I see things made with shells that are sold in Hawaii, but I never hear anyone talking about shell.

I thought maybe the beaches are all crushed coral and lava rock.

Most if not all of the shells sold in tourist shops are imported.

It's true that shells are scarce on Hawaiian beaches, but you can find them if you look hard enough, mostly on beaches with offshore reefs which aren't so popular that they've been picked clean.

Depends on where you are. I found quite a few in Molokai and some good ones on the BI. Not large, but medium and a few exotic types.

My husband brings up all kind of shells when he goes spear fishing. Often he will just show it to me and then take it back down with him. He is very careful to not collect live animals. Occasionally we find small shells in the tide pools or after a good rain, but to find the really nice shells you have to dive. Shell collecting is not permitted in nature reserves or in harbors, and may be restricted in other areas as well. What is permitted in one area may not be permitted in another. My husband uses a booklet called "Hawaii Fishing Regulations" to determine what is restricted in each area before he goes out.

The reason I asked is that I was thinking about getting these Hala Boxes with cookies as gifts for our luau when we return from our Hawaii Wedding. I was wondering if the shell on top of this weaved box is a native shell from the Hawaiian Islands.

http://www.auntienalaniscookies.com/fh15.JPG

Please take a look and let me know if it is - THANKS!!

Yes Nancy, that's a Hawaiian shell. I have quite a few of them. One of my favorites.

Cowrie (cowry?) shell -- commonly exported worldwide from Phillipines, Mexico and elsewhere.

Here are photos of the above mentioned "cowries"

www.geocities.com/rleffanta/seashells.html

I found one like that about 3 inches long in a tide pool on the big island.

If we keep taking shells from a place that doesn't have too many, there won't be any for future visitors to enjoy...plus doesn't Pele get mad, or is that just for taken lava?

love
roxy

This silly hoax applies to lava rock, green sand, basically anything the locals don't want tourists taking off the island. Apparently ABC Stores has some kind of exemption with Pele, as they're selling this stuff to tourists now. In other words it's ok to buy, but not to take.

Kauai has good shell beaches.

Five years ago I took a hunk of lava rock home and sure enough I had bad luck. Sprained my ankle last month. Coincidence? I think not !

Rusty, I can't bear to think what might happen if you took a shell.

I've taken shells every year, this year was especially great cause of all the storms washing them up mostly the cowries. I haven't had any bad luck that I can think of?? I think I will make some jewlery with them and the shell pieces will go in a thin jar for gifts they look great!!! It kinda became an obsession this year cause there were so many,just make sure there aren't any creatures still using them.