Sunrise Shells

The Sunrise shells are scallops of the Class Bivalvia, (Langford's Pecten). They are an extremely rare and sacred shell, containing every color of the spectrum, but usually occur in yellow, orange, and red. Sunrise shells are by far the most expensive and colorful shell found on the beaches of Hawaii.   According to legend, sunrise shells were once the exclusive property of the Hawaiian royalty, truly a wondrous jewel of the sea.

They get their name Sunrise shells because of their obvious brilliant color, echoing the sky in a magnificent Hawaii sunrise. They are often found at first light on the beach, when they glow under the luminescent clouds. They range in size from a dime to a silver dollar.