It is certifiable with 85% Niihau Shells and features a sunrise shell Centerpiece and sterling silver adjustable length clasp. Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. Original Price $299.99 Although it is not a Ni'ihau tradition to use them as pendants, it became very popular on Kauai starting in the 1970's. There . 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. $85.50, $95.00 Another practical souvenir, this printed towel shows the Hawaiian Islands in a vintage-style map. Please check your email for a link to verify your email address. 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. 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 . Item #195, Ni'ihau Designer Tahitian Pearl Bracelet sewn with high quality Akala Pua Kahelelani and A Grade Tahitian Pearls. Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii 96741-0348 If you want to learn about Niihaus history, Niihau: The Last Hawaiian Island by Ruth M. Tabrah is a great way to start. From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. 01:00. With all the beauty of nature~, Hi there, thanks for the comment. They are valued like a one-of-a-kind diamond necklace. (SD1). Youll see ad results based on factors like relevancy, and the amount sellers pay per click. I have one from the Black Pearl (?) Here are two photos of Niihau shell necklaces in a collection at Hawaiian Trading Post at Kalaheo. big store at the corner of Lawaii Road and 580. Ni'ihau is estimated to be 4.9-6 million years old. 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. There is a palpable individuality to all shell creations from Ni'ihau. Thanks in advance for your replies. 0 . Heres where you can purchase authentic Niihau shell leis: Each of these locations offers Niihau shell leis that should be documented and authentic. They come in an amazing array of colors and can be woven into the most beautiful adornments. Just a word of caution when identifying Niihau shells. 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. The shells carefully collected on the Island of Ni`ihau Hawaii, known as the Forbidden Island. The songs in this CD will transport you to Hawaiian soil, with the sound of waves of Waikiki and the breathtaking sunrise at Haleakala. Kahelelani, momi or laiki gathered from other islands are not authentic "Ni'ihau" shells per Hawaii State Law H.B. 24", Hawaiian Lei made of precious gem quality shells carefully collected on the Island of Ni`ihau, .. $500.00. This book tells you all about the traditional Hawaiian necklaces and how women sew tiny shells into beautiful necklaces. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This particular piece is from an estate collection and was well cared for. Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. Original Price $49.00 Purchased by a wealthy Scottish widow in 1864, the family-owned island of Niihau is committed to preserving its natural and cultural history perhaps at a dangerous cost. (I'm looking at this purchase as I'd do a diamond, a little research goes a long way!). These earrings will not be duplicated in the future. Enjoy the combinations of Kahelelani, momi, and sunrise shells displayed on my site. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-59045746', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui. The colors here are Akala Pua Waipapipi (hot pink), O'mao O'mao (green), and Ele Ele (dark brown). It's known as "The Forbidden Island" in Hawaii, and the nickname isn't an exaggeration. Captcha failed to load. But dont let that story deter you. Answer 11 of 14: Are there any beaches where visitors can find the beautiful Sunrise shells? And you are so right, Barbara, it's not the price. As our inventory is changing frequently, please contact us for current inventory not yet posted and custom orders. "Ikigai" Wrap Pants - Tattoo in Teal Tiare Lotus & Lime $49.95. Among things prohibited are alcohol, drugs, guns, beards, long hair, tattoos, and piercings. Instead, there are plenty of venues in Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island that offer authentic Ni'ihau shell leis and jewelry. Tours begin from Koloa, Kauai, and take participants across the often-rough Kaulakahi Channel to Lehua. Most, if not all . 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. And my "little" one came from the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Clasp is fixed currently with a granulated cowry but can be doubled and worn as a shorter 20 strand look. These earrings will be a limited stock, so get yours today. Opihi - a Hawaiian delicacy. 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 topic was brought up on the Europe board and it helped me greatly during my Med cruise last October. This set is a feature of Ula Ula Burgundy shell accents in a strong base of Pikake strung Momi shells. A lot depends on the shells, the pattern and how skilled the maker was. Copyright text 2019 by Kauai Vacation Rental Advisor. Common colors arekeokeo(white),kala(pink),lenalena(yellow), andmaomao(green). Ha'aheo, Hawaiian Crafts. It has just over 100 year-round residents, and they live completely off the grid in a self-sustaining ecosystem. Earrings additional $85. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-59044001', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');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. 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 ? bjbert--I tried the link you provided, but it tells me "something bad happened" and I can't get to the pics. We provide certificates of authenticity with every Ni'ihau creation and in some cases an appraisal free of charge. Anyway the photos give an idea what we are discussing. The leimaker is well into her 50's and has been working with shells since the age of 7. From this website, I have a list of approved sellers: http://www.niihauheritage.org/niihau_shells.htm. Prices are way up all over. 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. Can be sold individually or with earrings. They are found in greatest numbers on Ni'ihau and Kauai, although isolated populations occur on all of the Hawaiian Islands. Ever since I learned about Niihau on my last trip to Hawaii, Ive been eager to plan a trip to this remote island. Ni'ihau probably formed first, since it is farthest west in the chain and volcanoes to the east are younger, but data indicating the exact onset times of the two volcanoes do not exist. Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources allows you to collect seashells for personal use but not for resale. What more could you ask! In the gaps between the shells, Ive been gifted with more than a few big cowrie shells among others. Original Price $1,800.00 Niihau, Hawaiian Ni'ihau, volcanic island, Kauai county, Hawaii, U.S. Niihau lies 17 miles (27 km) southwest of Kauai island. Ahhh Polihale. Shipping policies vary, but many of our sellers offer free shipping when you purchase from them. 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. 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). 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. It just means you don't get the fancy, multi-strand long lei. Ni'ihau shell jewelry is one of the most Hawaiian art forms represented in Maui Hands. Both 14K yellow gold hooks and sterling silver are available. The 72-square-mile Niihau is everything the major Hawaiian islands Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and its neighbor Kauai are not. $93.75, $125.00 I had "rat-holed" birthday and Christmas money for a year or so, and had nice sum to spend, but NOTHING like $5000. Post Office Box 348 Went to the vendor at SH and what a beautiful display! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-7221950', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Anini Beach -- you can look at them closely and see how weathered they are and how many pukas (holes) they have in them. Please log in again. Read. Come have a peek at island jewelry! These earrings represent a beautiful PoePoe weave and can be ordered with any color of Ni'ihau Kahelelani. Some of the kinds of shells you'll find. This gorgeous 3 strand kahelelani necklace in the poepoe style required over 1200 shells to complete.finished with a solid 18k clasp! Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. mamma, you can get away with spending MUCH less than a couple of grand. This design was inspired by Victoria Feinberg. $67.50, $90.00 Including Sunrise shells & Puka shells. :-). Finding a sunrise shell that way is just money. Without a doubt, Puana Hou Me Ke Aloha should be in any Hawaiian music fans collection. We only know that both volcanoes formed about 6 million years ago. I have found many different shells at Larsens but the gifts of the shells fade into the background compared to the peace and joy of just sitting and sifting or walking along Kaakaaniu beach. Beautiful! When combined with kahelelani, momi, and kamoa, the variations are endless. 2. 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 . 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 this post, I promote travel to a destination that is the traditional lands of the K Hawaii Paeina (Hawaiian Kingdom) people. Matching earrings are 14K gold wire. There may be variations, however, in the names that other lei makers commonly use. I had looked at Totally Hawaiian at Whalers Village, among other places, and they did have a pretty big selection, and some really gorgeous shell lei, but yikes! Some Niihau shell leis have been known to be valued for up to $20,000. Decorated by Leilehua Yuen. Thank you for all of your replys.Sounds like the place to look is The Trading Post, and expect at least a couple grand? The highest elevation on Ni'ihau is 1,280 feet above sea level. The lei can be connected with the bracelet to make a longer necklace while the earrings make a perfect compliment for any style. 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. If you are a history buff or have someone back home who is, Beekmans book is one of the best Niihau gifts. If we were to buy again I'm not sure where we would look first. This classic look first made it's splash when Queen Emmalani wore her Laiki shell lei abroad to meet diplomats in Europe. Studio Hours. Big Blue Princeville 96722 . T-shirts have become a popular souvenir in the last decades: they are practical, original, and a clear reminder of where youve been. Each lei can take up to six months to complete. Any items in this set can be sold separately. Their prices tend to be high, although I bought a lei there many years ago. Although, Poleho can be picked on Ni'ihau, our Poleho shells are. Check out this Hawaii t-shirt, which features a map design showing Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai, and Niihau islands. Established in 2013, its mission is to design clothing for Hawaiians, by Hawaiians, from a modern studio in Kaimuki, near the lower slopes of Diamond Head, the island's legendary extinct volcano.. Sometimes "quality" is in the eye of the beholder so buy what you love! Hand crafted Kapono style Hawaiian Lei made of precious gem quality shells carefully collected on the Island of Ni`ihau Hawaii, known as the Forbidden Island. My latest one was purchased from a Spouting Horn vendor and it came with a certificate of authenticity. The smallest of the populated Hawaiian Islands, Niihau has an area of 70 square miles (180 square km). Their display of vintage lei is quite interesting, too. Anyway, your opinions matter to me! At Ali'i Kauai Tours and Charters, we offer one better: A two-for-one air experience. I forgot to add in my postings about the Nihau shells. We currently specialize in Ni'ihau shell lei, Seed lei, and Lauhala Weaving. Some colors of shells I can't wear. 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. I bought a beautiful pair of Ni'ihau Kahelelani Shell earrings at this shop. The wedding leis of Niihau are often made with "laiki" or "rice" shells. Made of precious pupu o Niihau shells, no lei is the same, showing the versatile craft of each Hawaiaan Leimaker. Much like shells are the diamonds to any surfer girl, Niihau shells - found only on the island of Niihau are valued like a one-of-a-kind diamond encrusted necklace. Original Price $125.00 more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. 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.