ABOUT US

Mahana Pearl is a unique gallery of one-of-a-kind art, furniture, lamps, and jewelry. Each imaginative piece, exclusively designed by Olivier Minvielle, is an original and the only one of its kind.

Mahana Pearl consists of only two individuals…Jennifer and Olivier Minvielle. Their gallery is located in Uvita, Costa Rica. And here is how it all began…

Jennifer was born in Houston, Texas, where she lived until leaving home to attend Colorado State University. After receiving a Magna cum Laude Bachelor of Science Degree in Wildlife Biology, she spent almost a year in Costa Rica having been enamored with the rainforest and howler monkeys she had studied there on a summer course abroad. She then moved to Virginia and worked at a wildlife hospital until moving on to Oregon for field work protecting endangered birds. She also worked in Washington, Alaska, and Idaho. In 2004, she packed her backpack and took off to Mexico for a vacation all on her own. Little did she know, she’d fall in love… in more ways than one.

Olivier was born in France in a small village on the coast of Basque Country, just outside Biarritz. When he was 12 years old, he and his mother moved to Tahiti (where he lived for 10 years), and he fell madly in love with the rainforest, sea creatures, surfing, snorkeling, diving, and black pearls. He worked on a pearl farm for two seasons and discovered the incredible method of culturing pearls. He also traveled back and forth to France studying art, jewelry making, woodworking, surf instruction and massage therapy. In 1999, he moved to Mexico, bought land, built a precious Tahitian style house with his own two hands and found his way making jewelry, painting, and teaching surf lessons.

Jennifer and Olivier were lucky enough to meet each other in Mexico and were instantly best friends. They shared the same outlook on life, the same interests in traveling and exploring, and a sincere love of the rainforest and ocean. He inspired her with his art; she inspired him with her words.

After months of the most wonderful, nurturing friendship they had ever experienced, Jennifer and Olivier noticed a spark... something brewing. And they realized that they might be more than 'just friends'... and that might not be such a bad thing. After all, what more could one ask for... than falling in love with your very best friend.

Two and a half years later they were married in the forest in France. On an extended honeymoon in Tahiti, Jennifer and Olivier spent the majority of their time exploring the world of Tahitian Black Pearls. Having spent over 10 years amidst the incredible beauty of the islands of French Polynesia, Olivier developed an eye for reflecting that beauty through an exquisite selection of high quality black pearls. Jennifer, only recently introduced to black pearls, was instantly enchanted by their inexplicable mysticism, intense color, luster, and purity. Ending the honeymoon and beginning their new life together, Jennifer and Olivier bought quite an array of exquisite black pearls in order to start an original business together and to create unique pieces of high quality jewelry.

Although passionate about creating black pearl jewelry, Olivier still had a deep desire to explore his other talents. He had always wanted to design and create furniture and lamps. He also wanted to visit Costa Rica, possibly finding a new life there in which to expand the business beyond jewelry. Jennifer, already in love with Costa Rica, was delighted with this new exploration.

Inevitably, the beauty of Costa Rica captured them both, and they are now quite happily settled down in Uvita, Costa Rica. Mahana Pearl is located in Uvita. They both feel they have truly found their paradise.