Well, I found a store in Lahaina Town that has the largest selection of Ni%26#39;ihau shell necklaces in West Maui. I did forget the name but it%26#39;s on southern front street across from the banyan tree. I was only there to look as the ones I loved were $3,500 and up. It%26#39;s fascinating to hear the story of these shells. Apparently there are only several families left allowed to make the true Ni%26#39;ihau. I%26#39;m trying to convince my husband this is a worthy investment!
Ni'ihau shell leis (necklaces)Keep working on him! The store is Jack Anderson%26#39;s Original Maui Diver%26#39;s. They are famous for their coral, I have purchased several rings there, but they also have a great selection of Ni%26#39;ihau lei%26#39;s. The ';Totally Hawaiian'; stores in Cannery Mall and Whaler%26#39;s Village also carry them. Sounds like you are falling in love with some of the gorgeous double and triple strand pikake style! I have a 36'; triple that I love. I had a shadowbox frame made for it and it hangs on the living room wall...after all this is truely art! Guests are fascinated by it.
Tell him that they are down to less that 40 artisans who make these, with very few of the younger generation picking up the work. I am afraid that this really is a art that is going to die out in another generation. I know there are others on Kauai and Maui who also make lei%26#39;s, but the rich history and culture of Ni%26#39;ihau make these really special!
Totally Hawaiian carries copies of the book ';Ni%26#39;ihau Shell Lei%26#39;s'; from Kolowalu Books. Great info!
Hope you can convince him! HA
Ni'ihau shell leis (necklaces)Lucky you mamma.
I%26#39;ll keep working on him!
Mahalo
The Honolulu Academy of Arts printed a fabulous book on Ni`ihau lei a few years back. It is still in print.
Pupu`o Ni`ihau by Linda Paik Moriarty. $12.50
You can order it thru the mail from the Academy of Arts website.
If you buy a lei make sure you ask for a letter/certificate of authenticity.
I%26#39;m going to be on Kauai first and then Maui in July. I%26#39;d like to buy one of these necklaces and don%26#39;t know if it would be better to get it on Kauai or Maui. Any opinions? Thanks.
Absolutely get the provinance on the piece, I am lucky enough to even have a picture of the artist who made mine.
I got mine through connections on Oahu, family friends going back 50 years or more. I would advise buying in Kauai, but Maui has some great dealers in this art as well...they are amazing pieces. Let me know if you find one!
%26gt;%26gt; If you buy a lei make sure you ask for a letter/certificate of authenticity. %26lt;%26lt;
I%26#39;ve always marveled at this. It%26#39;s SO easy for anyone to print up an official L/CoA, given a computer and a decent printer. CoA%26#39;s mean nothing. Better to be sure you%26#39;re buying from a reputable seller.
You are absolutely right pzp! Most reputable dealers will tell you at least which family made the lei and I have seen many that now come with a hand writen note from the maker, I have all of mine in an envelope on the back of the frame, just like I do with limited edition art. I really advise educating yourself before buying...the different shells and styles, mostly just the amzing history of this art form!
Mamma, I do the same thing. I had a really nice frame made that looks like it belongs in a museum. Unfortunately, my collection has outgrown the frame.
You really do need to educate yourself, which should include looking at LOTS of lei. You need to develop your eye to see the fine points like size grading, color matching, and not least, the pearly sheen of the Ni`ihau shells as opposed to the same type from Kaua`i.
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