Hima is the Chamorro word for giant clam or Tridacna gigas. Sinahi is the contemporary nomenclature for the crescent shaped Hima pendants worn by Chamorros. Sinahi means crescent moon. Hima shell is a very difficult material to work with, as it is very hard. Also, when carving with power tools, great care needs to be taken, because although hima is a very strong, hard material, it tends to flake when heated and stress cracks do form. But in it's natural, cool state, it has been made into adzes, coconut graters, jewelry and various other tools and implements. Here are some hima carvings I've done recently. Enjoy!
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Made from the giant clam, this is a money bead, with orange spondylus oyster inlay. Approximately 1 1/4" x 1 1/4". Spondylus inlay is about 8mm.
Here's a necklace of mine that includes the hima money bead.
Here's an anklet with a hima sinahi(crescent moon) center pendant.
Here is a "reconditioned" fish hook that I spliced with a hima gaff.
