136 Hawaii Parent May/June 2026 Our company, Hapu‘u Designs, was born and named after the native Hawaiian tree fern, Cibotium glaucum. Poetically, hapu‘u also means “a child” or “baby” in ‘olelo Hawai‘i. From the beginning, our mission has been simple: create engaging learning products inspired by Hawai‘i’s unique island culture and storied history. We design tools that grow with keiki — beginning in infancy and evolving alongside them. Our My Hawai‘i: High-Contrast Flash Cards introduces babies and toddlers to plants and animals found in Hawai‘i, while gently laying a foundation in ‘olelo Hawai‘i. But more than that, they create small, everyday moments for connection between parents, children, and Hawai‘i, the place we call home. Why Start so Early? In the first few months of life, babies can only see high-contrast colors like black and white with shades of grey. Bold, simple patterns in black and white stimulate their developing vision and support brain growth. Our hand-drawn cards were designed with this in mind, and each card features bold, clear imagery inspired by Hawai‘i’s flora and fauna. Research shows that the first three years of life are very important for learning a language. During this time, children’s brains are especially open to learning more than one language. Using pictures with words helps them remember and understand better because it gives visual meaning. Learning multiple languages can also improve thinking skills, attention, and memory.
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