” Kalāhiki says. Studying songs and stories about kāhuli helped them understand the creatures’ importance to their ancestors—the reason why, for instance, Hawaiians from the island of Niihau traditionally strung together lei consisting of thousands of kāhuli shells...
and they made the island famous through the export of highly prized jewelry made of tiny shells collected on the island’s beaches. Humpbacked little Niihau — known throughout Hawaii as the “forbidden island” — has a very dry climate since most rainfall is intercepted by the towering mounta...