HAWAIIAN QUILTING With
Poakalani & Co.
                                               by Cissy Serrao

History of Hawaiian Quilting

In 1820 the Royal wives of two reigning chiefs were invited aboard the brig Thaddeus for what is known today in the history books as the first quilting circle ever held in the Hawaiian Islands. This quilting circle was just the start of an art that would continue for the next 175 years and beyond and this quilting circle would play an integral part in the record keeping of the history of the Hawaiian people.

Quilting in Hawaii back in 1820's was done in the patchwork style. The Hawaiian women tediously cut the material into the patchwork squares and sewed them back together as they were taught by the missionaries. This domestic duty to the Hawaiians was confusing for two reasons. First they could not understand cutting up material only to sew them back together again. They felt it was a waste of time and precious material. The Hawaiians were raised to never waste anything they used and time was precious among all the Hawaiians. The second reason this domestic duty was confusing was because the weather did not get cold enough to warrant the use of quilts in the islands. The Hawaiians being good students watched, learned and listened and then adapted quilting to their own unique style.

The Hawaiian women created and adapted their unique Hawaiian quilt designs from their tapa, the clothing that they used before the foreigners came to the islands. The quilt designs would eventually be created in a 1/4 or 1/8 design. The Hawaiians were able to take a full piece of material fold it into their 1/4 or 1/8 design, cut out their pattern and lay out their quilt. The excess material was then given back to the missionaries for their quilts

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The Hawaiian women would also design their quilts based on their beautiful floral surroundings, their old gods, their legends and their sovereign nation. Their quilt designs encompassed their beautiful flowers such as the Mokihana, the Liko Lehua, the Ulei berries to their travels from Tahiti, to the flag quilts which symbolized their self identity in a rapidly changing world. They named their quilts in memory of their love ones who had passed on to the spiritual world and even their grandchildren who has yet to been born. They also designed their quilts after major events in the islands. Every quilt they made had its purpose. No quilt was made to just pass the time. It was believed that some quilt designs even came to the designer and quilter in their dreams.

Today the legacy of Hawaiian quilting and designing is still popular in Hawaii. New designs are being made everyday. What makes Hawaiian quilting unique are the designs. The technique of quilting is the same almost all over the world but the style and design of the Hawaiian quilts is what makes Hawaiian quilts Hawaiian.