A Golden Opportunity

Haelee Tallett ’18, who runs a successful jewelry business, says Chaminade taught her how to take risks, try new things and do what you love.

Roughly a decade later, the small business owner still can’t believe she was able to turn that hobby she loves into a fourishing career.

And she credits Chaminade and its Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program with giving her the mentorship and networking opportunities that set her on a pathway to success.

Tallett owns Ocean Creations, a thriving jewelry business in the islands with locations at both Ala Moana Center and Ka Makana Ali‘i, and brisk online sales. Tallett is still foored by how quickly her business has grown—from a pop-up and online store to brick-and-mortar locations and plans for more growth.

Tallett says she doesn’t think she would be where she is without the help she received at Chaminade.

She chose the University because she didn’t want to get lost in the crowd and was looking for an educational experience that would allow her to build relationships with professors. And that’s exactly what she found at Chaminade, she said.

“What stood out most at Chaminade was the community that I gained there,” Tallett said. “From the teachers to staff, they really would give the shirt off their backs for you. They know you by name.”

Tallett, whose grandfather and aunt are also Silverswords, said she jumped at the chance to participate in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program at Chaminade, a one- or two-year certifcate program that gives students access to lectures, international study trips, and hands-on learning experiences.

“The Hogan program helped me in a lot of ways,” Tallett said. “One being it taught me how to be professional—really act as a professional or as a business owner from the beginning. And that helped me a lot when making leasing deals (with shopping malls). I knew how to handle myself from the start.”

Tallett added that the Hogan program also gave her the chance to meet and network with top business executives and entrepreneurs, “so many infuential people right here in Hawai’i who have really helped me in my business career.” She’s also stayed in contact with several of her fellow Hogan graduates.

Tallett’s business specializes in customized jewelry, with every piece unique.

She said relationship building with customers was something she learned a lot about in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program. She realized early on that she needed to build a community before she built a business, so she worked hard to create a fun, personable and interesting social media presence.

Community building was also front and center when she opened her brick-andmortar shops, she said.

Tallett said she wanted to create spaces that served as an oasis from people’s busy lives.

As she celebrates her success, Tallett is also looking to the future.

She’s interested in continuing to expand Ocean Creations, including by offering other accessories and considering entries into bigger markets. At the same time, she is giving back, including as a mentor herself to the next generation of Hogan entrepreneurs. Tallett has returned to Chaminade several times to speak to students about her own journey—and inspire them to pursue their own dreams.