Choosing the Right Unique Gift for Everyone on Your List

Nothing says unique like a gift from the islands. Besides, can you think of anyone who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a gift from the Hawaiian Islands? Finding the perfect present awaits you here at Whaler’s Locker. From our gorgeous collection of scrimshaw knives and hook necklaces to our stunning selection of Baltic Amber jewelry, we're here to help you fulfill your gift list with all the treasures Hawaii has to offer. Not only will you find many unique selections for your loved ones, but you will also be giving a gift with a fascinating story full of rich history from our islands.

When you walk through our doors, you’ll be welcomed with the marvels and natural history of Hawaii. Choosing the right gift for friends and family in your life can be difficult. Choosing unique gifts from Whaler’s Locker is only challenging because you won’t want to part with the items you pick! But not to worry — we’ll make sure you leave with plenty of collectibles for yourself and still check each person off of your gift list.

The Right Hawaiian Gift 

So, how do you find just the right gift for each person on your list? With varying personalities, tastes, and styles, it can often be a daunting task. While you know them best, we’d love to help guide you through your shopping experience and fill you with the knowledge behind each piece. Now, I bet you won’t find that opportunity at a department store!

We are proud to offer unique creations, such as our scrimshaw knives, many of which are from local Maui artists. As part of our family, we’re honored to display their creative work, intricate designs, and relay the stories behind their masterpieces. It’s all part of the Hawaiian way, and we want to pass them on to you. If you can’t visit us in person, our online store is the next best thing. We’ve put together a few of our favorite finds that will have your friends and family boasting about your gifts for years to come.

Scrimshaw Appeal

Many of our visitors are immediately drawn to the collection of scrimshaw items we carry. With such intriguing designs, fantastic history, and plenty of rare items to choose from, you’ll fill your gift needs in no time at all.

The Craft of Scrimshaw

Scrimshaw typically refers to the beautiful artwork done by whalers, originating in the eighteenth century. It’s the art of scribing beautiful designs and is hailed as one of the oldest known American folk arts. As history tells it, sailors began the technique to pass the time while confined to New England whaling vessels on long voyages. Their craft involved engravings, scrollwork, and carvings that were done in ivory or bone and usually engraved on byproducts of whales. Many of these engravings were elaborate forms of lettering and pictures on the surfaces of teeth. The sailors would be given a portion of whales’ teeth from each catch. They often used them to work on gifts for their loved ones. While some became quite skilled at the art — scribing detailed scenes from their days at sea — others created combs, clothespins, toys, and trinket boxes.

As you browse through our collection of scrimshaw knives and other pieces, you may be a bit tempted to take them all! For the men on your list, consider one of our many stunning money clips. Our Scrimshaw Style Round Money Clips come in four fascinating scenes, designed by artist Linda Layden. Choose from the following one and three-fourths inch wide designs:

Schrimshaw Style Round Money Clip Designs

• Ship with Humpback Whale
• Hula Girl
• Hawaiian Islands
• Turtle

If you prefer a traditional rectangular clip, our Scrimshaw Style Wide Money Clip is offered in six wonderfully detailed designs. Each money clip measures two inches by one inch with images including:

Schrimshaw Style Wide Money Clip Designs

• Ship with Humpback Whale
• Hang Loose
• Turtle
• Ship with Palms
• Hawaiian Islands
• Shark

The Scrimshaw Style Slim Money Clips are another traditional rectangular clip option, measuring two inches by three fourths an inch, for those men who prefer a slimmed-down version. Choose from:

Schrimshaw Style Slim Money Clip Designs

• Ship with Humpback Whale
• Hula Girl
• Turtle
• Hang Loose
• Ship with Palms
• Hawaiian Islands

For that special someone on your list who seems to have it all, our Scrimshaw Style Compass Paperweight may appeal to you. Another intriguing piece by Linda, this unique compass paperweight comes in three different scene choices. Measuring three inches in diameter, you can choose from:

Schrimshaw Style Compass Paperweight Designs

• Lighthouses
• Tall ships
• Hawaii Artwork: A Whaler’s Locker exclusive

Scrimshaw Knives for All to Swoon Over

Now let’s talk scrimshaw knives. Many of our customers can’t seem to get enough of the gorgeous detail found on each of our scrimshaw knives. With multiple design choices and knife styles, it’s no wonder so many are fans.

Feast your eyes on our Scrimshaw Trapper Knife. You’ll find yourself admiring the smooth bone handle of the expert hand scrimshawed knives by local Maui artist Derek Fine. When closed, these beautiful scrimshaw knives measure four inches while the stainless blades measure three inches. With nickel silver accent bolsters, it’s a gift anyone would cherish. Choose from four designed scrimshaw knives with “Maui” scrimshawed on the one side and artwork featured on the other. The trapper style scrimshaw knives are made by Whitetail Cutlery and feature your choice of:

• Marlin
• Ship with Humpback Whale
• Turtle
• Tuna

Another favorite of our scrimshaw knives fans is the Scrimshaw Fixed Blade Damascus Knife with Sheath. These scrimshaw knives make excellent gifts for collectors and enthusiasts. The custom scrimshaw by local Maui artist Doug Fine is featured on the perfectly smoothed bone handle. This stunning knife features a Damascus blade and comes with a brown leather sheath. The Damascus steel blade is four and a half inches in length with a fixed blade knife body and a total nine-inch length.

Would any Hawaiian shopping trip be complete without a gecko of some sort? One of our scrimshaw knives is artistically designed with the much-loved gecko on one side, and “Maui” scrimshawed on the other. The elegant smooth bone handle is hand scrimshawed by local Maui artist Derek Fine. When closed, the scrimshawed knives measure three inches, with a stainless clip point blade measuring two inches. Nickel silver bolsters and a single locking blade make the Scrimshaw Lockback Pocket Knife a must-have for any occasion.

