Hobbies And Interests
Limpet Shells
Limpet shells are the protective covering of small gastropods that live on the rocks of the Hawaiian coastline. These small animals are considered a delicacy in Hawaii. Their shells are most often glossy layered colors of brown, cream and white, and their shape is cap-like and flattened. The colors of the shells help the organism blend into the rock surface, which helps them hide from predators such as fish, lizards, birds or small mammals.
Cone Shells
Cone-shaped sea snails make cone shells their homes. These snails live among rocks and coral along the sea bed, which is where their discarded shells are most often found. These shells come in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and this variety makes them extremely popular with collectors. However, the most common theme among the shells is a mix of brown and white spots.
Triton Shells
Triton shells come in a wide range of sizes: from under 1 inch at the smallest to some of the largest at over 15 inches in length. Tritons are most commonly pinkish-beige and shaped like a twisted horn, pointed on one end and wide at the other. In fact, these shells were for centuries used as trumpets in Hawaii.
Ni'ihau Shells
Ni'ihau shells are composed of three main types: laiki, momi, and kahelelani. The islands of Ni'ihau are not heavily populated, and residents collect these shells to create jewelry and earn a living. Their sizes range from 3 to 12 mm and can be gold, yellow, blue, red or white, with the most valuable being the smallest golden shells. It can take up to a year to craft one strand of a lei made of these shells, due to the delicate nature of the shells and the intricate knotting process.