Lei niho palaoa facts for kids

19th century lei niho palaoa in the Honolulu Museum of Art

A lei niho palaoa is a special Hawaiian necklace. It was traditionally worn by aliʻi, who were Hawaiian chiefs and important people. Both men and women of high rank wore these beautiful ornaments.

Most lei niho palaoa from the 1800s were made from a whale tooth. This tooth was carefully carved into a hook shape. It hung from a long braid of human hair.

What Does a Lei Niho Palaoa Mean?

The exact meaning of the lei niho palaoa is not fully known today. Some people believe it might represent a tongue that speaks the law. Others think it could hold mana, which is a special inherited power or spiritual force.

How Were They Made?

Before Europeans arrived in Hawaii, lei niho palaoa were usually smaller. They were less than two inches long. These older necklaces were not only made from whale ivory. They were also crafted from other materials like:

• Shells
• Animal bone
• Wood
• Stone
• Coral

Sometimes, several of these smaller pendants were strung together. They were often put on twisted human hair cords.

An Amazing Example

The Bishop Museum in Hawaii has a very impressive lei niho palaoa. The part made of human hair is incredibly thick. It measures 7.5 inches around! This hair bundle is made from a single, eight-ply square braid. This braid is an amazing 1,708 feet long. It was looped back and forth over 1,000 times on each side to create the thick neckpiece. This shows the incredible skill of the Hawaiian craftspeople.