KILAUEA — Sway Island Living is an island-style housewares and furniture store with modern flair, and opened at the beginning of September at ‘Ahuimanu shopping center.
Walking into Sway Island Living is like walking into an elegant yet trendy beach home adorned with items ranging from furniture and decorations to mirrors, candles, soaps and dishes. The boutique is 2,150 square feet.
Owner Kylie Barker shared about opening her new business.
“The community was really anticipating us opening, so when we did open we had a very full store, and within the first couple weeks we sold out of a lot of things, which was a surprise to me but also really helpful because I got to work out what people were looking for and what people wanted,” she said.
“That helped us to focus on what we were going to order for the next shipment. So we got slammed pretty early, which was amazing, We got a lot of support from the community, which was wonderful, though we are a little light on inventory right now.”
Barker also talked about opening her first business on Kaua‘i, sister store Sway Hanalei.
“I wanted something to do on island, something to be involved in the community. We were trying to think of ways to do that. And then through my contacts I had the opportunity to purchase the lease for On The Road to Hanalei,” she said.
Sway Hanalei clothing store is located in Hanalei, and opened in the space where the On The Road To Hanalei was located, on Kuhio Highway.
“The owner of On The Road to Hanalei and I just got along so well, and she felt that it was destined that I take over that store. She had such a good feeling about it,” Barker said.
It was good to start a new business, but there are always bumps in the road with new ventures. Barker talked about some of the trials she faced.
“The flood happened in 2018. I decided to still go ahead with it even though I was kind of unsure how it was going to affect the area,” she said. “I am so thankful that we decided to go with it, because Hanalei is such an amazing little community, and to be part of the community down there has been amazing to me as a newcomer to the island. We haven’t looked back.”
Looking to the near future at Sway Island Living, Barker opened up about plans for Thanksgiving.
“We are looking to work with Pua Bar, a floral business from Lihu‘e. We’re going to be offering Thanksgiving floral arrangements. It’s a way to support a business through my business,” she said.
”I like to reach out and make connections with people,” she said. “We’re hoping to get more in stock for the holidays so that people can shop locally and shop on island for things that they need.”
Kylie Barker and husband Keate Barker own and run Sway Island Living and Sway Hanalei together. Originally from Sydney, Australia, the couple lived in New York before relocating to Kaua‘i, where they now live with their four children in Kilauea.
There was a lot of inspiration for their businesses from both island life on Kaua‘i and their previous home.
“We didn’t have any retail experience as such, but we lived in New York for 13 years, and had a lot exposure to amazing stores, beautiful set ups, window displays,” she said. “There’s endless creativity in New York.”
She added, “I think the main helpful part of it all is knowing what mainland people were looking for on vacation, because that was me not that long ago. What’s something that is islandy but can also be worn in the mainland? Just kind of reading the needs of the tourism, and knowing what people want, has been really a good way to keep this store busy.”
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Monique Kemper is a lifelong North Shore resident who lives in Princeville and writes periodically for The Garden Island.
