They are often collected by divers and sold for surprising amounts of cash ($30-$2000 a piece!) Among things prohibited are alcohol, drugs, guns, beards, long hair, tattoos, and piercings. Up to 20 inches $10,000. Theres something timeless about walking along a beach looking for shells isnt there? Item# 18D01LK0085. Finish is a Freshwater 14K Gold Pearl safety clasp. Certifiable Ni'ihau, Made on Kauai. Just the lei is $800 but earrings and bracelet be sold in addition as a full set for $1200. A Ni'ihau shell lei currently located in the British Museum and most likely collected by Cook during one of his several visits to the island of Ni'ihau is made mostly of kahelelani shells. Kahelelani are the most rare variety of Ni'ihau shells. One of the most expensive items HNN came across was a three-strand Ni'ihau shell lei. 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. Great! SECTION 1. The island has mysteriously been "protected" from outsiders since the 1800s. Ni'ihau is the westernmost inhabited island in Hawaii. Please check your email for a link to verify your email address. what a prize when we find one! Certifiable Ni'ihau, Made on Kauai. Original Price $125.00 Sold separately, these are made to order by a skilled leimaker. Inquire to have photos sent to you of most current inventory since we often have incredible lei that are not yet posted online. On Ni'ihau, after the designs were carved into the skin, the gourds were said to have been buried in black mud. Original Price $600.00 Absolutely stunning Niihau shells! 3864 Iona Road, (808) 634-0101, blu-umi.com 8. Niihau Island lies 17 miles southwest of Kauai. The leimaker is well into her 50's and has been working with shells since the age of 7. Price tag: $20,000. magical! As she said best shell beach on the island. It came with a certificate of authenticity and the name of the artisan that created it. Expect to see knockoff s with slightly different labels. Bracelet is burgundy or Ula Ula Kahelelani sewn with momi shells in the heliconia fashion. It was an hour before daybreak but some local family were looking for Sunrise shells. You can dress long in the flapper fashion, short as a choker, or as a waistband beach accessory. Inquire to choose your very own sunrise shell for this design. There may be variations, however, in the names that other lei makers commonly use. swmarket: thanks for the Na Mea rec; it was on the Oahu recommended list, too and I really love that shop! It is 17.5 miles (28.2 km) southwest of Kauai across the Kaulakahi Channel. And be especially careful up on the rocks on the north end of the beach. This stunning set can come in any color or style in varied lengths. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. Its only accessible by driving 20 mins down a dirt track (past the Hyatt and CJM stables.. go to the end, turn right and keep going). Item# 16H01WR0250. The average size of Kahelelani shells will . People get around on horseback, cook on kerosene stoves, and use outhouses. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Buy 2 Get 3rd item FREE - Store only. "Ikigai" Wrap Pants - Tattoo in Black/Bronze Lotus & Lime $49.95. 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. All words and images 2013-2023 The Kolibro Group LLC. The people of Ni'ihau called . But dont let that story deter you. Both snorkel tours combine Niihau with Kauai's Na Pali Coast and range from $250 to $285 per person for a seven-hour excursion. Courtesy of HTA. Kahelelani is the smallest, most valuable and hardest to prepare. Most of us refrain from buying books as souvenirs unless the person is a bookworm. Finding a sunrise shell that way is just money. Earwires are 14K French Hooks. I would rec Na Mea on (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Required fields are marked *. Earrings are 14K french hooks. Item #195, Ni'ihau Designer Tahitian Pearl Bracelet sewn with high quality Akala Pua Kahelelani and A Grade Tahitian Pearls. Located on the island of 'Oahu, w e sale primarily at craft fairs, public events, and fundraising events. info@niihauheritage.org, All Rights Reserved Copyright 2020 While some shells and shell colors are more common and easy to find, there are other varieties that are extremely rare and a . One of my favorite aspects of this art form is that living creatures are never taken for their shells. Turning off personalized advertising opts you out of these sales. Learn more in our Privacy Policy., Help Center, and Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Made only on Ni'ihau, a private island off Kaua'i's west side, the lei are known as one of Polynesia's finest ART FORMS . The island of Ni'ihau lies 17 mile off the west coast of Kauai. The art of Ni'ihau shell lei making is a precious cultural gift -- if you own a lei you can tell people who made it, where the shells were collected, what types of shells, and the generations of the family that made it passing down this knowledge makes this a true treasure. You might want to stop at the Trading Post out on the highway just to see the varieties. Ever since I learned about Niihau on my last trip to Hawaii, Ive been eager to plan a trip to this remote island. mamma, you can get away with spending MUCH less than a couple of grand. Original Price $90.00 Sunrise shells are a fascinating member of the scallop or pecten family that live in deep Hawaiian waters. Precious Diamond 808 Detailing Anahola 96703 . I will email the photos to you if you don't mind publishing your email address here. Kea Biker Shorts Aloha Mlie $30.95. What more could you ask! The gem-like shells can be as tiny as the head of a pin and can be found on the beaches of Hawaii's private island. Theres beach access on both ends of Alamoo and you can usually park on Alealea road. The shells carefully collected on the Island of Ni`ihau Hawaii, known as the Forbidden Island. Ni'ihau also goes by the name, The Forbidden Island, because the island is privately owned. Hi Southerngirl: I was in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Taro K Chip Factory The bestand freshesttaro chips in the state, period. The tiny shells wash up already vacant from the snails that they once housed. It . While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, youll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. Gorgeous 7 mile beach, stunning