Jewelry in Hawaiʻi

Hawaii jewelry designers work with materials and motifs you will not find elsewhere.

Black coral, Hawaiian heirloom gold jewelry, Niihau shell lei, and designs that draw from Native Hawaiian visual traditions are all part of the jewelry landscape here. The heirloom gold jewelry tradition, introduced by Queen Liliuokalani and developed through Hawaiian artisans in the nineteenth century, remains an active craft form with contemporary makers working alongside established family businesses. Local jewelers range from custom design studios in Honolulu's Chinatown to gallery-style shops in resort areas to working jewelers on neighbor islands who produce smaller collections of locally influenced work. Mass-market souvenir jewelry and genuine handcrafted pieces coexist in the same market, and the price difference reflects real differences in quality, craftsmanship, and origin. If buying Hawaiian heirloom or locally made jewelry matters to you, ask directly about where the piece was made and by whom. The jewelers listed here are Hawaii-based businesses ranging from custom design to curated retail.