We were lucky to catch up with Love Chance recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Love , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I came to Hawaii when I was 19 to attend the University of Hawaii- I had transferred from UC Santa Cruz and intended on studying psychology. But the first semester I took a class on Hawaiian Medicinal Plants, La’au lapa’au, and suddenly my whole trajectory changed. My teacher, Kumu Ohai, taught more than just plant medicine- he taught about spirit. He taiught that plant medicine is 10% plant, 90% pule, prayer. Also, cleansing is very important in indigenous medicinal practices. The use of internal cleanse to keep the body healthy helps also in allowing plant medicines to work a their highest degree. Eating a clean diet and taking time to ease the mind is also important. These teachings changed who i was and who i am still becoming. During that time, i met a friend who wanted to make soap, so we put our heads together and made natural soap, the first successful bar was actually from a poultice i had made in la’au class. That bar is called ‘Aina and is still the number one selling soap 20+ years later. My friend moved on to other things and i continued making soap. I thought of it as a bridge for those people who want natural medicine but don’t have the capacity to find or practice. Soap is something everyone can use every day, mixed with indigenous plants and oils for skin care, a little can go a long way in wellness, and also connect you back to nature.

Love , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Here is something written recently for a store:

The Indigenous Soap Company proudly crafts organic bar soaps by hand, a tradition spanning two decades! For 15 years, our products have graced the shelves of Down to Earth, a testament to our commitment to quality. We extend heartfelt gratitude to our loyal customers, both old and new, recognizing the shared indigenous spirit within us all. Founder, Love Chance finds inspiration from the healing properties of medicinal plants, particularly for the skin and has created a ‘Soap Club’, to continue that passion by making ‘specialty soaps’ for subscribers. These ‘specialties’ have local medicinal plants and oils and honor skin healing properties focusing on one cultural medicinal practice at a time. Curious about our offerings? Experience our mini soaps, perfect for a week-long shower indulgence. Our signature 5 oz bar soaps, representing 7 generations, boast seven distinct recipes, and are made to last 30 showers. Not sure which one? I would suggest to first smell the soaps, because they are made of plants and plant oils instead of fragrance and your body will recognize them which one it needs or loves! The number one favorite, ‘Āina Soap,’ pays homage to our origins and revered Lā’au Lāpa’au teacher, embodying the essence of our journey. Love Chance began at UH, where she studied Lā’au Lāpa’au from a life changing teacher. Kumu taught about Akua and keeping the body cleansed among other things and Love sought to bridge the gap between traditional plant medicine and everyday practicality. A little positive change goes a long way especially if done everyday. We encourage you to read the ingredients on the packaging of everything you put in or on your body. So don’t forget to read your soap wrappers because inside you will find a ‘Soap Fortune’ – something fun and positive for your mind. Thank you for reading. Mahalo nui!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

On the birth of my third child, my company was in 150 stores statewide, a dozen on the mainland and 100 internationally. I was working full time and also trying to be a full time mom. While it seemed like my career dreams were coming true, I had not planned the vastness of a family when i was 19 and 20 building my business. One night while i was pregnant and shuffling babysitting help for school pickups for my two other children, i realized that success , for me was the ability to pick my kids up from school and be with them undivided for the rest of the night. So i had to reevaluate where and how i sold my soaps. We downsized in wholesale and leaned into the website sales. What I learned is that being successful for me means being more efficient at work so that i can be more present at home. Efficient turns out to be many different things- committing to a schedule, hiring specific help, prioritizing health of self and staff, and volunteering in the community.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I am not a fan of personal social media but i do respect how it helps businesses have a place and directs people to our website. It is quite overwhelming to me so I try to make a post on Mondays. I am hoping that what we share on social media is work following. This means being educational, honoring ‘indigenous’, and honoring the natural holidays of the Earth and cycles. We don’t have sales for made up holidays. We don’t try to push or lure people to buy our products. We donate soaps every month to those who may not have access to natural soap. I’m sure we could have a lot more ‘followers’ if we signed up for ads, and the typical business programing, but my advice to someone starting up on social media would be, be yourself, sing your own song. continue to grow your spirit in truth and let that unfold all around you. Who is meant to come will come.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.indigenousoap.com
• Instagram: Indigenoussoap

Image Credits
I took all photos