I have learned a lot in the making of a traditional Hawaiian quilt. In the old days, a strand of the quilters hair would be placed in the quilt just before it was finished to include their own personal "Mana" or spirit to bless and to keep the receiver of the quilt safe.

Few years after I had starting making full size quilts an Aunt of mine in California had heard that I was quilting and immediately sent me original patterns from her Mother who had quilted in Hawaii for several years, when growing up I had heard of her Mother and how she made many full size quilts for her entire family but, we never met. Her Mother had passed away and no one else in the family had developed the art of the Hawaiian Quilt.

Upon receiving the pattern I began to observe the style and focus point of the quilt. It was complicated, no directions or measurements and you had to figure out the yardage in order to get the correct material chart for the full size bed quilt. While cutting the pattern for applique, I would vision 2 ladies on the side of me talking to each other, both women were of Chinese decent and 1 was taller than the other.

The Theme of this quilt was the "Ulu" with many leaves and ulu fruit. In Hawaii, the ulu fruit is considered a breadfruit tree, it symbolized bountiful and fruitfulness.

When I asked my aunty if her Mother was taller than most Chinese women and she replied in astonishment "yes" I then told her that for some reason, there are 2 women in my vision as I am cutting out the pattern. In San Antonio, Texas Aunty Ethel a master Hawaiian Quilter indentified the vision as good spirits trying to help me skillfully create an heirloom quilt.

More to come

Day 2

Well Hello there, today is day 2 of my mission to complete the Keiki Quilt for President Obama, My family and I have been discussing that it will probably be impossible for the quilt to reach the President since it has to go thru so many security channels, for what it is worth, I will send the completed quilt registered US Mail and insured since the quilt completed sells for over $1,000.00.
My hope is if he can't receive the quilt that they will at least return it to me. In this quilt there are 12 leaves, the leaves represent the Laua'e ground covering ferns all through the Hawaiian Island.
I worked on the quilt last night for about 1 hour, but, go very distracted that I had to put it down and it was getting too late. Have a good day, write more soon

Well Here goes
Aloha from Texas, my name is Rick Man and I am on a personal adventure to complete a traditional Hawaiian Keiki quilt from scratch which is usually 44 x 54. I began quilting about 10 years ago . I had learned to quilt on my own after returning home to the Islands following several years of absent from Hawaii while raising a family and working a career.
In 2000, my family and I had visited the Big Island of Hawaii and stumbled into a small and quaint shop that displayed this most magnificent handmade Hawaiian Quilt. It represented to me a passage of time, history and a power of the Hawaiian Spirit known in the islands; as the "mana" and the cost for this quilt was a staggering $6,000.00.
I am giving myself about 3 months to complete this Quilt and my mission is to forward the Quilt to President Obama in our appreciation, the people of Hawaii for making the Hawaiian Islands proud of Son who was raised in Hawaii. Follow me as I will give you the true meaning of the Hawaiian quilt and the charm and beauty. All quilts made in Hawaii and by one individual is hand made, there are some imitations from the Philippines which is mass produced and typically it carries a lower class and not the same as ones that are made with love and Aloha by one person.
Keanu Man