Hawaii is known for many shells found nowhere else on earth. Only In Your State. Kapono Ni`ihau Shell Lei 1. On Ni'ihau, after the designs were carved into the skin, the gourds were said to have been buried in black mud. In fact, the Hawaiian language is spoken almost . (10% off), Sale Price $1,350.00 I know it's a lot, but have no idea what range we are talking aboutI am interested in getting one when I am there in August, but have a feeling I may be out of my league You should be able to get a pikake choker-length for about $125. I would like toknow where to look. I also have purchased one from a shop at Kilhana (which I'm not sure is still there). Made only on Niihau, a private island off Kauais west side, the lei are known as one of Polynesias finest ART FORMS . These are kahelelani. 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. In addition is a description and history of the craft with leimakers name and an artist statement. To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. I started this site to share my travel stories and inspiration to help you complete bucket list trips. Strung Momi Pikake style with breaks of maunaloa strands, this wears long and elegantly. :-). Inquire for photos of different sets. As each item made with pupu o Niihau is unique, you may not find many choices but you will certainly find beautiful items across a range of prices. I would love to hear what you end up buying, with all the details! And shells! 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. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. Fill out the requested information. Dont see this option? Kauai Crystal Sanctuary Anahola 96703 . Although, Poleho can be picked on Ni'ihau, our Poleho shells are. Item #195, Ni'ihau Designer Tahitian Pearl Bracelet sewn with high quality Akala Pua Kahelelani and A Grade Tahitian Pearls. A private island with a population of mostly pure Native Hawaiian descent, Ni'ihau has no rivers running into the ocean. Copyright 101 Things To Do. To live in such a beautiful place filled. We are a Hawaiia n owned, local business that specializes in unique, hand-crafted products that are made in Hawaii. The login page will open in a new tab. "Ikigai" Wrap Pants - Bird of Paradise in Cream/Navy Lotus & Lime $49.95. While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, youll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. Ni'ihau Shell Heirlooms. It is a bottlebrush- blossom. Original Price $125.00 Ni'ihau Helicopters Office Drive to Port Allen Airport Youll see some people use it as decoration due to its vibrant colors and large size. They come in a wide range of colors. 2. Ha'aheo, Hawaiian Crafts. Pink, Burgundy, Kamoa yellow in heliconia or crownflower stitch for the same cost. If you opened this thread to learn what I'm talking about, here's some info: http://www.niihauheritage.org/niihau_history.htm, Well, it's not (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Inquire for bulk or re-sale pricing. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity, Bill of sale with detailed information on your lei. I share travel resources and stories based on my personal experience and knowledge. Most of the tiny shells used are all three species: kahelelani, momi, and laiki. Shelling at Larsens is a wonderful experience. Finish is a Freshwater 14K Gold Pearl safety clasp. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. 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. Today, there are only about 130 or so people living on the island where they still speak their own dialect of the Hawaiian language. Went to the vendor at SH and what a beautiful display! That was NOT in my budget! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-59045746', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui. 3940 Hanapp Road, (808) 335-5586 Every Ni'ihau shell creation we offer is made with care and selected for quality and originality. Inquire to have photos sent to you of most current inventory since we often have incredible lei that are not yet posted online. . Kauai & Niihau Airplane Tours. And you are so right, Barbara, it's not the price. So you only have two options for setting foot on the island: take a helicopter tour from Kauai or . Kauai Rainbow Connection 96714 . Remembering you arent in Hawaii anymore as soon as you wake, isnt exactly appealing. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. Ni'ihau is a private island with a population of 160, mostly of pure Native Hawaiian descent. And those were expensive at Maui Hands as well, but I felt the prices overall were a tad better. Because there are fewer Kahelelani on this piece, the pricing is very affordable at $700 for the necklace, $200 for the bracelet and $75 for the earrings. Kauai. Thanks in advance for your replies. By Kevin Whitton, author of Moon Hawaii. It's known as "The Forbidden Island" in Hawaii, and the nickname isn't an exaggeration. But the other end and in between, you may come across some finds. