From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. Ni'ihau shell lei are one of Hawaii's most authentic and sought after treasures. By Kevin Whitton, author of Moon Hawaii. $85.50, $95.00 We currently specialize in Ni'ihau shell lei, Seed lei, and Lauhala Weaving. Big Island, Kauai & Maui 6-night multi-island adventure, from $1,459. Add to Cart. Ad . You can also find online shops to purchase them. Opihi - a Hawaiian delicacy. Ahhh Polihale. Its not a great swimming beach, theres lots of rocks and stones but theres also lots of pools because of that. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in March. We have had persons informally tell us it is worth at least 3-4x what we originally paid for it, most recently by Dylan Thomas the owner of Havaiki. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Theres something timeless about walking along a beach looking for shells isnt there? (10% off), Sale Price $44.10 Chapter 486, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "486- Niihau shells; representing content. (25% off), Sale Price $67.50 This is an excellent start, I appreciate your help. Ni'ihau Designer Tahitian Pearl Bracelet sewn with high quality Akala Pua Kahelelani and A Grade Tahitian Pearls. Clasp is fixed currently with a granulated cowry but can be doubled and worn as a shorter 20 strand look. Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. (Also, I did update your comment for you! Its area is 69.5 square miles (180 km 2 ). info@niihauheritage.org, All Rights Reserved Copyright 2020 If you want to learn about Niihaus history, Niihau: The Last Hawaiian Island by Ruth M. Tabrah is a great way to start. We provide certificates of authenticity with every Ni'ihau creation and in some cases an appraisal free of charge. Another practical souvenir, this printed towel shows the Hawaiian Islands in a vintage-style map. when you sign up for the 101 Things To Do email newsletter! a great shell beach on Kauai! Finding a sunrise shell when its just a gift from the ocean ah thats special. Sometimes "quality" is in the eye of the beholder so buy what you love! Certifiable Ni'ihau, Made on Kauai. But the other end and in between, you may come across some finds. Strung with Niihau Momi and Kahelelani, the colors are Ula Ula (Burgundy) and Akala Pua (Flower Pink) that compliment either side of the pearls for contrast and originality. . This lei is a very high luster 3-strand long 34" incredible quality piece made with Kahelelani Akala Pua (flower pink), Makue (burgundy), Ula Ula (red, burgundy), O'mao O'mao (green), LenaLena Kamoa, Ele Ele (dark brown, black) and Momi Ke'Oke'O (white, off white), Onikiniki (black striped), LenaLena (yellow), KahaKaha (deep gold stripe) and UliUli (deep grey). We enjoy working with both novice enthusiasts and seasoned collectors. The average size of Kahelelani shells will . 20 . Without a doubt, Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha should be in any Hawaiian music fans collection. Read more in my Privacy Policy. It is the smallest and therefore the most difficult to collect and string. English translations of these names, used when describing a lei to someone who is not a speaker of Hawaiian, may also vary and include a variety of colorful descriptions such as butterscotch and hot pink.. To give you a better perspective of how tiny some of these shells are, the different kinds of shells pictured in this section are also shown next to a quarter from the series of quarters minted with designs honoring each of the states. I bought mine from a Spouting Horn vendor about ten years ago. Although, Poleho can be picked on Ni'ihau, our Poleho shells are. Great! I would like toknow where to look. With all the beauty of nature~, Hi there, thanks for the comment. Ni'ihau Helicopters Office Drive to Port Allen Airport Ni'ihau shells are one of the most priced art forms of the Hawaiian culture because the practice has been done for hundreds of years dating pre-western contact. Big wave beach Lumahai can yield some amazing shells.. just be careful in the water. Although some common shells can be found on other islands, the shells from Ni'ihau have a characteristic luster not found in the other shells. Lava Lava Cafe on the beach. I've bought one at the Trading Post, two at Spouting Horn, one at Kaua`i Gold, one at another shop in the Coco Marketplace, now closed, and one on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Niihau Shell Leis is another exciting book you may bring home with you. The bracelet is an optional extension to the lei. Item# 16H01WR0250. Niihau shell leis are one of the most prized souvenirs you can bring home from Hawaii; the queens and princesses of Hawaii are often depicted wearing leis made of the three different types of tiny, precious pupu o Niihau shells (source). His items are good quality and the prices reasonable, though I have to say I'd not dare buy on Ebay where I can't see the piece and try it on. Thats a business and I understand people need to feed their families but it takes the magic out of it. are highly sought after and valued as such. I did buy the gorgeous book Totally Hawaiian has on Niihau shell lei, which I highly recommend. Niihau shell strands are suspended from stamped . Item #195, Ni'ihau Designer Tahitian Pearl Bracelet sewn with high quality Akala Pua Kahelelani and A Grade Tahitian Pearls. I love it and consider it one of my most prized jewelry items. They arent stones, of course, but TINY SHELLS that are rare and precious. But if you are patient! bjbert--I tried the link you provided, but it tells me "something bad happened" and I can't get to the pics. The value of a lei is also impacted by the availability of certain shells. Aloha~ Rob Arita, These are momi shells. