WAIMEA — The winds may have been more brisk than organizers would have wanted, but the quilt-watchers did a great job as spectators browsed through numerous quilts that were strung up at Hofgaard Park in Waimea, as well as in
WAIMEA — The winds may have been more brisk than organizers would have wanted, but the quilt-watchers did a great job as spectators browsed through numerous quilts that were strung up at Hofgaard Park in Waimea, as well as in front of many of the business establishments spread up and down Kaumuali‘i Highway and throughout the town.
Only in its second year, the Waimea Outdoor Quilt Festival attracted people from all parts of the island, as Jim Jung accompanied his wife from the Eastside to see the offerings, as did wooden clock-maker Clayton Boyer of Kapahi whose wife Lisa is a quilt-maker who has appeared on the Home and Garden Television (HGTV) channel (channel 59 on Kaua‘i), as well as authored books on the subject.
Her patterns were on display in the myriad quilt offerings, the unique honu (turtle) design attracting many comments.
Aletha Kaohi said the event was a community affair with the West Kauai Business and Professional Association helping organizer JoAnn Hamamura get the event off for the second time.
Hamamura said it was herself and Carol Abreu who were known as the Kapakahi Quilters who first organized the event after being inspired by a similar event on the Mainland.
On hand for the Sheraton Kauai Resort event opening the Koloa Plantation Days, Hamamura shared the same enthusiasm as she worked with patrons mingling through the maze of brightly colored quilts fluttering in the breeze.
“You should’ve been here earlier,” she commented.
“There were a lot of quilts by the Big Save store, but a lot of them were sold.” Gerry and Colin Webb of England were buyers, Gerry Webb, who is also a quilter, saying the quilt she bought would be returning with them to England.
At last check, they were still working on a way to safely pack the quilt for the trip home.
The more-treasured quilts were displayed at the West Kauai Technology & Visitors Center, where they were protected from the elements.
It was there that Kalani Kaohi was looking over a quilt that was created for him by his grandmother Elaine Blackstad Kaukani, to celebrate Kalani’s birth in 1962.
Working with Kalani’s mom Roberta Kaukani Kaohi, the quilt demonstrated some special aspects, such as scalloped edging, to celebrate the first-born.
Meanwhile, quilt sitters Tasha Okamoto of Tacoma, Wash., and Titi Lia Jack, kept track of all the white gloves that were distributed to quilt aficionados.
Okamoto, who was in town visiting her grandmother, said they also had to keep eyes on the quilts so the wind didn’t pull them off the lines.
“You also have to answer questions from people,” Okamoto explained. “And, you have to tell them the story about the quilts.” Hamamura said that the event doesn’t have any food offerings because they encourage people to patronize the local eateries.
But they did have a gathering of craftspeople as well as vendors who offer quilting supplies and sewing-related crafts and products.
