Kupee Nerite Polita Shells 2 XL Rainbow Patterns Merrie Monarch

Description

A pair of XL patterned Rainbow Kupee shells collected on Kauai. These are a bit over an inch measuring flat. They are tiger patterns that look like camouflage. This particular style was known only to be worn by royalty of the Hawaiian Monarch. Commoners wouldn’t dare. These XL are a bit longer than a quarter, and would make a nice pendant worn on a solid yellow gold or a white gold chain.
Kūpe’e shells are for jewelry such as bracelets and anklets which are worn in Hula competitions due to the clacking noise of the heavy shells
Kūpe’e are eaten, prized for lei, used as an emblem of mourning, used by hālau to hide (pe’e) knowledge or not used by other hālau so knowledge will not be hidden (pe’e) from them.
Kūpe’e live under sand around boulders. At night, it climbs on boulders to feed on limu. Kūpe’e are harvested at night when they are feeding, preferably when there is little or no moon. They can “hear” noise and will fall off rocks to hide if disturbed by loud noises or talking.
My collector had to climb down a cliff to get to these which was particularly difficult for this batch but totally worth it.
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*Shipping materials are from recycled packaging