COURTESY MAUI DIVERS JEWELRY Maui Divers Jewelry will launch a line of jewelry Friday by photographer Kim Taylor Reece.

Maui Divers to launch Kim Taylor Reece line

Reece, a world-renowned hula photographer, is behind a vast collection of Hula Kahiko images that he has been capturing since 1983.

The new collection at Maui Divers will be based on Reece's photographs and will include hula dancers in various poses, as well as traditional hula implements and paddles in 14-karat gold charms, pendants, earrings and bracelets. Some pieces also will be available in precious Hawaiian black coral.

The collection will consist of 46 items ranging from $175 to $835.

"Maui Divers Jewelry is thrilled to partner with Hawaii's foremost fine art photographer to bring his incredible hula pictures to life through unique, high-quality, hand-crafted jewelry," said President and Chief Executive Bob Taylor.

The Kim Taylor Reece collection initially will be available at 16 Maui Divers Jewelry stores across the islands, including Ala Moana Center on Oahu, Queen Kaahumanu Center on Maui, Kings' Shops on the Big Island and Anchor Cove Shopping Center on Kauai.

Reece, who studied art at California State University, Long Beach, was once told to change majors because he is color blind.

But Reece learned to use that to his advantage by capturing the subtleties of kahiko -- which he has studied for nearly 30 years -- in black and white as well as sepia.

Reece's award-winning images have been acquired by collectors, dignitaries and museums internationally.

His photographs are widely recognized -- in books, calendars, greeting cards, photo albums, sculptures and lamps.

Maui Divers Jewelry, established in 1959, owns and operates 60 concept locations -- Maui Divers Jewelry, Island Pearls and Pick-A-Pearl -- on all major Hawaiian Islands, the U.S. mainland and Guam.