Puka means hole in Hawaiian. The puka shell
comes from a small cone shaped seashell that in the beginning is the home of a
mollusk; a small soft bodied animal with an unsegmented body. Eventually
the mollusk dies leaving the shell to the forces of the sea. After years
of erosion the cone will break apart and the stronger top part will be all that
is left. Because the shell grows in a spiral fashion a hole will form in
the center creating a natural puka bead that can be used to make necklaces,
bracelets and other jewelry. This process is often expedited by the
jewelry maker by drilling a hole in the shell.
Worldly Treasures carries a variety of necklaces and
bracelets made from south pacific puka shells Please take a look at our
catalog and browse through the different categories and you will
find several that incorporate puka shell as part of their materials.
