They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Some are suspended from the ceiling by leather straps. Others sit proudly on shelves or in custom holders. They are monk seals, oysters, whales, turtles, weeping tikis, moons, orchids and Hawaiian fisherman - and they're all made of wax. His beeswax
is sculpting candlesThese sculptured wax candles have been delighting locals and tourists alike for the last 30 years, ever since Scott Bechtol helped a beekeeper with his harvest and decided to experiment with the wax he collected.
"Bees wax candles don't smoke or drip all over the place," Bechtol said. "They just burn down and disappear. It's the most efficient candle, and it smells like honey."
Bechtol's speciality candles are designed to hold small candles in their centers that can be replaced every time it burns low.
His newest project is making tapers out of kukui nut wax.
"Kukui nut candles are the original Hawaiian candles," Bechtol said. "So I've taken the kukui nut oil and turned it into a wax."
Bechtol's sculptured candles are sold at the Punaluu Gallery, 53-352 Kam Hwy. (237-8221), and the 'Iwa Gallery, 66-119 Kam Highway, 637-4865. Prices range from $2 to $1,500.
Malia Rulon, Star-Bulletin