Tongan Salusalu Lei

There are times when a flower lei might not be the most practical gift. Sending it through the mail to a faraway loved one may not be possible. What do you do then? A silk flower lei can be a great option, or even a crocheted lei can be a prized memento as well.

But if you want to get something a little more authentic and won't perish in the next week, you might consider this. Our Tongan Salusalu Lei is handcrafted right here in Hawaii by local Tongan artisan Mele Tovo. For years she has crafted and demonstrated at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Now retired, she crafts for fun and teaches her grandchildren and neighbors the cultural arts that she mastered.

Mele's creations can be seen daily at many of the Polynesian shows throughout Hawaii. One of her most visible is the Tongan Salusalu Lei. The vibrant lei is made from the wild hibiscus fibers found throughout Polynesia. The lei is handmade looping, tying and weaving the fibers to make the flower petals. It's very lightweight just as its flower counterparts. Available now in traditional Tongan colors (red & white) and in a festive option (red, white, green and orange). Custom colors are also available in quantities.

A great gift for the upcoming holidays including Christmas and Valentines. And don't forget graduations, birthdays and special days. These Polynesian leis will keep the lasting memories of the moment.

Call to Polynesian Artisans

You may or may not know, but we get the majority of our products from artisans. Whether they call themselves that or not is up to them. But we like to consider all our handicrafters as artisans.

That is why we are opening up a new section on our website featuring artisans of Polynesia. We've got some great Tahitian black pearl jewelry artisans and costume designers that have won awards in many competitions and events. Our first two artisans, Pola Teriipaia and Tahia Parker are accomplished award-winning ra'atira and costume designers. You can take peek at their section here. They have more designs and ideas and we can't wait to unveil them in the coming months.

We also obviously realize that there are so many other artisans out there. Many of them don't have websites. This is a great way for those artisans to reach a larger audience without having to create, purchase and maintain their own website. We even take care of shipping, operational issues and accepting credit cards.

So if you are a Polynesian artisan wanting more exposure, more income, and more clients, consider becoming one of our artisans. Our artisans participating in the section decide on the price, details, options, and timing. All we ask for is a commission and a percentage for covering shipping and handling expenses and charges. We'd love to hear from you and we work on an individual basis because each artisan has their own individual needs and circumstances. Email Scott at scott@blackpearldesigns.net

Black Pearl Designs is looking for artisans who create traditional reproductions, original art, fashions, carvings, music and the like of Polynesian products including Tahitian, Hawaiian, Maori, Fijian, Marquesan, Rarotongan, Tongan and Samoan among others.

We have a built in audience who are more likely to know your product designs or are familiar with the Polynesian cultures in general. Our audience is interested in Polynesian culture, dance, tattooing, art, and music. Contact us today.