Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
slack key guitarists such as Sonny Chillingworth, they spurred a renaissance in Hawaiian
music that continues to this day. The list of contemporary slack key masters is long and
ever growing, including Keola Beamer, Ledward Kaʻapana, Martin and Cyril Pahinui
and Ozzie Kotani.
Traditional Hawaiian Crafts
In the 1970s, the Hawaiian renaissance sparked interest in artisan crafts. The most be-
loved traditional craft is lei-making, stringing garlands of flowers, leaves, berries, nuts or
shells (for more about lei traditions,
Click here
)
. More lasting souvenirs include wood
carvings, woven baskets and hats, and Hawaiian quilts. All of these crafts have become
so popular with tourists that cheap imitation imports from across the Pacific have flooded
into Hawaii, so shop carefully and buy local.
Woodworking
Ancient Hawaiians were expert woodworkers, carving canoes out of logs and hand-turn-
ing lustrous bowls from a variety of beautifully grained tropical hardwoods, such as koa,
kou and milo.
Ipu
(gourds) were also dried and used as containers and as drums for hula.
Contemporary woodworkers now take native woods to craft traditional bowls, exquisite
furniture, jewelry and free-form sculptures. Hawaiian bowls are not decorated or ornate,
but are shaped to bring out the natural beauty of the wood. The thinner and lighter the
bowl, the finer the artistry and greater the value - and the price.
QUILTING A HAWAIIAN STORY
With vibrant colors and graphic patterns, the appeal of Hawaiian appliqué quilting
is easy to see. But look more closely and you'll discover the story behind the
beauty.
Protestant missionaries introduced quilting to Hawaii in the early 19th century,
but the craft has evolved since then. Traditional quilts typically have a solid color
fabric, which is folded into fourths or eighths, cut into a repeating pattern derived
from nature (remember making snowflakes in school?), and then appliquéd onto
neutral foundation cloth.
If the quilt's center, orpiko(navel), is open, it's said to be a gateway between the
spiritual and physical worlds; a solid core embodies the strength of family. Fruits
and plants have symbolic meaning, too:ʻulu(breadfruit) represents prosperity and
is traditionally the first quilt made, a pineapple signifies hospitality, taro equates to
strength, a mango embodies wishes granted…
