Pocket Guide to Hawaii’s Seashells

Now Available!

Discover the remarkable diversity of Hawai‘i’s seashells in this richly illustrated field guide featuring more than 675 color photographs. Created for beachcombers, collectors, divers, and naturalists alike, this comprehensive reference makes identifying Hawaiian shells both accessible and enjoyable.

Organized by shell shape for quick visual comparison, the guide groups similar species together and highlights familiar forms first, making identification intuitive in the field or at home. Entries include clear color photographs along with valuable details such as rarity, habitat, depth range, size, distribution, and former scientific names. Scientific names and families were verified using the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) database.

Covering marine mollusks, micromollusks, and sea urchin tests, the book also explores the fascinating natural history of Hawai‘i’s isolated island ecosystem. Approximately twenty percent of Hawai‘i’s known marine mollusk species are endemic—found nowhere else on Earth. Readers will discover how ocean currents, ancient reefs, fossil deposits, and geographic isolation shaped the islands’ unique marine life.

Both an identification guide and a celebration of Hawai‘i’s coastal biodiversity, this book offers an engaging look at the beauty, rarity, and cultural significance of the islands’ seashells.