Hand-carved manaia bone pendant

Big Island, Hawaiʻi

Makau Nui

Hand-carved bone. Polynesian tradition.

Each piece carved by hand, carrying the stories of our ancestors across generations.

Carved from Tradition

Benjamin Muti is a master carver on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, continuing a Polynesian tradition that stretches back generations. Working primarily in cattle bone, each piece is shaped entirely by hand - no machines, no shortcuts.

Every carving carries meaning: genealogy, family crests, connections to the land and sea. This isn't jewelry. It's heritage you can hold.

Read the Full Story →

Nā Hana

The Work

Makau ke Ohana - hand-carved cattle bone fish hook

Makau ke Ohana

Cattle bone - The family hook

Makau O Lokahi - Polynesian carved bone

Makau O Lokahi

Cattle bone - Unity and harmony

Hand-carved bone pendant on braided cord

Custom Carvings

Tell your story in bone

Nāu

A Piece Carved Just for You

Every commission begins with a conversation. Tell me your story - your family, your connection to the islands, what the piece means to you - and I'll carve it into something you can carry with you.

From $200  ·  3 to 4 weeks  ·  Hand-carved start to finish

Start a Commission

Ka Moʻolelo

A Polynesian Tradition

Before the written word, our ancestors carved their stories into bone and wood. Each symbol a chapter, each piece a genealogy. Carving isn't just art - it's how we remember who we are.

The name Makau Nui references the Scorpius constellation and the legend of Maui pulling the Hawaiian islands from the ocean floor with his great fish hook.

Explore the Tradition

Every Piece, Carved by Hand

Ready to talk about a piece? Whether you're looking for something from the collection or want a custom carving, give me a call.

(808) 747-5558

or email makaunui@gmail.com