Maui Divers’ Renovations

Wednesday - March 09, 2011
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As Hawaii’s largest jewelry retailer and manufacturer, Maui Divers Jewelry has been serving the people of Hawaii for decades. Yet it wasn’t always the jewelry that had customers making their way to the first Maui Divers shop founded in 1958 in Lahaina.

Bob Taylor, president and CEO of Maui Divers Jewelry, says the business was initially a dive shop, filling scuba tanks, selling equipment and providing tours. Then in 1959, a diving expedition in the deep waters off the Molokai Channel led to something more. Divers discovered one of the ocean’s finest treasures, black coral.

“Intrigued by the beauty of this rare ocean treasure, Maui Divers’ partners established a company to design, manufacture and sell Hawaiian black coral jewelry,” Taylor say. “There is really only one place in Hawaii where visitors and residents alike can witness the magic of jewelry design from start to finish, and that is at the Maui Divers Jewelry Design Center.”

Since opening its doors in 1988, the Design Center has welcomed more than 3.6 million visitors, and most recently has undergone a face lift. According to Taylor, the $500,000 in renovations include the creation of a new educational video, a historical display, new jewelry production equipment and more.

“The upgrades came at a great time, especially with Hawaii experiencing an upswing in the overall tourism market,” Taylor says. “The experience has always been highly rated by our visitors.”

Upon setting foot in the Design Center, visitors are led on a tour through the new and improved gallery before being taken on a guided tour of the design facility, where, Taylor says, virtually every piece of Maui Divers Jewelry is designed and manufactured.

“Where the tour ends, another adventure begins - a multi-level shopper’s paradise with more than 7,000 designs of the company’s extensive lines of island-style jewelry, including pearls, gemstones, gold Hawaiiana charms, Hawaiian heirloom and precious corals,” he states.

The company currently owns and operates 56 concept locations - Maui Divers Jewelry, Island Pearls, Pick-A-Pearl and Maui Divers Jewelry Luxury Collection - throughout Hawaii, California and Guam. And with 530 committed members all part of the Maui Divers ohana, Taylor and his team have high hopes for the future.

“We see further expansion opportunities in Hawaii, and we also plan to expand on the U.S. Mainland and in Asia,” Taylor says. “Our hopes and aspirations are to continue to be the largest jewelry retailer and manufacturer in Hawaii and one of the largest travel jewelry retailers in the world.”

For more information on Maui Divers Jewelry, call toll free (800) 253-6016, direct at 943-8304, or visit www.mauidivers.com. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)