The History Of Traditional Hawaiian Jewelry

 

The “Hoomanao Mau” (A Lasting Remembrance) is the original Hawaiian bracelet made for the young Lydia Paki, later to be Queen Lili’uokalani, in 1862. The bracelet accompanied the future Queen her entire life, through her rise from High Chiefess, to becoming the last reigning monarch of Hawai’i. Hoomanao Mau became a symbol of her royalty and responsibilities. Hand crafted by Honolulu based jeweler, Christian Eckart, the bracelet emulated fashionable English Victorian designs and was adorned with meaningful symbols.

For the next 30 years, the gold and enameled jewelry steadily grew in popularity among the Royalty and well to do individuals of the small Island Kingdom.