As the warmth of summer gives way to the cool embrace of fall, we welcome our newest Kahulaleʻa print: Nohoanu. Endemic to Hawaiʻi, this native geranium—known as the “cold dweller”—thrives in cooler environments, with silvery leaves and blossoms of white, pink, or magenta. Its jagged, toothy lau (leaves) embody a uniqueness and ruggedness, reminding us of Hawaii’s varied landscape that often reflects the duality of beauty and resilience.
The second print release in our newest collection is inspired by the endemic Hawaiian morning glory plant, Pā‘ū O Hi‘iaka. Translated to the “skirt of Hi‘iaka,” there are multiple mo‘olelo that are connected to this coastal crawling vine. In one legend, it describes how Pele brought her baby sister, Hi‘iaka, with her to the beach to go surfing. As Pele is surfing, Hi‘iaka, who is on the beach, becomes uncomfortable from the hot sun, and the small vine-like plant grows over her to provide shade. In her later life, another legend states that Pele sends Hi‘iaka on an epic journey to search for Pele’s lover, and she is adorned with a magical skirt, Pā‘ū O Hi‘iaka, to help protect and guide her on her journey.
My favorite stories are love stories, but not all love stories have a fairy-tale ending. So is the story of Princess Naupaka and Kaui, a fisherman. Naupaka’s sister, Pele, was jealous of their love and went after them with a vengeance. To escape her wrath, Naupaka took the flower from behind her ear, tore it in half, gave one half to Kaui, and kept the other half for herself. With this, one fled to the mountains and one fled to the sea, forever separated but symbolized as two parts of a whole. Today, you will find these half flowers, Naupaka Kahakai by the sea and Naupaka Kuahiwi in the mountains, longing for the day that they can be reunited.
Through time and space, their story will be told. One thing is for sure, their love is ... Legendary.
Inspired by my grandmother’s cherished quilt pieces, this print honors her Kalo (taro) quilt pattern—hand-stitched with love in her home in Makuʻu, Puna on Hawai’i island. The design element reflects the deep roots of ʻohana, nourishment, and connection to ʻāina.
Hawaiian quilting, born from the fusion of native artistry and 19th-century Western influences, is more than craft—it’s a legacy passed from one generation to the next. This print is a tribute to her hands, her heart, and the stories woven into every stitch.
This print is named for the rain of my home in Puna—Ka Ua Moaniani Lehua O Puna, the rain that carries the scent of the lehua blossom. In Hawai‘i, rains and winds are given names, each one unique to its place, its rhythm, its story. This is the rain I grew up with—gentle and fragrant, wrapping the land -and my memories- in a lehua scented mist.
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