Hawaiian lauhala jewelry is one of the most quietly meaningful things you can wear from the islands — each piece handwoven from the leaves of the hala tree, a craft carried through generations of Hawaiian families. Where a printed tee celebrates island life, a pair of lauhala earrings or a woven cuff carries the actual material and technique of Hawaiian tradition against your skin. This guide covers what lauhala is, how the jewelry is made, what it means, and how to care for it.
What Is Lauhala?
“Lauhala” comes from lau (leaf) and hala (the pandanus tree). For centuries, Hawaiians have harvested, cleaned, stripped, and woven these long leaves into mats, hats, baskets, and adornment. Preparing the lau is patient work — the leaves are de-thorned, sun-cured, softened, and cut into fine strips (koana) before any weaving begins. That labor is why a finished lauhala piece feels less like a product and more like an heirloom.
How Lauhala Jewelry Is Made
Our lauhala jewelry is handwoven in our Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona, wrapping finely prepared lau around earrings, hoops, and metal cuffs. Each color — ʻōmaʻomaʻo (green), mākuʻe (brown), ʻeleʻele (black), ʻulaʻula (red) — is chosen and woven by hand, which means no two pieces are exactly alike. Because the weaving is done individually, many designs are made in very small batches, and some cuffs are true one-of-one pieces. When you see a design you love in the Lauhala Jewelry collection, it is rarely there for long.
The Meaning Behind the Craft
Many of our pieces are inspired by Laka, the Hawaiian goddess of hula and of the forest plants used to adorn dancers. To weave lauhala is to participate in a lineage of makers — an act of mālama (care) for both the material and the tradition. Wearing it becomes a small way of honoring that continuity, and of supporting the Native Hawaiian hands that keep the craft alive. It is the difference between a souvenir and a piece with a story.
Caring for Your Lauhala Jewelry
Lauhala is a natural fiber, so a little care keeps it beautiful for years. Keep pieces dry — remove earrings before swimming or showering — and store them away from direct sun and damp. If a piece gets caught in the rain, let it air-dry flat rather than forcing heat on it. Treated gently, handwoven lauhala develops a warm patina over time, becoming more yours with every wear.
Bring the islands home: Explore our Lauhala Jewelry Collection — handwoven originals from our Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. Here are a few of the newest additions:
Gold Laka: ʻōmaʻomaʻo — gold wrapped in green lau, dainty enough for everyday.
Gold Laka Hoops: Mākuʻe — black, gold, and silver in warm brown lau.
Black Laka Hoops: Makue — black wrapped in brown lau, 1.38″ hoops.
Silver Laka Hoops: ʻEleʻele — black and silver in ʻeleʻele (black) lau.