The Buzz
The Buzz
THE pictures and clippings on the walls of the Paul Brown Salon and Day Spa in Ward Centre recount his 30 years in business in Hawaii, San Francisco and around the world. A long career is
splashed on the wallsIf there was a typical boardroom shot of him, it was not visible amid the splash of photos and articles from mainstream and industry publications. In many, Brown is pictured with Hollywood celebrities and local luminaries, including former first lady Jean Ariyoshi -- who happened in for an appointment when The Buzz stopped by. Some of the visuals include ads by an agency Brown started with photographers Gil Gilbert and Lou Harrington.
It "never really made a lot of money," Brown said, but "we were able to show and produce a lot of the work for accounts like Liberty House." The work was primarily for print media, and was used in magazines such as Vogue and Elle, he said, with the salon serving as stylists for the ads.
Renowned local chef David Paul was once an agency model. After attending culinary school, Brown and Paul launched a catering company in the late '70s. "The catering business came out of doing parties for our clients," Brown said.
Brown also forayed into the jewelry business, for a time, but no longer. "I still think salons can sell anything because people are coming here to get a service, and when people feel good they're going to buy things on the way out," he said.
The related entities gave way to careers going in other directions, and to Brown's desire to refocus on his core business.
Paul Brown Waikele is a full-service salon, and while it offers facials, "it doesn't have the full day spa, wet room and showers," as the Ward Centre store has, he said. In December he opened a spa at the Big Island's Hapuna Prince hotel, and indicates others may be in the offing. He's not ready to drop the names of those involved in any upcoming ventures, but if his day spa's walls are any indication, there will be pictures.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4757, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com