Quilting has developed in Hawaii in a way that is particularly Hawaiian. Introduced in the 1820’s by missionaries, the women adapted this new craft to reflect the symbols of their past. I saw the relationship of the designs with those that were tattooed on many people in Hawaii, but they apparently hark back to tapa cloth, and the quilts use only a couple of colours and it is the motifs that form the impact.
I managed to pick up a book, ‘The Hawaiian Quilt: the
Tradition Continues’ in Hanapepe, a lovely town on the island of Kauai in ‘
Talk Story’ the ‘western-most bookstore in
the United States’.www.talkstorybookstore.com Who could argue with that!
Imagine reading in Hawaii, sheer luxury! Lazy days, warm weather, long sunny
days, too hot to do anything else.
Of course I couldn’t pick up a quilt, like quilts all over
the world, they’re made for love not money!
Amongst the treasures I picked up in Hawaii, is a little
book on basketweaving. I didn’t find much evidence of traditional work, there
must have been some. However, our friends from the US introduced us to the most
amazing Hawaiian basket weaver, Mika McCann. She is of renown and we were lucky
enough to meet her at the market under the Banyan tree in Lahaina. She’s self
taught and creative and quirky and I should have bought one of her baskets.
A few regrets at the end of the trip. Not buying a Mika
McCann basket, snorkelling at Mohaina reef and doing a proper canyon walk in
Waimea canyon, and, should have had our own snorkelling gear, which would have
taken care of a few other moments missed!
