DAVE FRANZEN PHOTO A contemporary lei of momi shells from the Rick and Chuna Niihau Shell Lei Collection. Unfortunately, the shell lei were never a part of serious study by scientists because of their ...

North American freshwater mussels were first recognized for their commercial value in the 1800s by the American button industry. The mussel’s pearly shell was used for buttons while the meaty interior ...

SUSAN SCOTT PHOTO A great green turban snail operculum closes tight on a Tahiti reef. The snail is the great green turban, or Turbo marmoratus, a nocturnal algae-grazer native to the Indian and ...

I’m not sure this is a good idea—taking kids to the cemetery. This whole trip to Hawaii was supposed to be a prize. Over 1,500 children competed by writing essays (“Why would you like to explore this ...