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Article Sources Both snorkel tours combine Niihau with Kauai's Na Pali Coast and range from $250 to $285 per person for a seven-hour excursion. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. Each earring is unique as there will only be one available at a time. This bracelet is my favorite accessory to wear and a best seller for budding enthusiasts. These Niihau shell leis are gorgeous and truly "made in Hawaii.". Kauai also has very talented lei makers and the sunrise shell or Langford's Pecten has become popular as a centerpiece that is combined with the more traditional styles of lei. You might want to stop at the Trading Post out on the highway just to see the varieties. The Bracelet is an optional extension to the lei or can be worn around the wrist for a flat and delicate compliment to the necklace. DonsBambooArt $10,000.00 FREE shipping 7 1/2 inches Niihau momi shell bracelet with kahelelani shells from Hawaii DuangchindaOfHawaii (164) $175.00 Handmade Genuine Ni'ihau shell dangle earrings, Kipona style, Aesthetic jewelry # 137. . Our options for clasps are boundless and our collection of gem quality cowry are fabulous. It came with a certificate of authenticity and the name of the artisan that created it. Many sellers on Etsy offer personalized, made-to-order items. MF Silver, Kealia . THE FORBIDDEN ISLAND. You'll also usually pay more for a traditional cowry clasp than for a gold one. It just means you don't get the fancy, multi-strand long lei. Kauai Tourism Kauai Hotels Kauai Guest House Kauai Holiday Homes Kauai Holiday Packages Kauai Flights Kauai Restaurants Kauai Attractions Kauai Travel Forum Kauai Photos Check out this Hawaii t-shirt, which features a map design showing Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai, and Niihau islands. Ni'ihau shells are one of the most priced art forms of the Hawaiian culture because the practice has been done for hundreds of years dating pre-western contact. SECTION 1. Free shipping for many products! Your email address will not be published. There . This book tells you all about the traditional Hawaiian necklaces and how women sew tiny shells into beautiful necklaces. (25% off), Sale Price $112.50 Studio Hours. Although most of the names given in this website are fairly standard among shell lei makers, the shells pictured here and the descriptive names were all supplied by Kanani, an experienced shell lei artisan. Kahelelani (born in the late 17th century) was the first ali'i of the island of Niihau, Hawaii; he was the son of High Chief Kanehuanui and High Chiefess Kaluahineloa. Every piece you purchase from our Ni'ihau collection comes with the stringer's name and a detailed description of the shells on your lei and their Hawaiian names of color and shell. Theres not much variety of lei styles; however, leis are one-of-a-kind in design and come in different price ranges according to the type of shell, its uniqueness, and color. With an official notary, Niihau shells can be evaluated based on its strain and style of stringing. If we were to buy again I'm not sure where we would look first. Shells featured are Akala Pua Kahelelani sewn Poe Poe with sections of A Grade South Sea Golden Pearl. $1,485.00, $1,650.00 Ni'ihau is an island off the southwest coast of Kaua'i. Ni'ihau also goes by the name, The Forbidden Island, because the island is privately owned. Monica Wachman, Leaf Group. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. Niihau, Hawaii's "Forbidden Island.". One of a kind handmade jewelry including Ni'ihau shell and Sunrise Shell necklaces, earrings and bracelets all locally made at great prices. The shells used to create NIIHAU SHELL LEI are akin to precious gemstones. (b) Except as provided herein, no person shall offer, display, expose for sale, or solicit for sale any product or jewelry item fabricated, processed, or manufactured with seashells, that is described, labeled, or identified using the term "Niihau" or "Niihau", either alone or in conjunction with other words, or in a trade or brand name, unless: (1) One hundred per cent of all shells in the product or jewelry item are Niihau shells; and. Read. Inquire to choose your very own sunrise shell for this design. This includes both online and at gift shops across Hawaii. magical! Diamonds and platinum may be a sign of luxury in the U.S. Mainland, but in Hawaii it's Ni'ihau shell jewelry. Original Price $69.00 Niihau shell, Heliconia dangle earrings made with vintage, momi ke'oke'o (pure white) shells and Kauai Kahelelani. Have any questions about where to buy Niihau shell leis or other souvenirs from Hawaiis Forbidden Island? They soon became popular among high society southern ladies and became a staple of pearl and jewelry styles. From the time we are children, its something we all want to do! Pamela Dow, a Kekaha retailer of the jewelry, hopes to elevate the art form to . Niihau Island lies 17 miles southwest of Kauai. I feel blessed to live in such a magical, beautiful place. If you are a history buff or have someone back home who is, Beekmans book is one of the best Niihau gifts. My blog posts likely contain affiliate links, including for the Amazon Associates program.If you click, book, or buy from one of these links, I may earn a commission. Things go up from there. Length: 19" Materials: kahelelani 'akala pua (pink tiny shells) kahelel . It's actually far more interesting a piece than the higher quality ones simply because of it's varied coloration. Fun to look tho..Maybe a single choker strand for me?