Hale Pai
Pacific American-News Journal
`Okakopa - October 1996 Volume 2 Issue 10
A Gift Of Aloha From Shelton, Washington
To Wai`anae, Hawai`i
It is a long way from Shelton, Washington to Wai`anae, Hawaii
but a gift of aloha traveled the thousands of miles between these
two towns. Eleanore Lasley of Shelton donated a beautiful blue
Hawaiian quilt to the Wai`anae Public Library in 1990. This true
act of aloha has a long story behind it. Let us start at the
beginning.
During the late 1960's, Wai`anae Public Library started a
Hawaiian quilt pattern collection in order to preserve and
perpetuate this cherished art. Community members donated their
patterns and the collection increased to several hundred
patterns. These patterns can be traced free of charge in the
library. Quilters from all over the world come to Wai`anae Public
Library to see and trace the patterns.
Eleanore Lasley, a frequent visitor to Hawaii, first got
hooked on Hawaiian quilting when she purchased a pillow pattern
kit during one of her initial visits. She learned about the
extensive quilt pattern collection at the library. In 1989, she
came to the library in order to trace some patterns. While she
was tracing, four young local boys approached her and asked
questions about what she was doing. The boys were so earnest and
pleasant that Eleanore allow them to trace some patterns for her.
One of the patterns, the boys traced was “Huil wai o
Makana” (Wheels of love). Eleanore decide to make the quilt
and donate to the library as a thank you to the boys and the
community. It took Eleanore only six months to complete the
quilt. She juggled working at the lumber company, quilting, and
running her household. Husband Dan was a great help during this
period. In 1990, during a return trip to Hawaii, Eleanore and Dan
donated the lovely two-toned quilt to the library. A year later
in December or 1991, the Lasleys were the guests of honor during
the library's 25th anniversary celebration and the quilt was
officially dedicated. If you are in Wai`anae, do stop by the
library and you will see this wonderful gift of aloha in
the foyer.
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Last modified: February 28, 1998
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