Aloha! We are Matthew Jakielski and Carolyn Jakielski, owners, operators and founders of Hot Glass Hawaii.
Hot Glass Hawaii was birthed with the desire to share and teach the ancient craft of glass making to our community here on the Big Island of Hawaii and beyond.
Working in hot glass allows us to have a relationship with something that is otherworldly yet around us every day. By providing access to demonstrations and participation with this material we have an opportunity to subtly have a discussion on physics, chemistry and the material sciences. We believe in the power of early childhood education. By providing a platform of educating through the tactile nature of this ancient craft we can develop hand skills, coordination and focus.
We offer demonstrations, make your glass experiences, after school programs, teen camps, lessons and classes, private events and more. We look forward to welcoming you to Hot Glass Hawaii!
Meet Matthew:
I first studied glass while attending New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. My professor, David Naito, was from Honolulu and so was the teaching assistant, Jason Minami. Watching them masterfully create objects out of molten glass absolutely blew my mind. Once I gathered the glass for the first time on the end of a punti rod I was hooked. I have been involved in glass as a studio technician, teacher and demonstrator in various hot glass studios and art center environments around the country. I have been lucky enough to share glass blowing with people of all ages and from all walks of life. Arriving in Hawaii in 2018 brought me to the place of my teachers. I have had the great fortune to be working with Hugh Jenkins, creator of the glass blowing program at Punahou School in Honolulu and the teacher of David and Jason. It's funny how things can come full circle. I look forward to sharing the magical mysteries of the material of glass.
Meet Carolyn:
I’m a graphic designer, illustrator, marketing specialist, artist and yoga teacher. I wear many hats here at Hot Glass Hawaii including branding, social media management, marketing, website development, scheduling, sales and assisting Matthew in the shop.
I’ve always been fascinated by the glass making process and working as Matthew’s assistant is giving me the opportunity to not only learn and deepen my knowledge on glass but to also explore and work with the material within my own art practice.