I love roses not just for their beautiful blossoms and fragrant scent but for the memory that comes to mind of my mom Poakalani and the Rose Bush story she often told us.

Poakalani was raised by her grandmother Caroline Correa, a master quilter during her time, and she would often tell us many stories of what she called her “hanna buttah” (childhood) days. One story she often told us was that she never learned how to crawl. She went from being carried everywhere by her family to walking because of being born with only one hand. But the one story that my mom often told and will forever live in my memory of when she asked her Grandmother where she came from and her grandmother told her they found her under the Rose bush in the front yard. Many a babies where found under that Rose bush in the front yard.

This pattern was designed by John inspired by that rose bush story. Mom and Dad I miss you and dad Happy heavenly birthday (May 14th).

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Certain colors, scents, flowers and even songs evokes memories of days gone by and for me the plumeria blossoms brings back memories of my hula days and my Grandma Serrao’s home on Kam IV Road.

Grandma’s property was home to an abundance of plumeria trees that was picked daily and taken to her lei shop- Harriet’s Lei stand at the airport to be strung into beautiful leis.

The plumeria lei was also the lei of choice when I danced hula during my High School summer breaks. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning dad would take me to Grandma’s house and I would pick and sew the plumeria flowers into beautiful leis and later in the afternoon danced the hula at the Ala Moana Center Stage. Those were wonderful and amazing days. Today Grandma’s house is no longer there but those memories lives on in my heart every time I see a plumeria lei.

Also, the plumeria was one of John’s favorite flowers he would design into beautiful Hawaiian quilt patterns because in his growing up days he was the one that picked all the plumeria blossoms to be delivered to the lei stand. Today, Harriet’s lei stand is still there but now owned and operated by my cousin Leimomi.

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Sometimes finding the straight path toward your passion is never easy. Be strong and preserver your success is right around the corner. This is what Poakalani always believed. Born with only a right hand she learned to applique and quilt by watching her grandmother quilt during her quilting circles.

Her passion led her to teaching the art of Hawaiian Quilting because she believed if she could quilt with one hand how much more can a person do with two hands.

While Poakalani had difficulty making the larger quilts because of her handicap she always told her quilters I can’t make the larger quilts but I can teach you how and she did. It was by teaching she was able to share her passion to all the students that passed through her classes.

Poakalani Althea Ku Serrao was an amazing quilter, wife and mother. She never let her disability stop her. Like the buds of the Silversword she was a rare one among us and her legacy lives on in the the classes she started now being taught by her daughters Rae and Cissy.

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It’s been two weeks since our last class and Tuffy and I are hoping everyone and their families are home safe and healthy. Yes, we would rather be at quilting classes but until the Covid-19 situation gets better classes are on hiatus. So today we leave you with this memory of our mom Poakalani who started the quilting classes. She was amazing and it was during times like this that her quilting became more meditative and prayerful. Every applique stitch and every quilting stitch became an affirmation or prayer to God for healing and hope.

So when you applique or quilt today today or at anytime… with every stitch you make in your mind send a prayer request to the heavens. Ask God or your spiritual guide to…

Heal the world and its people

Keep us safe and make us strong
Give us hope that this will end soon
Pray for those who are currently ill

Pray for those who are now home with you
Pray for those who are mourning the lost of their loved ones

Pray for our first responders and their families
Pray for our world leaders that they do what is right

….and the list goes one. Again lets be prayerful and meditative while we quilt during this time. Quilting is an amazing tool to center us and gather our thoughts.

Until next time everyone please stay home and be safe and for any reason if you need anything or help please call Tuffy or myself at (808) 524-0394

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It was an beautiful day even the sun decided to shine on us. For just a few hours we forgot about the worlds concerns and just enjoyed each others company and celebrated everyone’s accomplishment for the past year. Many of the quilts didn’t make it to Honolulu because of the cancellation of the Festival but hopefully next year and some of the quilts made it to the show but not the quilters, Ah Well! I’ve posted some of the quilts. The photo’s are not the best but remember it was a show and tell. Thank you to the quilters. All of you are awesome, pat yourself on the back for a your amazing quilts. It would have been one of our best quilt shows. If I missed your quilt it was not intentional. Some photo’s just didn’t come out clear. Love you All. Enjoy

Another Pat Masterpiece. Remember she also does commissioned quilts. so if you’re interested in a quilt made in Hawaii please contact her at mtgvpg@yahoo.com

For the Honolulu Festival. March 7-8. The Monsterra quilted by Toshie. It’s going to be an amazing exhibit.

…but please enjoy a few photo’s from the Yokohama Hawaiian Quilt Exhibit. See everyone back at class on Nov. 23

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Amy started with us only a few months ago with a friend. Her friend stopped coming after only two weeks but that didn’t stop Amy from continuing the class. She’s enjoying her new passion.