Tashi delek!

Welcome to Hands of Tibet, a Tibetan-owned family business born from a dream many years in the making. What started as a hobby run out of a closet has grown over fifteen years into an online business that provides Tibetan, Nepali, and Balinese families with living wages while offering customers quality, handmade spiritual goods.

Our Story

The seeds for Hands of Tibet were planted in Lhasa, Tibet, where owner Tenzin Norbu grew up as the son of a Newari trader and Tibetan laborer. A third-generation entrepreneur, Tenzin learned the art of trade working in his father's booth in the Bharkor section of Lhasa. After leaving home at 17, he journeyed through the Himalayas to India, where he became a Tibetan Buddhist monk for 10 years.

Tenzin met his wife Robyn at a monastery outside Kathmandu where they were both teaching. They married in 2001 and eventually settled on the Big Island of Hawaii, where they opened brick-and-mortar shops in Honoka'a, sharing artwork from around the world with the local community.

Our Mission

Every item we carry is handmade by artisans I've personally met in Nepal, India, and Indonesia. I buy directly from these artisans and pay more than a living wage because I believe happy, thriving people create objects filled with positive energy and joy. That energy is absorbed into each mala, prayer flag, and piece of jewelry we offer.

I believe everyone should be able to afford beautiful, spiritual items that enhance everyday life. When you purchase from Hands of Tibet, you become part of a chain of good energy. In a world filled with negativity, we choose to be a force for good.