Most people on the mainland are familiar with the characteristic flowers, leaves, and vines that adorn Hawaiian fabric, but it wasn’t always that way. In fact, the first settlers of Hawaii used to make their own cloth out of mulberry tree bark. They would pound the bark into a malleable pulp similar to thick paper, which went by the name of kapa.

When American missionaries visited the Hawaiian natives, they learned about modern fabrics and sewing. Then, they developed the decorative styles that they are known for today. These textile methods were soon applied to traditional quilting patterns. Quilting has been a cultural tradition for the Hawaiian people for almost two hundred years. During this time, they have developed a very unique style of quilting. Today, both Hawaiian women and men take pleasure in creating traditional, contemporary, and uniquely abstract quilts.

History of Hawaiian Quilts

Hawaiian women learned how to quilt from the New England missionaries in the early nineteenth century. Before quilting, Hawaiians originally covered their beds with kapa moe, which is made by beating the bark of the mulberry tree, felting it, and then strategically dying the blanket to produce a traditional pattern. After the Hawaiians were taught the modern quilting techniques by the missionaries, they fused their traditional patterns with the newly learned quilting style and Western fabrics. This produced wholly unique blankets reflecting their unique island culture blended with western methods.

Hawaiian Quilting Techniques

Most Hawaiian quilting techniques are based on applique, meaning that patterns are cut from scraps of colorful or patterned cloth and then sewn onto the main fabric. One of the prominent techniques used in Hawaiian quilting is the “snowflake” technique. This requires a square piece of fabric to be folded over a number of times with strategic cuts being made at the creases. This results in a perfectly symmetrical shape. This technique was taught to the Hawaiian women by the American missionaries and became a favorite technique among the people. They also use a technique called “echo,” which is simply the practice of mimicking the main pattern throughout the entirety of the quilt, similar to the rippling effect that occurs when a leaf lands on water. Hawaiian quilting techniques also involve the use of motifs, or repeating patterns throughout the quilt.

Popular Hawaiian Quilt Designs

The Hawaiian culture is centered around nature, which is why many Hawaiian quiltmakers draw their design inspirations from the natural world. Floral patterns and leaves, branches, and other natural elements are often incorporated into Hawaiian quilts. They also might design a quilt to reflect some of their own life experiences or family history. It is tradition for a Hawaiian quilt to be named after its inspiration.

Famous Hawaiian Quilts

Although one of the main characteristics of a Hawaiian quilt is its distinctive design, there are a few Hawaiian designs that have become somewhat famous over the years. One such design is called the Flag Quilt, or sometimes the My Beloved Flag quilt. This design incorporates the Hawaiian flag and symbols of Hawaiian royalty as a portrayal of loyalty and honor to the Hawaiian kingdom.

Queen Liliuokalani’s Quilt is a very famous Hawaiian quilt and is considered to be a priceless historical Hawaiian artifact. Queen Liliuokalani created this quilt herself and utilized a technique called the “crazy quilting” style. She made this quilt during the collapse of the Hawaiian monarchy, while she was imprisoned in her own fortress.

Author Bio: Royal Tiki has a wide range of Tiki, hand-carved on Hawaii. Also check for current specials on Tiki bar decor

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