On our last day in Hawaii, we drove our Jeep up to the beach eerily named Gas Chambers on the northern shore of Oahu. For several hours, we sat spellbound by the surfers riding waves over 10 feet high. They displayed mastery and grace on the water, and visually, it was a spectacle I will never forget. In fact, it was one of the most poignant memories of the trip, though for quite a while afterwards, I couldn’t figure out why.

The rest of our adventure was bound up in stunning textiles, from kapa (the traditional cloth of Hawaii) to patriotic flag quilts, which flourished around the time of annexation to the United States, and iconic floral designs recognised the world over. Before traveling to Hawaii, I was very aware that these traditional appliqué quilts were, and continue to be, huge endeavors to undertake. Every design element of the quilt top is neatly turned under with a barely visible stitch made by hand, and then, all the layers are quilted in an echo formation. For context, people tend to talk in years as opposed to months when discussing the process in detail!

We soaked up these truly gorgeous quilts for many days. In terms of color, design, and execution, they did not disappoint. We learned each step of the process from masters, so we could share it in our workshop. We heard moving stories behind the shapes captured in striking silhouettes and how they connected to the landscape and history of the makers’ homeland. But what was the “spirit of Hawaii,” in essence? How could we make sense of the full experience and share it with others? 

Well, rather surprisingly, it was the surfers rather than the quilters who eventually led me to the answer!