Are you ready for summer? You already chose your beach attractions
for those Luau parties? Are you planning a trip to Hawaii? Do you have puka shells?
Well, summer is fast approaching and Puka shell necklaces are all the rage once again. But be careful because not all Puka Shells are the same. Prices vary a lot as do quality and types.
But what are Puka Shells and where do they come from? I find that the best place to find Puka shells is on the white sand beaches of the Philippines. The first time I took a walk on a beautiful white sand tropical beach, I thought I could walk barefoot like on the beaches of Southern California; places like Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, where the sand is soft and smooth. However, the sand in Bohol, the first beach I ventured to in the Philippines, had so many shells in the sand that I had to wear sandals because the shells were so painful to step on. I was amazed that there could be so many shells!
In fact, the Philippines is probably the largest supplier of shells in the world. Large Philippine companies like Jumbo Pacific and Bedido export bullets in bulk around the world. In fact, Cebu City is known as the shell capital of the Philippines. Wow, there’s even a beach in the Philippines called Puka Beach. So it’s no wonder shells are king in the Philippines!
But what types of Puka Shells are there? Well, there are at least three main types. True puka shells that are hollowed out and come from cone shells, irregular cut puka shells called Puka Chips, and smooth round cut puka shells called Heishe.
Technically, authentic puka shells are of the first type. These are the ones that come from cone shells that have been tossed and churned into the surf and sand over time until all that is left is the hollowed-out top. The hole at the top (called a Puka) also wears naturally and is perfect for stringing on a necklace. The color varies from white to light shades of beige and tan. White is very popular and is said to be the most worn by local surfers in Hawaii.
A second type is known as Puka Shell Chips. The most popular color is white, but they are also available in brown, mixed brown, dark brown (almost black), grey, pink and now even pastels and rainbows thanks to the magic of coloring dyes. These chips are made by hammering lager shells into irregular or square shapes and then drilling a hole to string them.
A third type is called Heishe, which are shells that are cut and ground into smooth, round, flat shapes. A hole is then drilled, and the shells are strung and polished at the edges with a leather belt. They come in all colors including white, beige, tan, purple, brown, gray, pink, black, and many other varieties.
The work to create the chips and heishe is all done by hand and is very labor intensive and dangerous for the fingers of the craftsman. This is why the Philippines has an advantage in producing these shells, as labor is very cheap in this third world country.
There you have a brief description of the types of Puka shell necklaces, and now you can better shop for the style and quality you prefer. By being better informed with this information, you can be sure of what you are getting and experience that tropical feel. Have a happy beach party!