In Part 1 of Blog 7, I took you with me on a sunrise walk along the shoreline to feel the magic of finding Kahelelani shells (カヘレラニ シェル). Now, let’s take a step further and answer a question many people ask me: Is Niʻihau shelling (ニイハウ シェル) seasonal?

The Ocean’s Rhythm — How It Affects Your Shelling for Hawaiian Seashells (ハワイアン シェル) Used in Niʻihau Shell Jewelry (ニイハウ シェル ジュエリー)

I’m sure many people are curious about this and may have even researched it before. From my experience of shelling on the North Shore of Kauaʻi, I’ve seen how the ocean changes what you find. One day the beach feels almost empty, and the next, after a big swell, it looks as though the sea has sprinkled treasures across the sand.

Kauaʻi and Niʻihau aren’t far from each other — Niʻihau lies just about 17 miles (27 km) southwest across the Kaulakahi Channel — but it feels like a world away in its quiet isolation and natural beauty. From what I’ve seen here on Kauaʻi, and from what my suppliers and friends on Niʻihau have shared, the rhythm is much the same.

During the off season, when the waves are too big, they simply can’t go shelling. Sometimes even the barge can’t make it across to Niʻihau because the ocean is so rough. On those days, no shells are gathered, and I don’t receive new sets either. It’s a reminder that shelling depends not only on the tides, but also on the seasons and the moods of the ocean itself.

✨The Best Months to Find Niʻihau Shells (ニイハウ シェル)✨

The best times are usually during the winter months (October through March), when stronger swells stir up the sand and bring more shells onto the beach. That’s when you’re most likely to find Kahelelani shells (カヘレラニ シェル), creamy Momi (モミ), or the tiny rice-shaped Laiki (ライキ).

But even then, there’s no fixed “season.” Some days you might walk for hours and find very little. Other times, after a strong tide or a storm, treasures suddenly appear as if the ocean sprinkled them just for you. That unpredictability is part of the fun — and part of what makes every shell feel so special.

Why Timing the Tide Matters for Finding Niʻihau Shells (ニイハウ シェル)

To find shells on the shoreline, you really need the waves to help. If there are no waves, you often won’t see much. But if the waves are too big and the tide too high, the ocean will bring shells in and then sweep them right back out again.

That’s why timing the tide is so important. You want the waves to deliver the shells, but then for the tide to stay low long enough so you can carefully pick them up.

And when you do, it’s always one shell at a time. There’s no magic tool to separate the sand for you. It’s just a labor of love — bending down again and again, spotting tiny treasures hiding in the grains, and knowing each one will someday become part of something beautiful.

Patience, Seasons, and Treasures❤️

Shell gathering takes patience. I’ve even heard artisans say it can take up to seven seasons just to gather enough Kahelelani shells (カヘレラニ シェル) of the right size, color, and shape for a single strand. That’s years of waiting and collecting — not just a single day at the beach.

So, to answer the question: yes, you can look for shells anytime. But the ocean shares her offerings on her own timetable — and those rare finds feel all the more precious because of it.

Every Shell Has a Story☕

To end, yes — shelling can be seasonal, but you can always find treasures waiting on the beach. It all depends on what you’re looking for, because every beach is different. You won’t always find every type of shell used in Niʻihau shell jewelry (ニイハウ シェル ジュエリー) or Hawaiian shell jewelry (ハワイアン シェル ジュエリー) at the same spot. Tides shift, waves change, and the ocean moves with every moment of the day.

That’s part of what makes Niʻihau and Hawaiian shell jewelry so unique and beautiful. It doesn’t matter if you’re shelling in Hawaiʻi or anywhere else in the world — the ocean is always changing.

In Hawaiʻi, beyond the Forbidden Island of Niʻihau, the other islands also hold treasures: Kahelelani shells (カヘレラニ シェル), Momi (モミ), Laiki (ライキ), and many other Hawaiian marine shells used to create jewelry. But whether it’s Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, or another island, the hunt always depends on the waves, tides, and the ocean’s conditions.

And truly, it doesn’t matter which beach the shells are from — if you’re a shell lover, you’ll always appreciate these tiny treasures of the sea.

➡️  Up Next… In Blog 8, I’ll be answering one of the questions I get asked the most: “Where do you get your Niʻihau shells (ニイハウ シェル)?” I’ll share my honest story of how I began collecting shells, why Niʻihau is so unique, and how trust and aloha made it possible for me to work with these treasures.