pointed cliffs and miles of ocean. I did buy the gorgeous book Totally Hawaiian has on Niihau shell lei, which I highly recommend. Sizes can be adjusted and pieces can be sold separately. Both 14K yellow gold hooks and sterling silver are available. The small shells used in Ni'ihau lei are named after him. The highest elevation on Ni'ihau is 1,280 feet above sea level. pzp--that's encouraging, as I doubt I could really afford the thousands range! This bracelet features gorgeous shells with a modern design and is finished with a 14K Gold safety clasp. Nice to know in not the ink hone with that bad habit! Ni'ihau is estimated to be 4.9-6 million years old. several thousand dollars for a multi-strand ni'ihau shell lei! I'm also asking on the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? A beautiful lei adorned with Gem quality Hawaiian Honey Cowry that also can be worn as a centerpiece. We chose to finish these with 14K stunning Cypraea Helvolla Cowry hook and eye. I love it and consider it one of my most prized jewelry items. This classic look first made it's splash when Queen Emmalani wore her Laiki shell lei abroad to meet diplomats in Europe. Photos taken through glass along with bright light reflectance blurred and obscrubed much detail (plus my shaky hands did not help). Strung Momi Pikake style with breaks of maunaloa strands, this wears long and elegantly. And shells. Big wave beach Lumahai can yield some amazing shells.. just be careful in the water. Im also a not-so-secret space nerd and speak fluent emoji! there aren't many tools needed either, just stringing line and lots of time! Instead, there are plenty of venues in Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island that offer authentic Ni'ihau shell leis and jewelry. Studio Hours. when you sign up for the 101 Things To Do email newsletter! This piece can be worn several ways. Still want to check it out! Ni'ihau is a private island with a population of 160, mostly of pure Native Hawaiian descent. This set is a matching combination of white Ke'Oke'O Momi shells and Pink Akala Pua Kahelelani. I was born on the East Coast and currently live in the Midwest but my heart will always be out West. The viewing area perched above the jagged crumbling . Do you mind if I ask how much the Nihau leis cost? If we were to buy again I'm not sure where we would look first. The island of Niihau encompasses 70 square miles and it is located 18 miles northwest of Kauai. The colors here are Akala Pua Waipapipi (hot pink), O'mao O'mao (green), and Ele Ele (dark brown). Anyway, your opinions matter to me! Some colors of shells I can't wear. Custom orders are always welcome. 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 login page will open in a new tab. They are found in greatest numbers on Ni'ihau and Kauai, although isolated populations occur on all of the Hawaiian Islands. Left in photo is poe poe kipona, center is crownflower and right is heliconia stitch. Hawaiian is their first language, English is second. We only know that both volcanoes formed about 6 million years ago. Finish is a granulated cowry in traditional Ni'ihau fashion. Common colors arekeokeo(white),kala(pink),lenalena(yellow), andmaomao(green). Did you highlight the link and "copy" it and then "paste" it to the web address line? Shades of colors are often identified ashiehie(light) orikaika(dark). I would like toknow where to look. The art of lei-making from Ni'ihau shells is a very closely protected one -- the shells cannot be called "Ni'ihau" shells any longer unless they are actually collected on that island (this law was passed just last year I believe) -- since the kahelelani shells, momi shells and others are also found on other islands, this has been a big problem in the past -- the shells from Ni'ihau have a special luster which gives them that most rare distinction. From the time we are children, its something we all want to do! Length and clasp can be adjustable. The best shell beach on Kauai! an array of intriguing island finds, like Ni'ihau Shell Leis, Hawaiian collectibles, and local jewelry and gifts. (Also, I did update your comment for you! Comes with Certificate of Authenticity, Bill of sale with detailed information on your lei. Our options for clasps are boundless and our collection of gem quality cowry are fabulous. MF Silver, Kealia . Great for little kids to look for tiny fish and cucumber fish and shells. Shown below are examples of different styles and colors. They are valued like a one-of-a-kind diamond necklace. 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. Ni'ihau shell leimaking is a traditional native Hawaiian art form that produces a highly-treasured form of jewelry. Sold with earrings as a set or individually is a single strand pikake stitch lei comprised of medium grey Uli Uli shells. Remembering you arent in Hawaii anymore as soon as you wake, isnt exactly appealing. There are also some souvenirs that you can order online which will allow you to experience Niihau at home whether youre still planning a trip or thinking back fondly on yours. I so wanted a necklace but couldn't afford it :( I did end up getting some earrings. A lot depends on the shells, the pattern and how skilled the maker was. Enjoy your search for the perfect one! This pretty Heleconia Lei has a fine detailed blend of Akala Pua Pink and Ula Ula Burgundy shells with O'mao O'mao Green and Ele Ele Brown. We are a Hawaiia n owned, local business that specializes in unique, hand-crafted products that are made in Hawaii. Feel free to contact me via phone or email if you have any questions or are interested in designing a piece! We currently specialize in Ni'ihau shell lei, Seed lei, and Lauhala Weaving. Only In Your State. (10% off), Sale Price $93.75 (10% off), Sale Price $44.10 Turning off the personalized advertising setting wont stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. It's estimated that around 150 Native Hawaiians inhabit Niihau today. Each piece of Ni'ihau jewelry we carry is in compliance with all laws protecting Ni'ihau shells in Hawaii. Ad . You will check in at the Ni'ihau Helicopters sales office on Kaumualii Highway in Kaumakani, on the south shore of Kaua'i. It's next to the post office in the same shopping plaza as Aloha Sweet Delights, whose pink and yellow sign you can't miss from the road.