Lei niho palaoa

A lei niho palaoa is a Hawaiian neck ornament traditionally worn by aliʻi (chiefs) of both sexes. The 19th century examples are most commonly made of a whale tooth carved into a hook-shape suspended by plaited human hair.

19th century lei niho palaoa in the Honolulu Museum of Art

The symbolism is not known; it may represent a tongue that speaks the law, or may represent a vessel for mana (inherited virtue).^[1] Precontact lei niho palaoa were less than two inches in length, and were not only made of whale ivory, but also of shell, bone, wood, stone, and coral.^[2] Sometimes, several of these smaller pendants were strung on twisted human hair.^[3] The Bishop Museum has a lei niho palaoa with a hair bundle having a circumference of 7.5 inches. It is made from a single eight-ply square braid cord, measuring 1,708 feet, looped back and forth over 1000 times on each side.^[4]