Hook Necklaces from Hawaii, With Love

Are you looking for gifts for the jewelry lovers on your gift list? Or an incredible gift that makes a statement whether worn by men, women, or young ones? You will never go wrong with a beautifully hand-carved Hawaiian fish hook necklace by local Maui artist, Ray Peters. Each of Ray’s eye-catching hook necklace pieces carries a long history. His classic designs are based on traditional Hawaiian fishhooks. A brilliant and accomplished scrimshaw artist, Ray’s treasures have been a part of Whaler’s Locker for more than thirty years.

5 of Our Favorite Maui Fish Hook Necklaces

• Axis Deer Antler
• Buffalo Horn
• Maple Burl with Resin
• Scrimshaw Deer Antler
• Wooden

Axis Deer Antler Maui Fish Hook Necklace

His Maui Fish Hook Necklace-Maui Axis Deer Antler is skillfully hand-carved from Maui axis deer antler and measures two and one-quarter inches in height. This magnificent piece is then hand-wrapped with a light brown handmade flemish twist dacron cord. 

The story: Brought to the islands in 1860, axis deer were native to India. Hong Kong gifted nine of them to King Kamehameha V, which he released on the island of Molokai. Between 1959 and 1960, nine deer were brought here to Maui, establishing a hunting population. 

Buffalo Horn Maui Fish Hook Necklace

The Maui Fish Hook Necklace - Water Buffalo Horn is a stunning hand-carved hook measuring two inches in height and made out of water buffalo horn. This piece is displayed on a hand-wrapped brown and gold handmade flemish twist dacron cord.

The story: Water buffalo are the most common domesticated animal in the world. They were used in both agriculture and as a food source. At least 130 million domestic water buffalo exist, while more people depend on them than any other domestic animal.

Maple Burl With Resin Maui Fish Hook Necklace

Is there a fish hook somewhere on your gift list? Chances are, they’ll fall in love with our Maple Burl with Resin Maui Fish Hook Necklace. Besides, how many people can say they’re wearing a hook necklace hand-carved by local Maui artist David Haake? It’s a piece they will proudly add to their collection. Measuring one and three quarters inches in height, this vibrant piece features a whale tail expertly carved into the top. The fully adjustable cord is made of leather and complete with sterling silver sliders.  

Scrimshaw Deer Antler Maui Fish Hook Necklace

Another remarkable piece by artist David Haake is the Deer Antler Maui Fish Hook Necklace. Always a conversation starter in our shop, our visitors can’t help but stop to admire this unique hand carved hook necklace. The three and a quarter inch treasure comes on a dark, adjustable, double knotted cotton cord.

Wooden Maui Fish Hook Necklaces

You’ll find many beautiful wood options to choose from while browsing our hook necklace selection. The Koa Wood Maui Fish Hook is expertly handcrafted by David Haake. The rich wood pairs perfectly with the adjustable leather cord, accented by the sterling silver sliders. If a lighter finish catches your eye, you will adore the Mango Wood Maui Fish Hook necklace. 

Butterfly Wings: Gifts as Unique as Your Loved One

While we have many items you're sure to admire; our butterfly jewelry collection is unlike any other gift you can give. Created using natural wings make each butterfly piece an original, so you’ll notice beautiful variations in color and pattern. Two butterfly species here on the islands are the Kamehameha and the Udara Blackburn.

Each pair of earrings is breathtaking and unique. Our Drop Butterfly Wing Earrings are offered in four colors. One wouldn’t expect a gift to get much more unique than this! These divine drop style earrings are each made of real butterfly wings and set in a high-quality acrylic and sterling silver. Keep in mind; they may also differ slightly from those seen in images if you are shopping with us online. This particular earring style comes in four hard to choose from wing colors:

Butterfly wing colors

• Pearl
• Blue
• Blue Flash
• Black and Blue

Each of the earring pairs measures approximately 35mm x 15mm and is designed to be rather durable if kept from moisture. 

And we certainly can’t offer one of a kind butterfly earrings without also providing an incredible selection of butterfly pendants. In an array of sizes, we’ll walk you through our impressive variety of pendant options. Various color and pattern options include the boldly multicolored Sunset Medium Butterfly Wing Pendant. With a total of nine color and pattern options and two sterling silver outlined shapes, your toughest choice may be who on your list will get what color! Pendants vary in size, while our medium selection tends to measure approximately 22mm x 32mm.

Each butterfly pendant can be paired with one of our Baby Wheat Style Silver Chains. Choose from our three lengths; sixteen, eighteen, and twenty inches. Securely fastened by a lobster claw styled clasp, your butterfly pendant will be safely displayed in stunning fashion.

Baltic Amber in Every Fashion 

Yet another lovely choice for a rare gift is any one of our precious Baltic Amber pieces. From our hand-carved Modern Baltic Amber Pendant to our Milky Amber Adjustable Ring, we know from experience you’ll have a tough time peeling your eyes away from this collection. But these aren't just pretty pieces. Just like every other find in our store, these ambers have a story to tell.

The story: Baltic amber dates back 44 million years, from the Eocene epoch. An organic material, it’s made from the resin of pine trees that grew in what we now know as northern Europe. Some believe that wearing Baltic amber brings soothing, healing, and even anti-inflammatory properties. 

For all your gift-giving needs, Whaler's Locker provides exceptional quality, precious finds, and unmatched customer service. When a rare gift is what you’re searching for, let us be the shop you turn to. Your loved ones will always remember the rich history and wonderful stories behind their gifts from Hawaii. Stop by to see our precious selections in person or visit our online store today for all your gifting needs.