Pupu O Ni‘ihau – Jewels of the Pacific exhibit opens

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.