How Did Kenui Quilts Get Started?
Kenui Quilts began in the early 1990s with the goal of making Hawaiian-style quilts more accessible to customers. In 1995, the company introduced a Hawaiian quilt roadshow at Costco warehouses in Hawaii, showcasing handcrafted quilts produced by skilled artisans in the Philippines. The successful event helped establish Kenui Quilts as a supplier of Hawaiian-style quilts.
We started Kenui Quilts back in the early 90’s because of our background at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Over a period, we noticed the interest in Hawaiian Quilting but realized that quilting for resell was not available in Hawaii. Local quilters would quilt for family only leaving everyone else without the opportunity to own and appreciate Hawaiian quilting for themselves.
In the early 90’s Hawaiian Airline stewardess were introducing Hawaiian quilting to quilters in the Philippines and a small cottage industry was borne. When Costco came to us and asked us if we would create a Hawaiian Quilt “Roadshow” for their Hawaii based warehouses we decided to research and source out those ladies in the Philippines who were quilting in the Hawaiian Style. In 1995 we introduced to the Hawaiian Market the first Costco Roadshow showcasing the Hawaiian Style of Quilting hand made in the Philippines. It was a success and local people from all the islands and mainland appreciated the hand craftsmanship of quilters. This led to retailers contacting us and from that we created our wholesale distribution business surrounding Hawaiian Style of Quilting.
How Did the Costco Roadshow Help Kenui Quilts Grow?
The 1995 Costco Roadshow marked an important milestone in Kenui Quilts’ history.
The event introduced handcrafted Hawaiian-style quilts to customers throughout Hawaii, giving shoppers an opportunity to purchase quilts inspired by traditional Hawaiian designs.
Its success attracted attention from retailers and contributed to the development of the company’s wholesale distribution operations.
Today, this history remains an important part of Kenui Quilts’ identity and its commitment to making Hawaiian-style quilts accessible to a broader audience.
Discover the craftsmanship behind our story by exploring the Kenui Quilts Hawaiian bedspread collection featuring handcrafted designs inspired by Hawaiian quilting traditions.
Hawaiian quilting has evolved into a distinctive art form recognized for its bold appliqué patterns and cultural storytelling. The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian documents Hawaiian quilting as a living tradition that continues to be practiced and passed down across generations.
There were some detractors who questioned if a quilt hand made in the Philippines could be a “Hawaiian Quilt”. I think Nalani Goard a Master Hawaiian Quilter here on Oahu summed it up best, she said “Hawaiian Quilting is a method of quilting not a geographical location. A quilter does not have to be Hawaiian or live in Hawaii to quilt a Hawaiian Quilt, all he or she needs to demonstrate is the manner in which they quilt”.
Kenui Quilts has been offering Quality Hawaiian Quilts for over 28 years. We are proud of being able to bring to the market high quality at reasonable and affordable prices.
For quilters who want to experience the process themselves, explore our Hawaiian quilt kits, featuring traditional island-inspired designs and the materials needed to create your own Hawaiian-style quilt.