Shell Money
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Port
Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$79
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 2 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Shell money is far more than just a currency (although, indeed, it is one). This shore excursion is an absolutely fascinating dive into a concept that is lost to the Western world and is your chance to glimpse something entirely different.
One of the most important cultural items across Southeast and East Asia, shell money is both a currency and an item of cultural significance. Shell money is produced by hand by the Malaitan people and elsewhere in the Solomon Islands. It is exactly what it sounds like -- a currency created from seashells, and its value is driven by an age-old legend, which your guide will share with you.
Nowadays, the shells are not just used as money; they’re also used to create traditional jewelry that is sold for Western-style cash money.
Shell money is used for traditional ceremonies and to settle disputes at both local and national levels. It is still a very important part of the culture here. Dowries are paid in shell money, as it remains the key form of traditional currency.
You will learn how shell money is made at a site where local ladies will demonstrate its manufacturing process and explain its cultural significance. Listen to the lullabies that the ancestors sang while making shell money. View the end product and see the traditional attire worn by a bride.