The Kahana Designs Journal

The Journal

The Kahana Designs Journal

Stories of Hawaiian culture — the akua, the islands, the flowers, the food, and the language. Written from our studio in Kailua-Kona.

Close-up of hands weaving strips of hala leaf into a lauhala bracelet in Hawaiʻi
How to Care for Lauhala Earrings
Lauhala jewelry care starts with knowing what you're wearing: a woven leaf, not metal. Here's how to keep handmade lauhala earrings dry, supple, and beautiful for years. Read more...
A Niʻihau artisan stringing tiny kahelelani shells into a Niʻihau shell lei, Hawaiʻi
Niʻihau Shell Lei: The Story Behind Hawaiʻi's Rarest Jewelry
Made from tiny shells gathered on Hawaiʻi's privately held Forbidden Isle, the Niʻihau shell lei is heirloom jewelry so rare it's the only shell in the world insured as a... Read more...
Handwoven Hawaiian lauhala earrings wrapped in gold, made by Kahana Designs in Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Lauhala Jewelry: The Handwoven Craft of the Islands
A guide to Hawaiian lauhala jewelry — what lauhala is, how these handwoven earrings and cuffs are made, the meaning behind the craft, and how to care for your pieces. Read more...
A traditional Hawaiian makau (fish-hook) pendant carved from bone, on lava rock
The Makau: Meaning of the Hawaiian Fish Hook Symbol
What the Hawaiian makau (fish hook) really means: its symbolism of strength and safe passage, the legend of Māui's hook Mānaiakalani, what it was carved from, and how it is... Read more...
A puka shell necklace, traditional Hawaiian jewelry
Hawaiian Jewelry Meaning: Symbols, Materials & How to Spot Authentic Pieces
A Native Hawaiian–owned studio explains what Hawaiian jewelry means — the makau fish hook, honu, puka shell, plumeria and koa — and how to tell authentic pieces from souvenirs. Read more...
Handmade double row lauhala hoop earrings with natural shell pearls
Worn Heritage: The Story of Hawaiian Lauhala Jewelry
Long before lauhala was an earring, it was a mat, a hat, a sail. A look at the story behind Hawaiian lauhala jewelry — how the weave moved from everyday... Read more...
A shell and bead necklace, traditional Hawaiian adornment
Adorned by the Islands: The History of Jewelry in Ancient Hawaiian Culture
Long before Western explorers arrived on the Hawaiian Islands, the people of Hawaiʻi were crafting stunning ornaments from shells, bone, ivory, and feathers. Discover the deep history of jewelry in... Read more...

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