A shell is a gift from the sea that carries both history and spirit. For me, no treasures hold more meaning than Hawaiian sunrise and moonrise shells. They’ve become the heart of my jewelry line, and symbol the light and the calm that shape both the islands and our inner worlds.
The Story of the Sunrise & Moonrise Shell
The sunrise shell is found only in the waters surrounding Hawai‘i. These radiant shells are often discovered by deep-diving fishermen who find them resting on the ocean floor. They are a true rarity, as they are not easily spotted near shore.
Each shell is completely unique, painted naturally by the sea in shades of gold, coral, pink, and orange. In Hawaiian culture, sunrise shells were once worn by ali‘i (royalty) and are said to symbolize rebirth, vitality, and the blessing of a new beginning.
To me, wearing a sunrise shell feels like carrying a piece of hope and serve as a daily reminder to begin again, no matter what tides you’ve been through.
If the sunrise shell represents warmth and awakening, its softer sister, the moonrise shell, carries the energy of calm and reflection.
Moonrise shells are often found deeper in the ocean, and their colors mirror the evening sky: pale violets, silvers, creams, and cool golds. They glow quietly rather than burn brightly, radiating the kind of light that soothes rather than sparks.
With its unique blend of golden sunrise and dusky moonlit hues, it symbolizes hope, strength, renewal, and protection. They remind us that there is just as much power in stillness as in motion, and that rest and reflection are just as sacred as action and ambition.
Together, sunrise and moonrise shells represent duality, light and shadow, action and peace, and the outward and inward journey.
When I pair them with gemstones like aquamarine, moonstone, or iolite, I’m not just designing jewelry; I’m honoring that balance. Each necklace becomes a wearable story and a reminder that we are both the sunlight and the moonlight, the tide and the shore.
Why I Include Them in My Jewelry
Living and creating by the ocean has taught me to see beauty in the rhythm of nature — in the way the tide never stops moving, in the way each shell is perfectly imperfect. Sunrise and moonrise shells hold that same energy.
I include them in my designs because they’re not just beautiful; they’re alive with meaning. Every shell is naturally one-of-a-kind — no two will ever be the same, just like the people who wear them. They carry the stories of the sea, the patience of time, and the unshakable truth that beauty often comes from deep beneath the surface.
When you wear a piece made with a sunrise or moonrise shell, you’re wearing a fragment of the island’s soul — something found, not made; something gifted, not taken.
My love for these shells goes beyond color or form — it’s about connection. To the ocean. To Hawai‘i. To the unique beauty that exists in all of us.
Whether it’s the radiant warmth of a sunrise shell or the serene glow of a moonrise, each piece I create is a reminder to live with aloha — to let the light, in all its forms, find you.