Over the holiday I received an elaborate gift from Ha’Bon at Paseo Herencia, incredibly packaged Yerb’i Lamunchi, lemon grass soap bar, a body cream customized to match my personality traits, with incapsulated jojoba oil, and an Arubanita Lotion Bar, it’s really a stick — it glides on like deo, enriched with Cocoa and Shea Butter.
As I said the gift was incredibly package with original artwork, charming graphics, and held together by jute twine. The package proudly stated it was all eco-friendly and made by disabled persons.
We first heard about Ha’Bon in 2015 when it was created by a former news anchor at Tele Aruba, who had had it with politics. She went home, as in retired, and devoted some time to her candle making hobby, among other things such as domestic bliss and cooking. She shared the fact she was feeling homely with a business acquaintance, and the astonished look on his face convinced her it was time to look at her hobbies from a different angle.
The astonished acquaintance was marketing and sales guru Warren Stanley, and the message was com’on girl, you can do better than that.
Which proves my favorite saying right: When the student is ready the teacher appears.
Before you know it, Naline’s artisanal soap factory took off with the help of a group of disabled persons, from two local foundations, Trampoline pa Trabao and Funari, entrusted with wrapping the products. Trampoline, a coaching organization designed to help disabled persons integrate in the work place, provided the guidance. Naline shares that her sister is a person with special needs and growing up close to such a creative individual, gave her the idea she could collaborate with the foundations on her project.
Having studied the secrets of beauty potions, utilizing natural, organic ingredients she opted for a line of moisturizing, freshly scented soaps, which was introduced within a few months to Bucuti & Tara Beach Resorts, the island’s leading green properties. They contracted Naline to produce Ha’Bon soaps for their guest rooms. Then they were followed by Divi Resorts.
(The brand’s name is a fun play on words in Papiamento: while “habon” means “soap,” the brand name also highlights the word “bon,” which means “good.”)
Last year, the Ha’Bon’s product line grew to include body lotions and shower gels, the salt and sugar emulsified scrubs are coming soon, they will join the candles and candle holders, made from the wood of the native Kwihi tree.
In December, Ha’Bon opened at Paseo Herencia, where the complete line is on display. The space is clean and minimalistic with an oversize carved stone sink where customers may experience the products.
The way Naline sees it, your first day of work at Ha’Bon is your last day at work. Her team is passionate about the chemical free, natural product and under the guidance of two professional teachers, the clients of Man Na Obra, another foundation supporting intellectually challenged adults, do wonders.
“We focus on their strength,” states Naline, “and maximize it.”
Dedicated to eco-friendly practices, the company now also recycles hotel soap left overs, and candles they collect from churches, they give back to the community and champion the cause of intellectually and physically challenged locals.
We’re passionate special people, Naline concludes, we create extraordinary products, and you can get hold of them at 16 different outlets, including the flagship store at Paseo Herencia.
Sure, you can pick them up as gifts at the Reina Beatrix airport.
