LEIRA Organics

Waianae resident Ariel Ani-Anguay is the owner of LEIRA Organics a skin care and natural healing business. Raised in Waianae Valley Hawaiian Homestead, Ani-Anguay learned la’au lapa’au, traditional Hawaiian healing using indigenous plants, from her grandmother. She recalls fondly the lessons of gathering plants and the accompanying chants asking for permission and guidance.

Ani-Anguay, a licensed massage therapist and esthetician has created organic skin care products for people of all ages. Initially focused on her massage therapy and esthetician career, Ani-Anguay was working for other businesses, when she began experimenting with creating skin care products. Ultimately, realizing she could combine all her life experiences and training to create her own business – LEIRA Organics.

The LEIRA Organics skin care line is rooted in traditional la’au lapa’au, celebrating Hawaiian culture and her family. As an example, the line of beard and aftershave oils comes in four different scents named for Hawaiian gods Ku, Kane, Lono and Kanaloa, and as Ani-Anguay says, “after all, every man wants to smell like a god.”  Products also include a variety of scrubs to exfoliate and naturally cleanse your skin, and unique salves with soothing and healing properties. The products have unisex appeal, with some inspired by family such as the Kalani Loa Salve for her father and the Tutu’s Ola Pono Rub for her grandmother. The Tutu Ola Pono Rub is an organic substitute for petroleum-based vapor rubs. 

Ani-Anguay’s passion goes beyond skin care, offering Reiki healing and lomi lomi massage. If you need pampering or just need to work out the kinks, Anguya offers a sunset massage session that includes 2 hours of rejuvenation at a magical oceanfront setting in Makaha.

Ani-Anguay is proud to incorporate her indigenous knowledge to create a viable and relevant business. She uses the power of social media to market and expand the reach of her business beyond the Waianae Coast, and she is evaluating the use of bar code technology to help her efficiently manage her supplies and inventory. 

Looking to treat yourself or someone special, think about LEIRA Organics. You can connect with Ani-Aguay and shop through her website www.LEIRAorganics.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram @LEIRAorganics.