream. Every morning, I use three drops of Kukui Oil on my face and neck. I don't use makeup like most women do, but I finish with a simple color to my lips. It adds a new worth of self everyday." Melanie, Purchasing & Inventory Manager

"I have been fortunate with my skin. I never had any major skin irritations, but I do have extremely oily skin. To remove the residual oil from my face, every morning I use the Kukui Moisturizing Cleanser with the sparkling mango fragrance. I don't use any make up because I do not want to clog my pores. In the evenings, I like to use the Kukui Cream with the Paradise fragrance. I have never used specific cream for my face, but because I am beginning to see some fine lines, I started to use the Moisturizing Kukui Cream." Maria, Sales & Marketing Manager.

What is your beauty regime? What do you do to put your best face forward?