My family history is rooted in movement, craftsmanship, and cultural influence that spans generations and continents. On one side, my ancestors in Bozen, Italy worked in the silver trade, known for crafting silver nails, an identity so tied to their work that it became our family name, Silbernagel. Over time, they moved north to Landshut, Bavaria, where they earned a coat of arms and built a life of recognition through skilled labor. On the other side, my ancestor Augusto Dias came from Madeira, Portugal. He was a cabinetmaker and musician who sailed to Hawaiʻi in 1879 aboard the Ravenscrag and became one of the first to build and popularize the ukulele, even sharing music with Hawaiian royalty. Across each branch, my family chose creation, movement, and resilience over comfort or certainty.

To be part of my family means carrying the values of craftsmanship, grit, and cultural pride. Whether shaping silver into a namesake or turning wood into music, my ancestors made things that left a mark. They traveled, adapted, and created new meaning wherever they landed. It means honoring where I come from, building with purpose, and understanding that my identity is a blend of old world tradition and new world innovation. My family’s legacy is one of movement with intention and I carry that forward.