Randy Spicocchi
Akalei DesignsRandy Spicocchi has been a student of Kumihimo since 2016 and has been teaching beginner to intermediate level classes at the Hawai’i Handweavers Hui in Honolulu since 2022 and before that taught beginner students in San Diego, CA. He currently specializes in Hawaiian style glass beaded innovations where he created an infinite number of designs, braiding various bead sizes, shapes, and colors into one-of-a-kind pieces using multiple braid structures. In addition to Kumihimo Randy has 10+ years with various jewelry design techniques: Silversmithing, Bead Weaving (Peyote), and misc Leather Jewelry Design (Wrap, Bracelets, Boho Style). His Kumihimo braiding skills include simple four cord braids (considered the most complex structures) used with his basic shell chokers, to the more complex and intricate braids with 16+ Cords. These include weaving cords of beads called “Continuous Beaded Braids (CBB)” where over ten thousand tiny seed beads are braided to make a 16 strand “rope,” to very complex Japanese Silk braids which are woven with thousands of strands of fine silk made with glass focal/lampwork beads like whales or octopus and have been showcased in the juried art exhibition entitled “Surrounded by Water” in 2023. Randy will be serving as the President of the American Kumihimo Society from 2026-2028 allowing him to help broaden educational opportunities across the globe. By studying with many of the world’s most well-known kumihimo authors and instructors he has learned numerous braiding structures which his uses in his glass beaded designs. Currently living in Hawai’i (Maui), his designs are sought after by locals (and visitors) for their distinctive “Forever Lei” appeal. Using thousands of beads, he reimagines traditional Hawaiian lei (including the more revered shell necklaces only made on the island of Ni’ihau) by incorporating fiber, shells, gemstones, pearls, lampwork, glass beads and anything else he can weave into a fiber structure;
2026 GCBE Classes by Randy Spicocchi
- WE-65 | Bracelet - Forbidden Island Inspired
- WE-66 | "Loose Strands" Hawaiian Island Style Kumihimo Necklace
- WE-E-94 | Long-Drops Beaded Kumihimo Necklace
- TH-56 | Necklace “Forbidden Island” Inspired
- TH-57 | Tiered Necklace - Forbidden Island Inspired
- TH-E-88 | Hoop Earrings - Forbidden Island Inspired
- FR-29 | Ninth Island Floral Necklace -Hawaiian Inspired
- FR-E-86 | Pear Drop Beaded Kumihimo Necklace
- SA-41 | Rose Petal & Lamp Work Focal – Hawaiian Style Lei
- SU-08 | Coconut Palm (Dragon Scale) Glass Beaded Hawaiian Lei
- SU-09 | Lentil Focal Bead - Dragon Scale Style Necklace