To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to exploreNative Land. There are many books to learn about Niihau, but here are a few that tackle interesting topics. Native Hawaiian Economic Development; Niihau Shells; Protection, Prohibits sale of seashell items w/description or label using term "Niihau" or "Niihau" unless item contains 100% Niihau shells and is made entirely in Hawaii. About Us This includes both online and at gift shops across Hawaii. They come in an amazing array of colors and can be woven into the most beautiful adornments. Niihau Shell Leis is another exciting book you may bring home with you. But it's not exactly simple. . What a life! 2569. 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. Still, Coffee lovers wont find a better way to sip their morning coffee than this Niihau coffee mug. Decorated by Leilehua Yuen. The Kahelelani is also the most colorful shell used in Niihau and Kauaian shell leis. The native iron compounds in the earth possibly reacted with tannins in the gourd, creating black and dark reddish-brown patterns. This is a museum quality piece made from several seasons of picking shells. Beautiful works of art. Feel free to contact me via phone or email if you have any questions or are interested in designing a piece! 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. It's known as "The Forbidden Island" in Hawaii, and the nickname isn't an exaggeration. And be especially careful up on the rocks on the north end of the beach. Length: 19" Materials: kahelelani 'akala pua (pink tiny shells) kahelel . If you don't see it, it might be in your junk/spam folder. You can also find online shops to purchase them. Understandably, the rare shells are highly valued works of art both on display and for . Learn more. Sold separately, these are made to order by a skilled leimaker. i tried this and me and my eyes gave up. 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 . 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. This bracelet is my favorite accessory to wear and a best seller for budding enthusiasts. A few other terms includekahakaha(striped),nikiniki(spotted),puupuu(bumpy), and evenwaha ulaula(red mouth). Some songs feature the voice of the late, great Israel IZ Kamakawiwaole. (10% off), Sale Price $93.75 I've bought from him at SH. My last purchase there was an amazing "sunrise" shell. Strung Momi Pikake style with breaks of maunaloa strands, this wears long and elegantly. The wedding leis of Niihau are often made with "laiki" or "rice" shells. (SD1). To enable personalized advertising (like interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. Kauai, with its close proximity to Niihau, has an abundant choice of these UNUSUAL AND HANDCRAFTED shell lei. Niihau Island lies 17 miles southwest of Kauai. Opihi - a Hawaiian delicacy. The shells used to create NIIHAU SHELL LEI are akin to precious gemstones. Original Price $125.00 Shhhh. They are valued like a one-of-a-kind diamond necklace. 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. (a) For the purposes of this section, "Niihau shells" means seashells harvested from the island of Niihau, its waters, or its beaches. This piece can be doubled and worn as a 2 strand, or worn long over the head with poe poe sections cascading through the center. This piece can be worn several ways. It was an hour before daybreak but some local family were looking for Sunrise shells. . Our options for clasps are boundless and our collection of gem quality cowry are fabulous. Kahelelani shells/Niihau - . I will email the photos to you if you don't mind publishing your email address here. The art of lei-making is unique to Niihaus culture and has been alive since before the arrival of European settlers. This delicate looking 18" lei is comprised of laiki shells and akala colored kahelelani shells. Niihau shell strands are suspended from stamped . With an official notary, Niihau shells can be evaluated based on its strain and style of stringing. Have any questions about where to buy Niihau shell leis or other souvenirs from Hawaiis Forbidden Island? Not sure why but there seem to be more shells here than anywhere else. 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. Big Island, Kauai & Maui 6-night multi-island adventure, from $1,459. Apparently there used to be a dump there many years ago and this is where the glass came from. SECTION 3. Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! This is a sample of the lei varieties that we create and curate as heirlooms. Fun to look tho..Maybe a single choker strand for me? Nice to know in not the ink hone with that bad habit! This is an excellent start, I appreciate your help. Anyway, your opinions matter to me! In addition, the people from Niihau also grow their own fruits and vegetables. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Kauai & Niihau Airplane Tours. This type of data sharing may be considered a sale of information under California privacy laws. For each, is a person who will love and treasure it. Though the nickname stuck, luckily visiting the island is no longer forbidden. I recall a few years ago camping with some friends down the end and one of the group spending hours sifting through the sand looking for (and finding the much sought after Niihau shells those tiny pink and red mini shells that are made into the famous Niihau Leis (necklaces). Traditionally worn at weddings but stunning for any occasion is this 10 strand Laiki or Rice shell lei measuring in at 36". The seller might still be able to personalize your item. 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. Dont see this option? What I'm seeking is an actual person or two who've purchased from someone on Kauai if it was a positive experience. The lei can be connected with the bracelet to make a longer necklace while the earrings make a perfect compliment for any style. Choose the options youd like for the order. Went to the vendor at SH and what a beautiful display! This piece is 24" and is one of the most treasured favorites in our collection. I feel blessed to live in such a magical, beautiful place. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. It is the smallest and therefore the most difficult to collect and string. Aloha! The author has first-hand experience (she visited the island twice!) Any items in this set can be sold separately. Finished in 14K with 14K spacers. The stringing and quality of finish are incredible. These shells are very unique, and they are found only on the island of Ni'ihau. You can dress long in the flapper fashion, short as a choker, or as a waistband beach accessory. Niihau Shell Leis are alo available at Totally Hawaiian in the Whalers Village Shopping Center , Kaanapali , Maui Mahalo nui loa Malama pono i malama kekahi i kekahi Barbara, Thanks for the tip, Barbara! Don't expect to find the valuable tiny Niihau shells that comprised the jewelry of Hawaiian royalty - they only wash ashore on Niihau, the Forbidden Island. With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. Inquire to see our sunrise or cowry collection and have one of these beauties made just for you. Length and clasp can be adjustable. Just 17 miles from the coastline of Kauai, Hawaii boasts a historic restricted area: the small, 70-square-mile island of Niihau . The viewing area perched above the jagged crumbling . One of my favorite aspects of this art form is that living creatures are never taken for their shells. info@niihauheritage.org, All Rights Reserved Copyright 2020 On Ni'ihau, after the designs were carved into the skin, the gourds were said to have been buried in black mud. Most of us refrain from buying books as souvenirs unless the person is a bookworm. 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. mammaI checked and I can pull the photos up. Niihau Island & Lehua Crater. This stunning set can come in any color or style in varied lengths. As she said best shell beach on the island. To live in such a beautiful place filled. This "forbidden" island is inhabited by approximately 200 full-blooded Hawaiians that keep completely to themselves. Look for them at shops around the island. For generations, the people of Ni'ihau have been collecting, matching and stringing these tiny, lustrous shells. magical! Left in photo is poe poe kipona, center is crownflower and right is heliconia stitch. Each lei can take up to six months to complete. While you are shelling, you may reflect on the beach where the old classic movie South Pacific was filmed and Mitzi Gaynor singing gonna wash that man right out of my hair!. 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. The families that live and work on Ni'ihau have collected these shells and developed their own lei making techniques over generations for the most part -- many ohana, like the Kanahele's (who I highly recommend) have members that live on Ni'ihau, collect and sew the leis, and then members who live outside Ni'ihau sell them and the money goes back to the ohana. SECTION 1. $1,485.00, $1,650.00 Last I checked, multi-strand chokers were going for at least $100/strand, but that may be outdated. :cool: Ni'ihau is an island off the southwest coast of Kaua'i. And shells. a great shell beach on Kauai! 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. Niihau Island, known as the "Forbidden Island," is one of the most mysterious of all the Hawaiian Islands, with a unique history and long-standing independence. 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 . 3 Sizes Available. 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 ?