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-59043927', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Oahu forum, as we'll be a week at each this August. The Shell above is not a sunrise shell, though it looks similar. United States | English (US) | $ (USD). Let me know in the comments! It's the Hawaiian way. The bright red flower growing in the tropical forests on Hawaii island is the Lehua. Original Price $299.99 Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Kahelelani Shells 3 strands twisted bracelet at the best online prices at eBay! These earrings represent a beautiful PoePoe weave and can be ordered with any color of Ni'ihau Kahelelani. of Niihaus history and surroundings. Hawaiian is their first language, English is second. They have some beautiful pieces. Using a combination of beautiful Ni'ihau shells and Grade A Tahitian pearls, this longer lei is definitely a showstopper. Big Blue Princeville 96722 . 6-night multi-island adventures, starting from $1,239. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. The colors here are Akala Pua Waipapipi (hot pink), O'mao O'mao (green), and Ele Ele (dark brown). Ni'ihau is located 17.5 miles southwest of Kauai. Website by: Emagine, gathered on the shores of the Forbidden Island. Once we receive an email from you, we will respond in a detailed and timely manner. Ni'ihau shells are a variety of endemic species of sea creatures whose shells are picked off the shores of the island of Ni'ihau. Article Sources Finish is a granulated cowry in traditional Ni'ihau fashion. Original Price $1,800.00 Theres something timeless about walking along a beach looking for shells isnt there? This perfect Heleconia Lei has a fine detailed blend of Akala Pua Pink and Ula Ula Burgundy shells. The seventy-two-square-mile island located off the southwestern tip of Kaua'i is part of Kaua'i County but has been privately owned since 1864, first by the Sinclair and now by the Robinson family. Both 14K yellow gold hooks and sterling silver are available. Common colors arekeokeo(white),kala(pink),lenalena(yellow), andmaomao(green). Be sure you're getting authentic Ni`ihau shells. In this post, I promote travel to a destination that is the traditional lands of the K Hawaii Paeina (Hawaiian Kingdom) people. Sold with earrings as a set or individually is a single strand pikake stitch lei comprised of medium grey Uli Uli shells. These are our Ni'ihau shell post earrings. a great shell beach on Kauai! To make some money from the outside world, locals rely heavily on the tiny Ni'ihauan shell, scattered along the beaches of this small island. At Ali'i Kauai Tours and Charters, we offer one better: A two-for-one air experience. Product Code: KFB_N006; Availability: In Stock; $525.00; Qty Add to Cart. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-59049737', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui, and had done a little research, and you are right, it is a big decision and one needs to know a bit about what to look for, much like diamond shopping. 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 ? If the person is not knowledgeable about these things, be very concerned -- especially if they are asking what seems to be a very good price in comparison to other leis. And my "little" one came from the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? -Ni'ihau Shells- Glowing like pearls, the garlands are made of the most precious and almost priceless shell in the world: Pupu O Ni'ihau. magical! Most, if not all . 20 . I love it and consider it one of my most prized jewelry items. From this website, I have a list of approved sellers: http://www.niihauheritage.org/niihau_shells.htm. Length and clasp can be adjustable. It's actually far more interesting a piece than the higher quality ones simply because of it's varied coloration. Knew they were expensive tho, so not that surprised. It has been privately owned by one family for over 150 years, they enacted a closed-door policy in order to create a cultural preservation site for . Click Buy it now or Add to cart and proceed to checkout. It just means you don't get the fancy, multi-strand long lei. I had drooled over Niihau shell lei for my previous two trips to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This delicate looking 18" lei is comprised of laiki shells and akala colored kahelelani shells. I paid $20 for it and the gal down the walk "wired" it for me for $15! Mon-Sat 10:30am . The Trading Post did used to have a much bigger selection, and there used to be more vendors at Spouting Horn. (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. This 5 strand lei features the rarest colors of kahelelani. Apparently there used to be a dump there many years ago and this is where the glass came from. This is a kipona mixed shell set features green O'mao O'mao kahelelani poe poe sections and 14K gold clasps. Answer 11 of 14: Are there any beaches where visitors can find the beautiful Sunrise shells? It is certifiable with 85% Niihau Shells and features a sunrise shell Centerpiece and sterling silver adjustable length clasp. It's not of the highest quality because of the variation in coloring but the price reflected that and more people have oo'ed and ah'ed over that piece than you can imagine. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Required fields are marked *. King Kamehameha IV sold it for $10,000 in 1863 to Elizabeth Sinclair of Scotland. . Pikake stitch graduates to long double Mauna Loa strands of high luster. This classic look first made it's splash when Queen Emmalani wore her Laiki shell lei abroad to meet diplomats in Europe. mammaI checked and I can pull the photos up. This shell . Inquire for wholesale pricing. Palazzo Pant & Kimono Set - Tattoo in Royal & Black Lotus & Lime $121.95. (c) Any product or jewelry item that consists of at least eighty per cent Niihau shells, by count, and that meets the requirement of subsection (b)(2), may be described, labeled, or identified using the term "contains", followed immediately by the nearest whole number representing the percentage of Niihau shells, by count, contained in the product or jewelry item, followed by the term, "% Niihau shells" or "% Niihau shells".". Although it is not a Ni'ihau tradition to use them as pendants, it became very popular on Kauai starting in the 1970's. The rare and highly valued shells ( kahelelani, laiki, momi, and kamoa ), are found on the beaches of Ni'ihau and crafted by the island's residents into various styles of lei, earrings . Good news! The most famous and cherished is the Sunrise Shell, aka Sunny. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. $34.50, $69.00 when you sign up for the 101 Things To Do email newsletter! Here's the website list of Kauai sellers: Waimea Canyon General Store/Forever Kauai (Kekaha). 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. This includes both online and at gift shops across Hawaii. These tiny, gorgeous shells wash up on the island of Ni'ihau, which is inaccessible to the public. Another practical souvenir, this printed towel shows the Hawaiian Islands in a vintage-style map. Studio Hours. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. Be very cautious when purchasing these leis -- the person who sells them to you should be able to answer these questions: identify the family that made them, what types of shells are used in the lei, what the stringing technique is called, etc. Want to know more? They have been used for centuries by the native people of these islands. Item# 16H01WR0250. Not great swimming beaches (apart from Lydgate) you can find a few shells if you look carefully at the right time of day. What a life! Enjoy your search for the perfect one! I ended up with a really lovely 2 strand white momi, with matching earrings. Bracelet is burgundy or Ula Ula Kahelelani sewn with momi shells in the heliconia fashion. Kauai Advisor ~ Francesca Azuremare ~ has lived on Kauai for 22 years. Located 17 miles off the west coast of Kauai lies the island of Ni'ihau, better known as The Forbidden Isle. These pieces were designed to have a gentle contrast between Kahelelani and Momi and were made together but sold separately. (a) For the purposes of this section, "Niihau shells" means seashells harvested from the island of Niihau, its waters, or its beaches. The shells used to create NIIHAU SHELL LEI are akin to precious gemstones. Good luck in your hunt for your gorgeous Niihau shell lei, Plumeria! Including Sunrise shells & Puka shells. I did buy the gorgeous book Totally Hawaiian has on Niihau shell lei, which I highly recommend. I would like toknow where to look. Well, it's not Kauai, nor Oahu, but I bought mine at Maui Hands in Paia as I wanted to make certain to get an authentic Niihau shell lei. Over the last several years I have not been as impressed with the quality of leis being sold at the Trading Post, they might have a couple of high end ones but I remember them having a much bigger collection than they do now. This piece can be worn several ways. For generations, the people of Ni'ihau have been collecting, matching and stringing these tiny, lustrous shells. The best shell beach on Kauai! this style is inspired by the treasures of the ocean and how well they work together. The native iron compounds in the earth possibly reacted with tannins in the gourd, creating black and dark reddish-brown patterns. The shells carefully collected on the Island of Ni`ihau Hawaii, known as the Forbidden Island. Aloha~ Rob Arita, These are momi shells. Its area is 69.5 square miles (180 km 2 ). One of only three places in the world where technology has not yet moved in, Niihau Island (if you pronounce it "Nee-ee-how" you'll be pretty close) is a 72 square mile privately owned island just southwest of the island of Kauai. This is the beach right in front of Alamoo road, thats the dirt track road which is just north of the Hanalei Colony Resort. Monica Wachman, Leaf Group. However, the term generally refers to three different shells that are commonly used to make Niihau shell lei:kahelelani,momi, andliki, as well as a fourth one,kmoa, which is frequently used to add contrasting color. New statutory material is underscored. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Great for little kids to look for tiny fish and cucumber fish and shells. Allows labeling that indicates percentage of Niihau shell content if item contains at least 80% Niihau shells and is made entirely in State. 