Hale Pai
Pacific American-News Journal
Iulai-July 1996 Volume 2 Issue 7
Kapa History
by Kalina Johnson
Last year, after a lecture that I had given for The Guild of
Quilters of Contra Costa County, I met a young woman who offered
me a very special treasure....She told me about how several years
previous, an older woman had donated a box of old Kapa Patterns
to the Guild and that they were quite old and done on newspaper.
I was thrilled! Several months went by and when the box arrived
and I opened it up, I was in total amazement. The box contained a
smaller box inside, tattered with age. When I opened it up, I saw
folded newsprint, brittle and yellowed with age. The headlines
were of The Honolulu Star-Bulletin...dated 1933 and 1934! Kapa
patterns had been scrawled on the backs as well as folded up
inside cut of muslin and butcher paper...seven patterns in all.
Because the paper was so fragile, I hesitated opening the folded
newspapers up, but I saw articles that spoke about President
Roosevelt who would be going to Kona for a deep sea fishing
trip... May West and Clark Gable Movie advertisements...lace up
bra & girdle ad... an apartment in downtown Honolulu for $43
per month... Hitler was just beginning his reign of terror...
Will Rogers articles and so on.
I could Almost feel the presence of the woman who so tenderly
traced and lovingly kept those patterns for all those years. It
was a wonderful gift to me but one I could not keep to
myself...their rightful home was Hawaii, where they could be
preserved and appreciated by all. I contacted The Mission House
Museum in Hawaii, and sent 4 of the Kapa patterns to them, as
well as Kauai Museum, where I sent the other three. They were
delighted, and promised to send back the copies of the Kapa
patterns so that I could share them all with you. Elizabeth Akana
in coordination with the Hawaii Quilt Research Project, in
Hawaii, was in the process of determining the origin of the
patterns if possible and hopefully get to know more of their
history. What a treasure indeed, and again, my heart felt thanks
to the Guild of Quilters of Contra Costa County in Concord for
thoughtfulness in donating them to me... my words cannot express
my feelings. I'll keep you informed as more develops and
hopefully I'll hear from The Mission House and Kauai museum soon.
I get "chicken skin" just thinking about it.
If you would like to receive more information on Hawaiian
Quilting on the Mainland, or to receive The Hawaiian Quilting
Club Newsletter, write to Kalina Johnson, 1341 West Monache Ave,
Porterville, Ca 93257 PH: (209) 784-6147
Send mail to halepai@punawelewele.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1996 Hale Pai Pacific American-News Journal
Last modified: February 28, 1998
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