These Niihau shell leis are gorgeous and truly "made in Hawaii.". Here's Where to Find the Best Handmade Crafts on Oahu, From - Leisure the big truck a few feet from the water and a lady out front with a massive police type light that was lighting up the entire beach but definitely spotlighting the sand. Although it is not a Ni'ihau tradition to use them as pendants, it became very popular on Kauai starting in the 1970's. They can also be found on Kaua`i and Moloka`i, but those lack the luster of the authentic ones. It was an hour before daybreak but some local family were looking for Sunrise shells. I remember a couple of years ago being impressed by the small collection of leis at the ukulele store in Koloa town, but I don't think that collection exists anymore. Niihau Tour | Boat Tours to Niihau Do you mind if I ask how much the Nihau leis cost? Solid 14K finish with magnetic attachment for a safe and easy to operate clasp. Just a word of caution when identifying Niihau shells. Shell Lei History | Niihau Heritage Cultural Foundation Made only on Niihau, a private island off Kauais west side, the lei are known as one of Polynesias finest ART FORMS . Inquire for bulk or re-sale pricing. The one I REALLY loved was $5000! this style is inspired by the treasures of the ocean and how well they work together. Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources allows you to collect seashells for personal use but not for resale. Ni'ihau Helicopters Office Drive to Port Allen Airport When it comes to Niihau souvenirs, Niihau shell leis are one of the most sought-after tokens. Hawaiian is their first language, English is second. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The viewing area perched above the jagged crumbling . Earwires are 14K French Hooks. This perfect Heleconia Lei has a fine detailed blend of Akala Pua Pink and Ula Ula Burgundy shells. They get food from the ranch as well. What I'm seeking is an actual person or two who've purchased from someone on Kauai if it was a positive experience. 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. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. So you only have two options for setting foot on the island: take a helicopter tour from Kauai or . beautiful shells and lovely work indeed. Their display of vintage lei is quite interesting, too. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Common colors arekeokeo(white),kala(pink),lenalena(yellow), andmaomao(green). At 17.5 miles from Kauai, Niihau is the 7th largest of the inhabited Hawaiian islands. One of the most expensive items HNN came across was a three-strand Ni'ihau shell lei. Certifiable Ni'ihau, Made on Kauai. This is a kipona mixed shell set features green O'mao O'mao kahelelani poe poe sections and 14K gold clasps. 39 Hawaiian Ni'ihau Shells ideas | niihau shells, niihau, shells I'm also asking on the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? (15% off). They arent stones, of course, but TINY SHELLS that are rare and precious. By Kevin Whitton, author of Moon Hawaii. The words of the motto are generally attributed to King Kamehameha III, Kauikeaouli, who reportedly spoke them on July 31, 1843, when sovereignty was restored to the Hawaiian kingdom after a brief British occupation. Read more in my Privacy Policy. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in March. The lei can be connected with the bracelet to make a longer necklace while the earrings make a perfect compliment for any style. It's estimated that around 150 Native Hawaiians inhabit Niihau today. Cones Leopard cone, Hebrew cone, Marble cone, others. Anyway, your opinions matter to me! They have a lot of "stuff" but you can tell the quality pieces and I've always found them to be honest in their discussion of their products. Finally, The Niihau Incident: The True Story by Allan Beekman gives detailed insight into how the plane crash of a Japanese fighter pilot on Niihau became one of the darkest episodes of the islands history. 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. Yikes! They come in a wide range of colors. Custom Shell Jewelry. Niihau - "The Forbidden Island" of Hawaii The real niihau necklaces that I have seen were at the Trading Post on Koloa rd, and hwy 50 on the south shorethose pupies were expensive, and a couple of grand on up but the authentic items. It is finished with granulated cowries and a n 18k clasp. For us back then it was a rather extravagant purchase. Any items in this set can be sold separately. Ni'ihau Shells: the "Diamonds" of Hawaii | Moon Travel Guides Visit Oahu, Kauai, and Maui! 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 . :-). There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. I had drooled over Niihau shell lei for my previous two trips to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? (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 some common shells can be found on other islands, the shells from Ni'ihau have a characteristic luster not found in the other shells. Enjoy your search for the perfect one! The Trading Post did used to have a much bigger selection, and there used to be more vendors at Spouting Horn. Fill out the requested information. This particular piece is from an estate collection and was well cared for. And you are so right, Barbara, it's not the price. Kahelelani is the smallest, most valuable and hardest to prepare. Inquire to see our sunrise or cowry collection and have one of these beauties made just for you. Read. There are no ferry services taxiing tourists to Niihau from the other islands, and as you'd expect, no flights to Niihau, either. The value of a lei is also impacted by the availability of certain shells. This piece features nearly every color of Kahelelani and Momi. The stretch of beaches from Wailua to Kapaa encompasses quite a few beaches including the big family beach Lydgate and the beach behind the Lanikai Resort and the one in front of the newest (even though its a couple of years old now!) Niihau shells - ShellsHawaii.com In this post, I promote travel to a destination that is the traditional lands of the K Hawaii Paeina (Hawaiian Kingdom) people. My biggest issue is to get an authentic one, not a knock-off. And shells! For experienced, certified scuba divers, Seasport Divers and Fathom Five Divers also visit Lehua. "Ikigai" Wrap Pants - Bird of Paradise in Cream/Navy Lotus & Lime $49.95. For most of the state's residents, that's the only way to see the island of Niihau. Kauai & Niihau Air Tour - Alii Kauai Air Tours & Charters 0 . Kauai has some outstandingly beautiful beaches; these are just some of the best shell beaches on Kauai! SECTION 3. Please check your email for a link to verify your email address. 2569. Cowrie - all different varieties. . Ni'ihau shell necklace Rare colors AlohaMeraki (4) $549.00 FREE shipping 20 1/2 inches Niihau momi shell necklace and bracelet with kahelelani shells from Hawaii DuangchindaOfHawaii (159) $850.00 Gorgeous Kahelelani Shell necklace Made in Hawaii USA Gold fill thin dainty delicate chain Ni'ihau Niihau like Island Ocean Beach Jewelry Passion-4-Fashion Hono Ohala Place, Kapaa . Each lei can take up to six months to complete. This pretty set is sewn crownflower fashion and is a great piece for casual or formal wear. Ha'aheo, Hawaiian Crafts. I've bought from him at SH. This piece is finished with a traditional gem grade single cowry clasp. You can also find online shops to purchase them. 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. Things go up from there. With all the beauty of nature~, Hi there, thanks for the comment. [3] Women's Bottoms - Pop-Up Mkeke Ni'ihau shell leimaking is a traditional native Hawaiian art form that produces a highly-treasured form of jewelry. 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 . While some shells and shell colors are more common and easy to find, there are other varieties that are extremely rare and a . A geologic tour of the Hawaiian Islands: Kaua'i and Ni'ihau - USGS Certifiable Ni'ihau, Made on Kauai. I am trying to think what "bad" could be. Each earring is unique as there will only be one available at a time. I have one from the Black Pearl (?) In addition, the people from Niihau also grow their own fruits and vegetables. (25% off), Sale Price $34.50 To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land.