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. 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. 14K strong magnetic clasp for easy removal and safe wear. Each earring is unique as there will only be one available at a time. The one I REALLY loved was $5000! Also the gift shop at the Kaua'i Museum is another reputable place to purchase these lei. Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! Niihau ( Hawaiian: [niihw] ), anglicized as Niihau ( / ni ( i) ha / NEE- (ee-)how ), is the westernmost main and seventh largest inhabited island in Hawaii. So there we were asleep and suddenly we were rudely awakened by the sound of an engine revving and bright, bright lights below at the shoreline. When taken to the highest level, they are undoubtedly fine art. Shown below are examples of different styles and colors. There . All rights reserved. . It is roughly 18.6 miles long and 6.2 miles wide. You will see lots of "Ni'ihau" shell leis or bracelets from smaller crafters on the island, but usually they are the ones from down at (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? info@niihauheritage.org, All Rights Reserved Copyright 2020 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. Since each sunrise shell pair has a red side and a yellow, we do our best to match a gorgeous color palette together regardless of the color you choose High Quality pure Niihau Shell Lei. Ni'ihau shell jewelry is one of the most Hawaiian art forms represented in Maui Hands. (SD1). Collected from the beaches of the forbidden island and painstakingly cleaned and sewn together is a legacy unique to it's culture. I had "rat-holed" birthday and Christmas money for a year or so, and had nice sum to spend, but NOTHING like $5000. However, the term generally refers to three different shells that are commonly used to make Ni'ihau shell lei: kahelelani , momi, and liki, as well as a fourth one, kmoa, which is frequently used to add contrasting color. Kahelelani, momi or laiki gathered from other islands are not authentic "Ni'ihau" shells per Hawaii State Law H.B. Copyright text 2019 by Kauai Vacation Rental Advisor. Sale Price $450.00 This book tells you all about the traditional Hawaiian necklaces and how women sew tiny shells into beautiful necklaces. While you can find these rare shells on the shores of the Forbidden Island only, you wont be able to travel and find these souvenirs in Niihau. Inquire to see our sunrise or cowry collection and have one of these beauties made just for you. He spent 3 days doing that and came out with just under half a small glass jar. Any pieces shown here for sale may be slightly different and can be customized to your specifications. Ni'ihau shell leimaking is a traditional native Hawaiian art form that produces a highly-treasured form of jewelry. I know this isn't bargain hunting, but I also wonder if Oahu might have a bigger mark-up on them (you know, big city prices!). Stunning craftsmanship by an expert leimaker. The 1920's explosion in large pearl lariats was based on shell lei worn by Queens of Hawaii while visiting and hosting diplomats. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. These retail for between $350-$600 in shops. Made famous by artisans on the island of Ni'ihau, they are now known throughout the world as one of the finest types of jewelry. In the gaps between the shells, Ive been gifted with more than a few big cowrie shells among others. I would rec Na Mea on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? They are found in greatest numbers on Ni'ihau and Kauai, although isolated populations occur on all of the Hawaiian Islands. Its not a great swimming beach, theres lots of rocks and stones but theres also lots of pools because of that. We bought my wife's lei at least a dozen years ago at the Lawai Hawaiian Trading Post. Pamela Dow, a Kekaha retailer of the jewelry, hopes to elevate the art form to . Ni'ihau is the westernmost inhabited island in Hawaii. As she said best shell beach on the island. Consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped orders on time, and replied quickly to messages, Looks like you already have an account! Learn more. Instead, there are plenty of venues in Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island that offer authentic Ni'ihau shell leis and jewelry. Francesca. Niihau is one of the most untouched of all the inhabited Hawaiian islands. If you want to know about Kauais Top Beaches in general, check out my post on that here. Ever since I learned about Niihau on my last trip to Hawaii, Ive been eager to plan a trip to this remote island. An ipu pwehe sitting amongst ipu vines. Feel free to contact me via phone or email if you have any questions or are interested in designing a piece! This will differ depending on what options are available for the item. 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). Ni'ihau is probably most famous for the Ni'ihau shell necklaces or lei, which are handcrafted on-island.