Mano I’a Chain Maille Bracelet
$395.00 – $699.00
The Mano I’a Chain Maille Bracelet is a shoal of fish and sharks, the essence of the old Hawaiian ocean. Elegant, sleek forms full of movement – woven by hand into sterling silver chain maille.
Mano & I’a (sharks & fish)
MANO – Hawaiians and locals respect sharks in Hawaii. They are aumakua – spirit guides and family members that can provide guidance in times of joy and hardship. More than this, Hawaiians understood the role sharks played in the ocean ecosystem, culling the weak and the dead, and creating stronger fish stock for the next season. Hawaiians taught that everything is connected – sharks, fish, humans. Little was wasted, and while the ocean was there to provide, there was also the time to let it recover during the four months of the Makahiki (read more in our blog post). Mano is a tribute to all sharks, and their importance to the ocean we love.
I’A – Fish played an essential role in daily life of the Hawaiians both spiritually and physically. Living in balance was central to the culture, so fishermen were prized members of a family who not only caught fish, but developed deep knowledge of their shore and reef areas. Seafood was the primary source of protein and fishermen supplied the entire district, or ahupua’a (a system of land division that resembles a pie slice of the island – each area includes fresh water, ocean and mountains) with fish, salt, shellfish and limu (seaweed). I’a is a tribute to the fish and reefs of Hawaii.
