Every shell pictured here is one I’ve personally found while freediving or beachcombing along Oʻahu’s shores—from cone shells and miters to cowries, pukas and ʻopihi. Each carries the quiet beauty of the islands, shaped by the same waters that shaped me.
Hawaiian shell identification chart
Identifying Hawaiian shells at a glance: open each family for its varieties, or see the jewelry made with it.
Sunrise shells
Fan-shaped, in yellows, oranges and pinks. Found only in Hawaiʻi, usually 80+ feet down.
Every shell is one of a kind
Natural variations in size, color and markings make each shell and piece of sea glass distinct. Availability depends on what the ocean brings in, so a shell that’s common in one size may be hard to find in another.
Ethical shelling
Only empty shells are collected. Any shell with a living creature inside is returned to where it was found. The reef and shoreline are left undisturbed, and shells that don’t become jewelry go back to the beach.
Hawaiian shell questions
What types of shells are found in Hawaiʻi?
The islands are home to hundreds of kinds of shells. The ones used in this jewelry are cone, cowrie, miter, auger, triton, drupe, stromb, ʻopihi and puka shells, plus the rarer sunrise shell, along with sea glass, each pictured in the chart above.
Are sea urchin spines considered shells?
Not quite. The smooth spines used here come from the slate pencil urchin, known in Hawaiian as hāʻukeʻuke ʻulaʻula. Once an urchin’s life has ended, its spines loosen and wash ashore, where the sand and surf soften them over time, in shades from deep plum and brick red to cream, lavender and olive.
What is the rarest shell in Hawaiʻi?
The sunrise shell is among the most treasured. Found only in Hawaiʻi, it usually lives 80 feet down or deeper, beyond the reach of freediving, so each one is a prized find (more in the sunrise shell guide). Certain cowries are exceptionally rare as well.
Can you take shells home from Hawaiʻi’s beaches?
Take only empty shells, and only a few, and leave the sand where it belongs; removing sand from Hawaiʻi’s beaches is not permitted. Within protected marine areas, everything remains as it is found.
How can you tell if a shell is empty?
Lift it gently and look inside the opening; if anything is living within, it remains where it is. Cone shells should always be lifted by the back end, as some living cone snails are venomous (more in the cone shell guide).
Can I choose a specific shell for a custom piece?
Any custom piece can begin with the shell of your choosing: a whole family (such as a cone shell) or a specific type (such as a flea cone). Simply name it in your custom order, or email me for help choosing.
What shells are used in Hawaiian jewelry?
Puka shells are the most familiar, yet cone, cowrie and sunrise shells are equally cherished. Every piece in the shell jewelry collection is set in 14k gold-filled, with select designs and custom orders in sterling silver, made to be worn every day, in and out of the ocean.
