Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, the island’s ultimate wedding destination, debuts Something Borrowed by Four Seasons – an exclusive bridal jewellery collection steeped in elegance, romance and fashion. In partnership with renowned Hawaiian artisan – and Four Seasons Resort Oahu #FSWAYFINDER – Lokahi Orion of Ha’aheo Hawaiian, Something Borrowed offers brides the exclusive opportunity to adorn a precious Ni’ihau shell heirloom lei on their wedding day.
Paying homage to ancient Hawaiian culture, the 12-strand, 127 centimetre (50-inch) heirloom lei mirrors traditional lei that was bestowed upon Hawaiian ali’i, or royalty, on their wedding day and is comprised of white Lāiki Ke’oke’o shells. Ni’ihau shell lei was the first introduction of shell made jewellery, pre-dating centuries before western contact. Both Hawaiian and European monarchs adorned the intricate jewellery, making the designs mainstream fashion.
Equal in value to an exquisite diamond, Ni’ihau shells are the world’s most prized shells, found solely on the private Hawaiian Island of Ni’ihau, which is also the only island in the world where the Hawaiian language is solely spoken. As with the Something Borrowed wedding lei, Ni’ihau shell lei can take years to design and string due to the intricate collection process, with artisans combing Ni’ihau’s shorelines for the miniscule 4-10 millimetre (less than half an inch) sized shells. On average, it can take artisans two to ten years to design and create a Ni’ihau jewelry piece based on the collection period (shells are separated by colour, size and shade to allow for a uniform design) to the precision of stringing the shells.
Lokahi’s exquisite 127 centimetre (50-inch) Ni’ihau Shell Heirloom Wedding lei features an average of 3,000 combined shells and is valued at USD 5,000.
The Something Borrowed program starts at an introductory price of USD 200 and includes the following:
Lei presentation and Hawaiian blessing with artisan Lokahi Orion
Precious Ni’ihau Shell Heirloom Wedding Lei rental, designed and handcrafted by Lokahi Orion, to adorn during the wedding ceremony
Keepsake signature Ni’ihau shell earrings
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Say “I do” to timeless elegance and allow Four Seasons the honour of offering the “something borrowed” on the wedding day.
