Aloha!
I'm Kelly Valencia-Aiken, the artist, writer, and founder behind Aloha Life Letters, but I go by ‘Kelly Valencia’ for all my creative endeavors.
For as long as I can remember, I've believed that ordinary moments can become extraordinary when we slow down long enough to notice them. Living on the North Shore of Kauaʻi has only deepened that conviction. The crashing waves, winding mountain roads, tropical flowers, hidden beaches, and everyday beauty of island life continually remind me that wonder is often found in the simplest places.
That belief inspired Aloha Life Letters. Every month, I create an original piece of artwork inspired by Hawaiʻi, handwrite a heartfelt letter sharing my life experiences, and thoughtfully curate small surprises before they find their way into mailboxes around the world. Each letter begins in my own handwriting before being carefully reproduced for every subscriber, because I want every envelope to feel personal, intentional, and genuinely from me.
I've spent decades writing, publishing, teaching, and creating, but more than anything, I've spent my life encouraging people. Over my lifetime, I’ve sent out over 10,000 letters to people in over 50 countries.
Sending letters started when I was nine, by flipping through the white pages and praying about whom to write to. When a name stood out to me more than the others—highlighted, if you will—I knew that was the person who needed some encouragement in their mailbox. Sometimes, I wrote a letter. Other times, I sent a poem. I often sent something uplifting without including my name or return address.
Aloha Life Letters brings my passions together, combining art, storytelling, and the timeless joy of snail mail into something that feels increasingly rare in today's digital world.
My hope is simple: that once a month, you'll pause. You'll pour a cup of coffee or tea, open your envelope, display a new piece of art you love, read words that inspire and encourage your heart, and remember that beauty still exists in everyday life.
Thank you for inviting me—and a little piece of paradise—into your home.
Much aloha and mahalo,
Kelly Valencia
Receive a Monthly Aloha
What began as a lifelong love of handwritten correspondence and art-making has grown into a monthly snail-mail experience sent from Kauaʻi to readers around the world.
Each month, Aloha Life Letters features two different pieces of my Hawaiʻi-inspired artwork, thoughtfully reproduced alongside a personal letter filled with heartfelt reflections, encouragement, island stories, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and cultural insights—all lovingly prepared and packed in my Kīlauea studio.
U.S. subscribers receive two collectible art pieces featuring the month’s two original artworks, beautifully reproduced for you to display, collect, or share—at least one of which is personally signed by me.
International and EU subscribers receive both featured artworks beautifully reproduced on either a single double-sided art greeting card or two postcards, each carrying a message handwritten and signed by Kelly, designed especially for international mailing.
Every membership also includes a private video of me reading the monthly letter aloud, plus a companion ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi video lesson exploring the pronunciation, meaning, usage, and cultural context of the month’s featured word or phrase.
Join by the 14th to receive the next mailing, sent with aloha from Kauaʻi during the first week of the following month.