https://holoholobolo.com/journal/ The Holo Holo Bolo Journal: how to wear a bolo tie, wedding and gift ideas, ʻopihi and Hawaiian shells, lapidary and cordage craft, and the maker’s story — from Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. en-us Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Holo Holo Bolo static build https://holoholobolo.com/brand/holo-holo-bolo-emblem.png https://holoholobolo.com/journal/ https://holoholobolo.com/journal/after-a-day-of-collecting https://holoholobolo.com/journal/after-a-day-of-collecting Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -1000 After a day of shelling on Hawaiʻi Island: the bin, sorting by kind into tubs, a seconds-long acid dip, rinse, dry, and put away for future bolo ties. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-necklace https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-necklace Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Yes, a bolo tie works as a necklace. Where to set the slide, which lengths and necklines work, and why a clasp-less shell bolo wears like a pendant. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-long-should-a-bolo-tie-be https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-long-should-a-bolo-tie-be Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Bolo tie cord length explained: the 36 to 42 inch range, where to set the slide, and how men and women wear it. A fit guide from a Kona shell maker. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/wedding-bolo-ties-for-women https://holoholobolo.com/journal/wedding-bolo-ties-for-women Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Yes, a woman can wear a bolo tie to a wedding. How brides, bridesmaids, mothers and guests wear one — styling, lengths, and what to look for before you buy. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/what-to-wear-hawaii-beach-wedding https://holoholobolo.com/journal/what-to-wear-hawaii-beach-wedding Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Hawaii beach wedding attire from a Kona maker: linen over wool, aloha shirts that read dressy, what to leave home, and the accessory that beats the heat. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/confessions-of-a-shelloholic https://holoholobolo.com/journal/confessions-of-a-shelloholic Sat, 15 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -1000 I am addicted to shelling — the treasure hunting, the wildlife, the falls on the lava, the healing, and coming home with pockets full of ocean. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/heirloom-jewelry-shell-bolo https://holoholobolo.com/journal/heirloom-jewelry-shell-bolo Thu, 06 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Heirloom jewelry isn't about the price tag — it's about meaning that lasts. Why a one-of-a-kind Hawaiian shell bolo tie is made to be kept and passed down. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/metal-free-bolo-tie https://holoholobolo.com/journal/metal-free-bolo-tie Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Why we build metal-free, clasp-less bolo ties — matching shell tips instead of hardware, on organic leather cord. Hand-finished on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/anniversary-gift-ideas https://holoholobolo.com/journal/anniversary-gift-ideas Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Anniversary gift ideas for the person who has everything: a one-of-a-kind Hawaiian shell bolo tie, hand-finished on the Big Island. Made to be kept. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-ties-for-the-office https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-ties-for-the-office Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -1000 How to wear a bolo tie to the office — a refined, professional alternative to the necktie. Cord, centerpiece and boardroom styling, by a Hawaiʻi maker. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-to-choose-your-first-bolo-tie https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-to-choose-your-first-bolo-tie Thu, 02 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -1000 How to choose your first bolo tie — the slide, cord, tips, length, and the centerpiece — so you pick one you'll actually reach for, from a Hawaiʻi maker. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/the-looks-of-a-polished-opihi-shell https://holoholobolo.com/journal/the-looks-of-a-polished-opihi-shell Sun, 28 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Every ʻopihi polishes up differently — the horseshoe, the shiny, the eyeball, the pure-nature look. A maker's field notes on the faces of the Hawaiian limpet. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/sustainable-shell-jewelry https://holoholobolo.com/journal/sustainable-shell-jewelry Sun, 28 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 How beach-combed, hand-finished shell jewelry offers an ethical, low-impact alternative to mined and mass-produced pieces — gathered with respect in Hawaiʻi. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/magic-sands-beach-kona https://holoholobolo.com/journal/magic-sands-beach-kona Sun, 28 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 A maker's love letter to Magic Sands (Laʻaloa Bay) in Kailua-Kona — the sand that vanishes with the swell, the shore break, the snorkeling, and the local vibe. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-to-care-for-a-shell-bolo-tie https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-to-care-for-a-shell-bolo-tie Sun, 28 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 How to care for a handmade shell bolo tie — keep the leather cord dry, clean the shell gently, store it well, and let your one-of-a-kind piece last a lifetime. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/history-of-the-bolo-tie https://holoholobolo.com/journal/history-of-the-bolo-tie Sun, 28 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Where did the bolo tie come from? Its Western origins, the Native American silversmiths who made it an art, and how it travels to Hawaiʻi. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/your-ego-is-not-your-amigo https://holoholobolo.com/journal/your-ego-is-not-your-amigo Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 On growth, gratitude, and the beauty hidden inside an ordinary ʻopihi shell — the philosophy behind Holo Holo Bolo's handmade Hawaiian shell bolo ties. