The Story About Behind Anuna Pearl

When people ask how Anuna Pearl began, they often expect to hear a story about pearls. Instead, it begins with people.

More than 30 years ago, my dad served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in French Polynesia. During his two years there, his mission took him to many of the islands, including the atoll of Takaroa, where he lived for about six months.

Today, Takaroa is home to Anuna Pearl, but long before that, it had already earned a reputation as one of French Polynesia's historic centers for Tahitian pearl farming. While living there, my dad had the opportunity to see parts of the pearl farming process firsthand. He was fascinated by the work and the beauty of the lagoons, but at the time, he never imagined those experiences would one day shape our family's future.

Twenty-five years later, my parents returned to Tahiti for the first time since my dad's missionary service. On a flight to Takaroa, something remarkable happened. My dad recognized an old friend he hadn't seen in over two decades—Taumata Temanaha.

What began as a chance reunion quickly turned into hours of conversation. They caught up on the years that had passed, shared stories about their families, and talked about Takaroa, pearl farming, and the future. By the end of those conversations, they had decided to build something together. That unexpected meeting became the beginning of Anuna Pearl.

Looking back, it's incredible to think that a friendship formed decades earlier would reconnect at exactly the right time. That single encounter changed the course of both our family and the Temanaha family.

Family has always been at the heart of Anuna Pearl, and even our name reflects that.

Many people assume "Anuna" is a Tahitian word, but it actually comes from the names of our co-owners' wives. Taumata's wife is Temuna, and my mom's name is Andrea. Combining parts of their names created Anuna.

Today, several of the Temanaha children help operate the pearl farm on Takaroa. Here in Boise, Idaho, my brother and I handcraft each piece of jewelry in our workshop and manage the retail side of the business. Although we're separated by thousands of miles, we work together every day to bring these pearls from the lagoons of Takaroa to the people who wear them.

Every piece of jewelry we create represents more than a beautiful Tahitian pearl. It carries the story of two families, a lifelong friendship, and an island that brought them together. That's the story we hope to share with you in the months ahead.