Pupu O Ni‘ihau – Jewels of the Pacific exhibit opens
Wednesday, October 05, 2022 12:05 am
1/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Several strands of Ni‘ihau shell lei include some of the rare varieties such as the blue shells, which are naturally colored from the clay in which they are found.
2/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Hi‘ipoi Kanahele, granddaughter of the late tutu Ane Kanahele, speaks with Charlie Baker Tuesday during the opening of the Pupu O Ni‘ihau exhibit at the Kaua‘i Museum on Rice Street in Lihu‘e.
3/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Tita Ka‘aumoana Morton shows off her earrings she created with Ni‘ihau shells Tuesday during the blessing and opening of the Pupu O Ni‘ihau exhibit at the Kaua‘i Museum on Rice Street in Lihu‘e.
4/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Tita Ka‘aumoana Morton talks with Kaua‘i Museum staff, including Uli‘i Castor, standing, about her earring creation using Ni‘ihau shells Tuesday during the blessing and opening of the Pupu O Ni‘ihau exhibit at the Kaua‘i Museum on Rice Street in Lihu‘e.
5/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Kumu Puni Patrick officiates over the simple Hawaiian blessing, holding the ho‘okupu for Rick Luttman and Chuna McIntyre, Tuesday during the blessing and opening of the Pupu O Ni‘ihau exhibit at the Kaua‘i Museum on Rice Street in Lihu‘e.
6/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Chuna McIntyre, a master artist, storyteller and dancer, performs a Yup‘ik dance while performing a song Tuesday during the blessing and opening of the Pupu O Ni‘ihau exhibit at the Kaua‘i Museum on Rice Street in Lihu‘e.
7/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Chuna McIntyre, a master artist, storyteller and dancer, left, enjoys talking story with Ehu, the late mama Ane Kanahele’s daughter, and Lindy Kanahele, Tuesday during the opening of the Pupu O Ni‘ihau exhibit at the Kaua‘i Museum on Rice Street in Lihu‘e.
8/8
Swipe or click to see more
Dennis Fujimoto / The Garden Island
Ni‘ihau shell lei are on display Tuesday at the Pupu O Ni‘ihau exhibit at the Kaua‘i Museum on Rice Street in Lihu‘e.
Dennis Fujimoto The Garden Island
Share this story
Kaua‘i Museum Executive Director Chucky Boy Chock said the Ni‘ihau people do not create Ni‘ihau shell art for publicity.
Kaua‘i Museum Executive Director Chucky Boy Chock said the Ni‘ihau people do not create Ni‘ihau shell art for publicity.
“They do it to practice and pass on the tradition they’ve been doing for hundreds of years,” said Chock as the Kaua‘i Museum hosted a simple Hawaiian blessing and opening of the Pupu O Ni‘ihau – Jewels of the Pacific exhibit in its upstairs exhibition room.
The exhibit features Ni‘ihau shell artwork from the collection of Rick Luttman and Chuna McIntyre, a master artist, storyteller and dancer from Alaska, and centers around the late mama Ane Kanahele and her ‘ohana.
McIntyre, impressed by the blessing and ho‘okupu of Hawaiian salt from the Hanapepe salt pans by Kumu Puni Patrick, broke into story inspired by his grandmother and followed by a traditional Yup‘ik song and dance.
Other Hawaiian dignitaries, including Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao, Kumu Sabra Kauka and Hi‘ipoi Kanahele, added their personal oli to the gathering of mostly descendents of Ane Kanahele and Kaua‘i Museum dignitaries and staff.
The exhibit, with support from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment Program and the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, is open Monday through Friday through Dec. 28.
Due to the availability of the elevator operator for Americans with Disabilities Act access, the exhibit hours are limited to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
w Info: kauaimuseum.org, 808-245-6931
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
