Hawaii Vintage Jewelry
If you make a trip to Hawaii, an interesting thing to check out is the Hawaiian heritage jewelry. Black enamel engraving, traditional symbols, and floral inspired textures are some of the characteristics that make this jewelry distinctively Hawaiian.
Hawaiian heritage jewelry is believed to have originated in 1862 when Queen Lili’uokalani, who had a fascination for all things English, had the first gold bracelets made. These were engraved with the words “hoomanau mao” (i.e. “lasting remembrance”). In those days, gold jewelry that had black enamel engravings was very popular in England. The Hawaiian monarchy visiting England brought such English jewelry designs back home with them, and gave them a Hawaiian touch by having Hawaiian traditional sayings engraved into pendants, bracelets, and rings. This type of Hawaiian jewelry is popular even today.
Heritage Jewelry Stores in Hawaii
Though there are several Hawaiian heritage jewelry stores across Hawaii where you can pick up heritage pieces, a good place to feast your eyes on Hawaii’s heritage jewelry is the Phillip Rickard Honolulu in the Royal Hawaiian Center. Here, you’ll find a museum that has exhibits of heirloom jewelry and vintage pieces, as well as a jewelry shop right next to it. You’ll also find out about the history behind the vintage jewelry pieces and about its relevance to the ties between Hawaii and England. Entry into the Museum is free. In the jewelry store you can choose from an array of gold jewelry with traditional engravings in black enamel, and even pearl jewelry. You can even have your name or special wordings of your choice engraved on the jewelry. But you have to remember that good quality jewelry is handcrafted by skilled artisans and costs more.
Hawaiian gold jewelry and the gold-plated silver jewelry usually have some very identifiable traditional symbols that can either be carved into bracelets and rings or hung as a pendant on a chain. Here are a few common symbols that you could choose from.
Plumeria: A simple, five-petalled flower, it is common in many jewelry pieces such as in leis. It is also worn behind the right ear by unmarried women and behind the left ear by married women. Plumeria designs are also incorporated in wedding rings.
Turtles: The Hawaiian name for turtle is honu. The turtle is considered to be a symbol of the Hawaiian Islands themselves as they are found all over the oceans surrounding the islands. In Polynesian cultures, turtles are believed to be symbols of fertility.
Whales: These are popular because Humpback whales are migratory visitors to Hawaiian waters every winter. Often, you might find that instead of an entire whale, just a tail or fluke design has been used for pendants or earrings.
Fish hooks: These represent the way the people of Hawaii have been earning a living since centuries, and are called ahi makau. These are preferred by those who have rugged lifestyles and are more popular with men and also surfers.
Dolphins: Dolphin pendants and rings are very popular pieces of Hawaiian jewelry. They represent a spirit of fun in modern jewelry.
Hawaiian heritage jewelry makes the best gifts and you can keep some for yourself as a souvenir for your vacation in Hawaii.
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