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/what-makes-jewelry-one-of-a-kind https://holoholobolo.com/journal/what-makes-jewelry-one-of-a-kind Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 'One of a kind' gets used loosely. Here's what it really means — handmade vs. limited edition vs. truly unrepeatable — and why a one-of-a-kind piece matters. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/opihi-hawaiian-limpet-traditions https://holoholobolo.com/journal/opihi-hawaiian-limpet-traditions Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 ʻOpihi is the Hawaiian limpet — a shellfish gripping wave-washed lava rock, prized as food and so risky to gather it is called the fish of death. Its meaning. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/one-of-a-kind-hawaiian-gifts https://holoholobolo.com/journal/one-of-a-kind-hawaiian-gifts Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 One-of-a-kind Hawaiian gifts for him and her — shell bolo ties for weddings, anniversaries, Father's Day, graduations, and the person who has everything. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/lapidary-101-polishing-shells https://holoholobolo.com/journal/lapidary-101-polishing-shells Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Lapidary is the craft of shaping and polishing stone and shell by abrasion. Five steps: clean, tumble, grind, polish through the grits, wet-drill — from Kona. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-to-wear-a-bolo-tie https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-to-wear-a-bolo-tie Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 How to wear a bolo tie: button a collared shirt to the top, slide the clasp up snug for dressy or lower for casual — no knot needed. Plus the bolo's origin. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-much-does-a-handmade-bolo-tie-cost https://holoholobolo.com/journal/how-much-does-a-handmade-bolo-tie-cost Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 What does a handmade, one-of-a-kind shell bolo tie cost, and why? An honest look at the hours, skill, and unrepeatable shell that go into the price. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/hawaiian-cordage-tradition https://holoholobolo.com/journal/hawaiian-cordage-tradition Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Hawaiian cordage from olonā, hau and coconut sennit held the voyaging canoes together. A look at the tradition — and a maker's first blistered attempt. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/guide-to-hawaiian-shells https://holoholobolo.com/journal/guide-to-hawaiian-shells Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Hawaiian shells and their names: ʻopihi (limpet), cowrie (leho), cone, sunrise shell and puka — how to tell them apart, which to leave alone, which become art. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/from-shell-collecting-to-bolo-ties https://holoholobolo.com/journal/from-shell-collecting-to-bolo-ties Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 How a lifelong love of shells — collecting, beachcombing, and hand-polishing — grew into Holo Holo Bolo's one-of-a-kind wearable art. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/commission-a-custom-bolo https://holoholobolo.com/journal/commission-a-custom-bolo Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Commission a custom, one-of-a-kind bolo tie built around your own shell, keepsake, or idea. Here's what makes a commission special and how we'd work together. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolos-at-the-rodeo https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolos-at-the-rodeo Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Why cowboys and ranchers wear bolo ties: no loose necktie to catch on wire or livestock, and it slides up snug for the grandstand or church. The bolo at work. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-ties-for-women https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-ties-for-women Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Can women wear bolo ties? Yes — as a statement necklace, high like a choker or long over a dress. How to style one, with one-of-a-kind Hawaiian shell pieces. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-ties-for-men https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-ties-for-men Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 How the modern man wears a bolo tie — the right shirt, the setting, the slide, and keeping it confident, not costumey. A practical men's guide. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-wedding-groomsmen-gift https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-wedding-groomsmen-gift Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Bolo ties make groomsmen and bridesmaid gifts people actually wear — unisex, one of a kind, tied to the day. How a matched wedding set works; milestone gifts. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-vs-necktie https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-vs-necktie Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Bolo tie vs. necktie — a friendly comparison of comfort, character, versatility, and when each one wins. Why the bolo is the better choice for most occasions. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-beach-destination-wedding https://holoholobolo.com/journal/bolo-tie-beach-destination-wedding Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Why a shell bolo tie beats a necktie at a beach or destination wedding: no knot, no heat, photographs beautifully, becomes a keepsake. Groom, groomsmen, party. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/beachcombing-the-big-island https://holoholobolo.com/journal/beachcombing-the-big-island Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 A maker's love letter to beachcombing on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi — the meditative hunt for shells, plus how to comb the shore responsibly and legally. https://holoholobolo.com/journal/are-bolo-ties-in-style https://holoholobolo.com/journal/are-bolo-ties-in-style Sat, 20 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -1000 Are bolo ties in style? In 2026, absolutely — from luxury runways to red carpets to main street. Here's why the bolo is back and why it's here to stay.