Poakalani's Mission Statement
Poakalani's mission is to perpetuate the cultural history and traditions of Hawaii through Hawaiian quilts by teaching this art to a new generation of quilters. Poakalani combines traditional Hawaiian design principles with modern dreams and visions to create new legacies and heirlooms.
Poakalani & John Serrao has been a leader in the field of teaching Hawaiian quilting since 1972. At a time when Hawaiian quilting was practiced by just a few and patterns were not freely shared, Poakalani made selected patterns available to the general public Poakalani not only teaches quilting, but teaches Hawaiian values and the spiritual side of Hawaiian quilting.
Althea POAKALANI Serrao, was born with only one hand and raised by her grandmother Caroline Correa, a master quilter in her time. From the time she was a little girl Poakalani wanted to learn Hawaiian quilting but was only able to watch the quilters that gathered in her family home because it was thought that she would hurt herself with the needles. It was not until 1972 four years after her grandmother had passed away and Poakalani had a family of her own that she was finally able to look into the larger quilt patterns she inherited that her grandmother designed. Using the knowledge of her childhood Poakalani and her husband John Serrao viewed the quilt patterns and believed it would be easier to learn on a smaller quilt section than on a larger full size quilt. So they decided to create smaller cushion patterns conforming to the traditional and cultural aspects of old Hawaii. In 1972 John Serrao created the first 30 cushion patterns in her collection. Poakalani than began to sew and found to her greatest pleasure that even with only one hand she could do what others did with no discomfort; applique and quilt with the skill of an accomplished quilter. Over the next 35 years Poakalani and John would conduct workshops, seminars, quilt exhibitions not only locally but nationally and internationally. Poakalani became instrumental in helping countless others in trying their hand at quilting at a time when the art appeared to be falling aside. Poakalani expressed her feeling about teaching the art of the Hawiian quilting, stating that the art should be taught to all who were interested whether they were Hawaiian or at least Hawaiian at heart.
John Serrao was raised watching his mother, grandmother and great-grandmother applique, quilt and even design Hawaiian quilts but it was of no significance in his life until 1972 after his wife Poakalani showed and interest in Hawaiian quilting. Inspired by the quilt patterns his wife inherited John designed the first 30 Hawaiian cushion in their collection. While Poakalani quilted and ran their small pattern business John was busy working full time for the Honolulu Police Department. In 1988 John retired and started helping Poakalani full time in her quilting classes, while thei quilting students often used their cushion patterns and the larger inherited commerical patterns they wanted their very own Hawaiian quilt design. One day they asked John to make a a full size quilt pattern and he told them that he only designed the smaller cushion patterns. They encouraged him to pick up a pencil and design his first large full size quilt. The rest you could say is history. John has become and is known today as Hawaii's top quilt designer. He has designed well over 1000 quilt designs. His designs can be seen not only locally but worldwide. He has also become a Hawaiian quilt consultant, historian and cultural artist. John Serrao's designs are not only based on the floral, culture and history of the Hawaiian quilts but also the spiritual essence of the quilter themselves.
99.9% of every quilt design you see on the Poakalani Web Site was designed by John Serrao.
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