About Us

Aloha & Light was founded in 2013 by Janel Santa Ana in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company was born somewhat by accident, as Janel was simply looking to satisfy her own need for a baby carrier that was functional, versatile, and fashionable. As a nature lover and frequent beach-goer, she also wanted something that could be used both in and out of water.

What she came up with was a brilliant design that offered unmatched support in a single layer of soft, breathable fabric; when combined with her artistic abilities for hand-dying and hand-painting the material, it resulted in something truly unique and beautiful. Friends who saw her wearing her sling began asking where they could get one. When they found out that she had made it herself, they asked if she could make them one. Word-of-mouth continued to grow to the point where Janel set up an Etsy shop to sell her slings. Demand quickly outpaced the platform, so she expanded to the online store you see now.

 

New designs of slings and blankets are released approximately once per month, and new product innovations are continually considered as the brand continues to grow.

Janel draws her artistic inspiration primarily from nature, as she finds that the most beautiful designs and combinations of colors occur naturally in our everyday experiences. From colorful sunrises and sunsets, to changing leaves on trees, to varying shades of blue in the ocean or colorful feathers on birds — Janel believes that Mother Nature is the ultimate artist.

While her artistic inspiration comes from her environment, her motivation comes from her family and in wanting to provide for them. As a mother of four beautiful boys and wife to a hard-working husband, Janel has turned Aloha & Light in to a true family business. Her husband, a graphic designer, assists with the company’s marketing efforts, while their children explore their own artistic talents as they experiment with color. Janel strives to live her life and to run her family business with the spirit of Aloha: modesty, harmony, kindness, humility and patience.

Thank you sincerely for your support of Aloha & Light. If you have a question, an idea, or just general feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we would love to hear from you!

Mahalo nui loa!