Mauka to Makai: Hawaiian Quilts and the Ecology of the Islands

Mauka to Makai: Hawaiian Quilts and the Ecology of the Islands explores the deep connections between Hawaiian quilting traditions, post-colonial histories, and the urgent climate crisis. Research curator Marenka Thompson-Odlum journeys through Hawai‘i with the Poakalani quilting group, showcasing fifteen newly commissioned quilts for the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

At the heart of this study is the ahupua‘a, an ancient land division system that once sustained Hawai‘i’s delicate environmental balance. Colonization and climate change have placed this system at risk, but Indigenous Hawaiian philosophies of sustainable stewardship continue to offer hope. Featuring quilt stories, a glossary of Hawaiian terms, and interviews with artists, activists, and historians, this book highlights the cultural legacy and ecological wisdom embedded in Hawaiian quilting.