Overview
'Ike Maka means "to see clearly," and this AR lens was designed to bring that clarity to life. Created for BleuWater's community blockchain education initiative, the lens serves as a digital gateway to help Native Hawaiian communities engage with emerging technology in a culturally grounded way.
BleuWater, a Forbes 30 Under 30 recognized blockchain company led by Native Hawaiian innovator Kas Vegas, partners with Live Life With Aloha (LLWA) to provide hands-on blockchain education, digital tools, and financial literacy workshops across Hawaii. I was brought on to create an AR experience that would make these concepts feel accessible, shareable, and rooted in Hawaiian values.
Project Type
AR Design
Year
2025
My Role
Visual Designer | AR Designer
Key Stakeholder
BleuWater | 'Ike Maka Initiative
Problem
Blockchain and Web3 can feel abstract and intimidating, especially for communities that haven't seen themselves represented in tech spaces. BleuWater's mission is to empower Native Hawaiian communities to become not just users, but owners of technology, where local business, art, language, and land are protected on the blockchain.
Design Challenge
How do we create an AR experience that bridges traditional Hawaiian culture with cutting-edge technology, making blockchain education feel approachable and celebratory rather than complex or corporate?
The Answer: Ike Maka AR
A dual-camera AR experience that transforms users into active participants in Hawaii's tech future. The front camera celebrates identity with traditional Hawaiian elements, while the back camera invites exploration through an interactive message hunt.
My Process
Cultural Foundation
I started by understanding what 'Ike Maka truly represents. In Hawaiian, 'ike means "to see, know, and understand," while maka means "eye." Together, it's about gaining clarity and foresight. This became my design philosophy: create clarity through participation, not passive observation.
I researched traditional Hawaiian lei-making, the significance of native flowers, and how Hawaiian culture emphasizes learning through doing (ma ka hana ka 'ike). The lens needed to honor this hands-on approach.
Visual Direction
I built a moodboard that captured the duality of the project: deeply rooted in Hawaiian tradition while looking forward to tech innovation.
My moodboard balanced traditional Hawaiian aesthetics such as Lei po'o and native plants and modern tech branding that is approachable, warm, inviting rather than cold or corporate. The overall aesthetic was "Tradition meets tomorrow." Every element needed to feel unmistakably Hawaiian while celebrating innovation.
Lens Development
2D Asset Creation
In Illustrator, I crafted custom assets that balanced cultural authenticity with AR functionality.
The Lei Frame
I illustrated an animated lei that frames the screen edges, using a careful selection of Hawaiian flowers and leaves. Each element was chosen for both visual appeal and cultural significance. The animation gives the lei a gentle sway, as if responding to a tropical breeze. It's celebratory without being overwhelming.
Typography & Logo Treatment
The 'Ike Maka logo needed to float gracefully in space while remaining legible. I refined the placement and scale to ensure it enhanced rather than dominated the experience.
Message Clouds
I designed six cloud shapes that felt soft and inviting, each one concealing an inspirational message. The clouds needed to read clearly as interactive elements without heavy-handed UI indicators.
3D Elements & Animation
Working in Lens Studio, I focused on creating moments of delight.
The Slogan Crown
The Slogan Crown: Inspirational messages float around the user's head like a crown, reinforcing the idea that these values are something to wear with pride. The rotation is gentle, giving users time to read each message as it passes.
Growth Mechanics
When users tap a cloud in back camera mode, three things happen simultaneously:
The cloud transforms to reveal its message
A flower grows from the ground beneath
A star appears in the sky above
This progression was intentional. Knowledge unlocked (cloud), growth rooted in the land (flower), and achievement reaching upward (star). It's a visual metaphor for learning and empowerment.
Design Challenges
Cultural Authenticity vs. AR Constraints
One of the biggest challenges was honoring Hawaiian cultural elements within the technical limitations of AR. Lei-making is an art form that involves intricate layering, texture, and three-dimensionality. Translating that into optimized 2D assets that still felt authentic required multiple iterations.
I worked closely with cultural resources and community feedback to ensure the lei frame used appropriate flowers and wasn't misrepresenting sacred elements. Some flowers carry specific meanings or protocols, and I needed to be mindful of that.
The solution: I focused on commonly celebrated flowers (hibiscus, plumeria) that are widely recognized and non-sacred, while ensuring the overall aesthetic honored traditional lei-making techniques. The animation added dimension where static graphics couldn't.
Balancing Information with Delight
There's a tension in AR design between "teaching" and "entertaining." Too much information feels preachy. Too little feels empty. The cloud interaction solved this beautifully: users actively choose to unlock messages rather than having them thrust upon them. It's education disguised as treasure hunting.
Final Experience: Seed to Feed
Seed to Feed invites users into a world where every seed sown leads to something meaningful. Through a captivating AR experience, users get to nurture their own virtual garden, watching it grow from a simple seed to a flourishing crop.
This hands-on interaction not only teaches the value of sustainable gardening but also shows how small actions can make a big difference in the fight against food insecurity.
With each harvest, users are reminded of the real-world impact they can have, bringing them closer to a future where healthy, homegrown food is accessible to all.
Front Camera: Wear Your Values
The front camera experience transforms selfies into statements. You're not just at an event, you're part of a movement. It's designed to be shared, spreading the 'Ike Maka message organically through social networks.
Key Features
An animated lei frame that celebrates Hawaiian tradition
The 'Ike Maka logo positioned as a badge of participation
A rotating crown of inspirational slogans above their head:
"Empowering Locals"
"Celebrating Tech"
"Building New Skills"
"Preserving Legacy"
"Connecting with Youth"
"Exploring Creativity"
Back Camera: Discover the Mission
The back camera shifts from celebration to exploration. By the time users have tapped all six clouds, they've created a small garden and a constellation. Each tap is a small commitment to engagement, and by the sixth one, users have invested enough attention to truly understand the initiative.
Key Features
The 'Ike Maka logo floating in their space (movable and placeable anywhere)
Six clouds hovering around the logo, inviting interaction
The magic happens on tap: Each cloud reveals one of the six core values, while simultaneously:
A unique flower blooms from the ground (rooting the idea in place)
A star twinkles into existence above (celebrating the discovery)
Reflection
This project taught me that AR isn't just about flashy effects or viral moments. It's about creating spaces where people can see themselves reflected, where learning feels like play, and where culture and innovation can coexist beautifully.
I learned that design is cultural responsibility. When you're working with cultural elements that aren't your own (or even when they are), you have to approach with humility and research. Every flower, every color choice, every word carries meaning. I learned to slow down, ask questions, and prioritize authenticity over aesthetic convenience.
The most meaningful feedback came from my friend who said, "I didn't know tech could feel Hawaiian." That's the point. Tech isn't separate from culture, it's a tool for expressing it.
Designing for 'Ike Maka reminded me that technology can be warm, culturally rooted, and purpose-driven. The best tech doesn't erase culture, it amplifies it. If this lens helped even one young person see themselves as a future tech creator, or sparked one conversation about preserving culture while embracing innovation, then this is a huge success.