I’ve spent the past week or so writing about my frustration with the constant stream of “special” and “limited” edition pens flooding the market, seemingly without a lot of thought or meaning behind each release. But I can gripe all day, and it doesn’t make any difference unless I (1) offer some sort of alternative myself; or (2) offer my thoughts on what makes a good special edition product. Today I’ll open door number two, using the recent release from Kanilea Pen Company, their Fifth Anniversary Honokalani Maile Lei fountain pen, as an example of how a company can do things the “right” way. After thinking on these issues, I’ve come up with four key points that, to me, make a legitimately “special” limited or special edition pen:
It’s made to commemorate an actual event, or otherwise represents something with special meaning.
The design ties to the “theme” of the special edition in a meaningful way.
If the price point of the special or limited edition product is significantly higher than the company’s standard product line, there is something to justify the markup.
If the product is heavily marketed as “limited” or “special”, the actual availability reflects that, especially if the company relies heavily on “FOMO” (Fear of Missing Out) to promote the release.
So How Does Kanilea’s Fifth Anniversary Pen Get It Right?
For starters, it’s a fifth anniversary pen, and it’s more than appropriate to issue a special release to commemorate something like the fifth anniversary of your company! The Kanilea Pen Company officially launched in August 2016 at the Washington, D.C. Pen Show. While I was in attendance, I didn’t have the opportunity to actually buy a pen because they sold out so fast. Since then, Kanilea has grown its lineup deliberately, typically releasing one or two new pens per year, all in keeping with their original company “theme” - places and locations in Hawaii. The Honokalani Maile Lei is no exception, named after the black sand beach on the island of Maui, with the custom-blended, proprietary acrylic designed to reflect the blue water swirling over the black sand.
Between the custom acrylic and the handcrafted design, no two Kanilea pens are identical. Each pen will have a different pattern of swirls and colors, and for that reason I often enjoy purchasing my Kanilea pens in person at pen shows. Hopefully we’ll get the chance to do that again soon!
Per Kanilea, Honokalani translates to “Harbor of the Chief,” and “Maile” refers to a sacred Hawaiian plant with fragrant, dark green leaves. The workmanship on the silver “Maile Lei” band is gorgeous.
Yes, the “Maile Lei” pen is a bit more expensive than a standard Kanilea, reflecting a markup of approximately $160. But you’re not just paying for a “special” or “limited” moniker - the Maile Lei features an Argentium Silver cap band with a three dimensional design depicting a lei of maile leaves. According to the materials provided by Kanilea with my pen, “[a] maile lei expresses many meanings and is used to celebrate important life events or even given as a sign of friendship. Traditionally, a maile lei is worn draped around the neck, open ended, but closed maile leis are also made.” The Konokalani Maile Lei fountain pen is only available in a single design profile, the Classic, which, in my opinion, perfectly showcases both the acrylic and the custom silver band.
Finally, while the Honokalani Maile Lei is an “Anniversary edition” pen, and presumably won’t be available forever (though I could be wrong about that), you don’t see any desperate “buy-it-now-or-you’ll-miss-it” style marketing that’s become so characteristic of modern pen releases. Each Kanilea launch is accompanied by carefully assembled marketing materials explaining the story behind the pen, how the design choices relate to the theme, and how the pen fits into the overall Kanilea narrative.
Your Kanilea pen arrives packaged in a black walnut keepsake box. I have several of these boxes, and each has found new life as a dresser valet, pencil box, or catch-all for office supplies.
Granted, I do want to point out that Kanilea isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples comparison with other brands, because Kanilea isn’t a typical pen company. Their standard lineup of pens isn’t mass-produced. Each model is carefully tied to the company’s core theme, with each aspect of every pen, from shape to material, carefully selected to reflect its namesake. The pens themselves are designed and handcrafted by the small family team behind Kanilea. But I do think the comparison is still instructive, as one could even argue that what Kanilea does with their “regular line” is what more mainstream companies should be considering for their special and limited releases (at least if their goal is to foster the sort of loyal customer base that has allowed companies like Kanilea to flourish).
Kanilea fountain pens feature an extremely comfortable grip section and reliable No. 6 JoWo nibs, each tuned and smoothed prior to shipment to ensure a good writing experience.
Why I Enjoy Kanilea Pens
Apart from the aesthetics, Kanilea pens are extraordinarily well-designed, ergonomic, and comfortable. The section, in my opinion, is one of the best out there, the pens are perfectly balanced, and Hugh’s skill at nib tuning continues to impress me. While a Kanilea fountain pen makes for an expensive purchase, the entire experience - down to the packaging - delivers a level of value that’s hard to find from any other maker.
Where to Buy the Kanilea Honokalani Maile Lei
If you’re interested in learning more about Kanilea’s Fifth Anniversary Release, visit the Kanilea Pen Company website. As I noted above, the Honokalani Maile Lei retails at a higher price point than a typical Kanilea fountain pen ($555 for a steel nib, and $695 for 18k gold), though there is also a Honokalani model (no Maile Lei band) at the standard $395 pricing. Other Kanilea models currently available for purchase include the Mauna Kea, Aolani, and Nui Nalu, which I’ve previously written about as well as the newer Kona Snow and Kona Cherry designs.
Disclaimer: Kanilea Pen Company was kind enough to provide me with the pen featured in this review on a tryout basis. It’s not going to make it’s way back to them. While I did not receive the pen for free, I did receive a discount on the purchase of a gold nib version. Many thanks to Hugh, Karol, and the rest of the team at Kanilea for making this review possible!