| Hawaii is a well-known tourist destination that leaves | | | | Today, nature continues to the muse for most artists in |
| everyone who lands on her shores dumbfounded by | | | | Hawaii. Pineapples, palm tress, hibiscus and plumeria |
| the exquisite display of nature in all its glory. Whether | | | | flowers, fish, ships, ukuleles, volcanoes, lush tropical |
| it's the frothing volcanoes, the vast blue ocean, the | | | | fruits and shells find their way on earrings, necklaces, |
| luscious tropical fruits, vibrant flowers or endless | | | | bangles and brooches. |
| beaches - Hawaii is like nature's museum. One natural | | | | Wedding bands designed to represent the natural |
| wonder on display after another and each more | | | | native foliage of the hala tree found in Hawaii have |
| magnificent than its predecessor. | | | | also become extremely popular. They have escalated |
| Using Nature As Inspiration | | | | the simple, traditional Hawaiian wedding bands to |
| It is hardly any wonder that nature has found its way | | | | exotic Hawaiian heirloom jewelry. |
| into various forms of creative expression on the | | | | Shell Jewelry |
| islands including Hawaiian jewelry. From the earliest | | | | Shell jewelry from Hawaii has been around forever. |
| inhabitants in the 4th and 5th century, Hawaiian jewelry | | | | Shell jewelry generally uses no motifs and in fact shells |
| has been a canvas for nature. The earliest baubles | | | | themselves are used as motifs on other materials like |
| were made of shells, seeds, coral, teeth, whale ivory, | | | | gold and silver. Ni'ihau shell jewelry is extremely |
| bone and bark and featured patterns of various sea | | | | famous and sought after. |
| creatures. Sea turtles and fish were extremely popular | | | | The Cultural Influence |
| motifs. Another surprising motif that found popularity | | | | In addition to nature, Hawaii is steeped in a culture |
| was that of the canoe. The motifs reflected the | | | | frothing with customs and traditions. The petroglyphs |
| isolation of the island life and the high value associated | | | | found on the islands reflect this very primitive and |
| with the canoe. In addition, royalty wore a hook shaped | | | | spontaneous culture and also are a source of ideas |
| necklace called the lei niho palao made from whale | | | | for designers. |
| teeth and human hair. | | | | All in all, motifs used in Hawaiian jewelry include various |
| With time, the popularity of motifs depicting nature in all | | | | things around the islands that represent the warmth of |
| her glory continued to grow. In the 20th century the | | | | Hawaii; the warmth that is found not just in its beautiful |
| famous Hawaiian jewelers Ming's and Gump's both | | | | climate but also in the people that reside there. And the |
| sold jewelry depicting island flowers such as hibiscus, | | | | best thing about Hawaiian jewelry is that you no longer |
| orchids, pikake, bird's of paradise and anthuriums. | | | | need to be in Hawaii to select from the latest trendy |
| Guglielmo Cini who designed some of the most popular | | | | designs. Websites feature traditional as well as |
| Gump's jewelry was best known for his tropical floral | | | | contemporary Hawaiian jewelry of the best quality and |
| motifs. | | | | with a 100% guarantee. |