Hawai’i Grown
Berkeley Polished
Big Island Proud
Aloha! My name is Laila Nöelle Antoínette Moiré-Selvage. It is longer than the alphabet, which I believe has contributed to my excellent writing skills! I arrived on Hawaiʻi Island at eight months old, celebrating my first birthday lu'au at Carlsmith (AKA 4 Mile)—still one of my favorite Hilo beaches.
While my mom worked at Ka’ū Hospital and my dad played violin with local musicians and international stars, I grew up on the black sands of Punalu’u. Surrounded by amazing aunties and uncles, I learned the rhythm of the tides, the taste of 'opihi, to never turn your back on the ocean—and how to husk a coconut, of course!
Like many kids raised on "The Rock," I eventually traded island life for the energy of the SF Bay Area. I spent 13 years expanding my mind at UC Berkeley and my taste buds on the vibrant streets of San Francisco, soaking up every bit of culture, adventure, and live music the city had to offer.
My journey as a visual storyteller started at age 11 with a simple point-and-shoot. That spark led to college darkrooms, where I learned that a great image is about patience and light long before it hits a screen. The transition to digital came through my hanai Uncle, Armando Gallo—a renowned Italian journalist and photographer. He gave me my first digital Canon while I was studying abroad in Italy, a gesture that broadened my global outlook and my eye for the intersection of culture and media.
My professional journey started as a college junior with an internship at It’s All Good Media, where I worked on the Let’s Go Chipper Eco-Education series. This is where I first picked up the tools I still use and the passion that still fuels my work: design, marketing strategy, branding, web design, social media, photography, and, as a girl raised in nature, environmental education. After five years of incredible growth there, I took the plunge into freelancing with various clients while focusing on honing my photography skills with Susan Adler, an amazing photographer and mentor I continue to work with to this day.
In 2018, I landed a job at Hatch Design. I started working there just a few months after losing my amazing, loving, incredibly smart emergency-doctor mom, Laura Moiré M.D., to cancer. I threw myself into the work, finding healing in the grit of corporate life and a wonderfully creative team. I had the privilege of working with "big wig" clients like Home Depot and Nature's Bakery, alongside winning startups like Honey Mama’s and Moonshot (the first CPG brand acquired by Patagonia Provisions).
After five years with that incredible team—now known as Flock Creative—the islands called me home. I circled back to my roots during the pandemic in 2021 to renovate my childhood home and started Coconut City Creative LLC in 2025. I love working with nonprofits, organizations, and individuals that prioritize sustainability and giving back to our strong community. It is a massive honor to live on Hawai’i Island again and work with like-minded people here and remotely around the world.
Mahalo nui loa for taking the time to read my story. I look forward to connecting with you and supporting your visions and goals!