The club coordinator researched plants with natural beauty and spiritual significance and settled on the ulu, or breadfruit tree. As the symbol for “life” and “wisdom,” its fruit and leaves have been an inspiration for chiefs and quilters for centuries.

After investigating, praying, and stumbling upon two priests with their own version of breadfruit design stoles, the group took pictures and leaf and fruit samples from trees in Aiea, Kaneohe, Makakilo and Ewa Beach to inspire their own design.

The unique project was accomplished through the pooled resources and creativity of four men and several women.

Kathleen Coughlin was our motivator. Her husband Deacon John Coughlin was our human model. Marge Wilkerson constructed the long front and back stole patterns. Eddie Campos shrunk the patterns on his home computer to fit the stole area. Genara Campos did the tracing, cut outs, appliqué and hand quilting. Jan Merryman brought her poi pounder and young green ti leaves to teach how to pound color from the leaves into the background fabrics.

For two hours, quilters Flo DelaCruz, Flora Domingo, Gloria Cachola, Nena Chang, Rose Monis, Pi‘ilani Chee, Rita Palahang and Hi‘ile Johnson took turns pounding the color into the fabrics.

Flo added a special final touch by donating a golden chain from her personal collection to bind the stole at the hip.

The parish priests helped, too. Father Joseph Diaz blessed the green colors in the background fabric and he and Father Cletus Mooya ate lunch with the group during breaks. Their prayers, support, encouragement and praise for the seniors at work helped complete this very special project.