Hawaiian quilting dates back about 200 years and many of the families in Hawaii have beautiful heirlooms that have been passed down by great-grandmothers and grandmothers. There has been a  resurgence in its popularity in recent years and it has also become a favorite hobby for the ladies of Japan. The arts and crafts of Hawaii have taken roots in Japan particularly with the introduction of hula over twenty years ago. It is only natural that the Japanese who enjoy making crafts with their hands would take a liking to Hawaiian quilting. The Honolulu Festival will feature the work of  Poakalani, John and Cissy Serrao. They will share their work and their knowledge with Hawaiian quilt lovers here and from abroad. 

The history of Hawaiian quilting dates back to the early 1800s when the first Europeans entered the islands.  The Hawaiians were already skilled in creating clothing and bedding from the bark of the paper mulberry plant. This technique called tapa, pounding of the strips of the bark to form sheets and then dying the sheets with colorful decorations, is the foundation of Hawaiian quilting as we know of it today. Stitchery was first introduced by the Europeans. Then with the opening of trade and the influx of cloth from China, patchwork was introduced to the Hawaiians by the American missionaries. It is theorized that the Hawaiian women invented their own form of quilting by taking into the teachings of patchwork and creating their own appliqué technique. The method of cutting a design from a single piece of fabric and appliqueing it to a contrasting background emerged in the islands sometime in the mid-nineteenth century. The designs were influenced by the natural beauty of our islands, its legends and history.

Hawaiian quilt makers are very proud of their own creations and designs. There is a purpose for each quilt made. The quilts tell stories of events and memories.    Today’s quilt makers are more willing to share their designs, however, still take the time to name their quilts to symbolize ownership and uniqueness. Hawaii is blessed with the beauty of its flowers, plants, and legends, quite often the subjects of the quilt designs. And this has made Hawaiian quilting unique from all other types of quilting. The popularity of Hawaiian quilting will continue to grow because of this.