Kauwā ke aloha i na lehua o Kāʻana
Love is a slave to the lehua blossoms of Kāʻana.
Kāʻana is a place between Keaʻau and ʻOlaʻa is where travelers used to rest and make lei of lehua. It took many blossoms and much patience to complete a lei. The lei was later given to a loved one.
ʻOlelo Noʻeau 1638
In Hawaii we wear na lei. Lei is made with aloha and always given with aloha. Some lei are simply strung from fragrant blossoms while others are beautifully fashioned using native plants, and some are even made from feathers. Na lei is entwined into our local culture and in Hawaiian quilting we sometimes add a lei into our Hawaiian quilt design. It also symbolizes love, hope, friendship and joy.
After choosing the Ulu design for our quilt it was also decided to add a free floating lei or what many quilters call borders. We wanted the lei to reflect the main islands of Hawaii and their designated flowers and colors. The problem we encountered was that this Ulu design we chose did not have a lei so we needed to break out our art pencils and begin the task of designing a lei for the quilt.
The lei designs are represented by Hawaii Island – Lehua Blossom and the color Red. Maui – Lokelani Rose Blossom and the color pink, Molokaʻi – the Kukui blossom and the color Green, Lanaʻi – the Kaunaoa and the color orange, Kahoolawe – the hinahina and the color gray, Oahu – the ilima and the color yellow, Kauaʻi – the Mokihana and the color purple, Niʻihau – the Pupu shell and the color white.
Mahalo to all the quilters for designing the lei pattern. Honolulu Jenn, Pat, Rae, Cissy, Carla, Kaelene and Takako.