Niihau Necklaces
 

We are thinking about buy a Niihau Necklace on Kauai that I can wear for my Kauai wedding. Can someone who has shopped for these on Kauai tell me where we should look for them.

I've seen some photos of them on the web and there are some very pretty ones. I was wondering (for the price) they really quite interesting and pretty in person? I read that they can take a year or more to make but they don't seem like they would take that long. Is it the actual sewing the shells together or finding the shells to make a whole necklace?

Nancy03 - check out this web site. It will tell you about the island, collecting the shells, etc. www.hawaiian.net/~niihauisland/leis1.htm

According to Christie Stilson's Paradyse family guide to Kauai, THE place to buy these necklaces is in the Poipu area of Kauai. - When I get home, I'll look up the name and address of this place. Expect to pay hundreds of dollars for the real thing, though! I'm looking forward to checking it out this summer.

Also, what's time consuming is finding the shells. Several necklaces are under construction at any one time - some take years to complete. Some of the Niihau craftsmen collect their shells only in the moonlight to make sure they have the identical luster to others they are trying to match!

There is a craft market by Spouting Horn. Someone has recommended a Don Cope to me, his stall is closest to the blwhole. He sells also at the Trading Post which is in Koloa (I think).We will check him out ourselves on next trip. Good hunting.

Yep, it's the Hawaiian Trading Post at the corner of Koloa Road (530) and Hwy 50.

A true Ni`ihau lei currently retails from $200 or so, to $25,000 -- depending on the skill of the crafter, and the rarity of the shells used. And the prices have skyrocketed lately, due to increased demand and diminishing supply. This site has a pretty good display of the various styles/shells:
http://hawaiianjewelrybox.com/niihaushells.html

Many retailers in the islands and online sell "Ni`ihau shell lei" which may or may not be made of shells from the island of Ni`ihau. These shells can be found on the beaches of Kaua`i -- but their trip across the bottom of the channel results in them losing their lustre. So if you want a true Ni`ihau shell lei, you won't find any bargains. And look for shiny shells.

Best place to purchase authentic Ni`ihau shell lei is on the west side of Kaua`i (where many Ni`ihauans now reside). I'll be glad to give you the contact information for a Ni`ihau lady who sells her own creations...just email me.

But if you just want a lei that _looks_ like the Ni`ihau shells, you can find them at many island retailers.

Auntie - I'm looking for the real thing. Just not sure I should buy it sight unseen. Need to look and feel them first.

Thanks, Nancy [email protected]

Don Cope no longer has a stall at the Spouting Horn. He and his wife do own the Trading Post and they have an extensive display of new and vintage Niihau necklaces. As others have stated be prepared for sticker shock. The nicer ones can be quite pricey.

I

If you're going to be on Kaua`i 9/25, one of the best opportunities to see and purchase authentic Ni`ihau shell lei -- directly from the person who labored to string those beautiful shells -- is at the ho`olaulea (celebration) for the annual Mokihana Festival:
http://kauai.net/mokihana/hoolaulea.html