Saori Weaving Center at Lokelani 'Ohana in Maui, Hawaii

Author
Christina Chang
Is the founder and Director of Lokelani 'Ohana in Maui, Hawaii

Lokelani 'Ohana is honored to sponser the 16th Saori Center in the United States on Maui, Hawaii. "SA" of SAORI has the same meaning as the first syllable of the word "SAI" which is foud in Zen vocabulary. It means everything has its own individual dignity. And "ORI" means weaving. Why did the remarkable Dana Allen bring Saori Weaving to Lokelani 'Ohana in 2007? Because Dana, who himself is an artist and weaver, worked with friends with different abilities and has a passion to share free expression. The results are awe inspiring.

This free-style form of weaving, which originated in Japan, is all about exhibiting one's true self through expressive, no-rules weaving. Saori, which means a process to uncover the hidden power of creativity, was founded by Misao Jo, who discovered through a missed warp thread that there is unique human value in a non-machine-like facbric. Saori is based on the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi, or the acceptance of imperfection. Whatever is woven is perfect as it is: broken and repaired warp threads, lumpy selvedges, whatever... These irregularities represent the uniqueness of human-made woven cloth as compared to a "perfectly" woven cloth. Imperfections, on all levels, are to be embraced. Most of all, Saori encourages inclusion of anyone who wishes to weave. Lokelani 'Ohana partnered with Easter seals of six years and   Ka Lima O Maui for 12 years holding classes for the first six years at the Cameron Center and said Agencies day program centers. For the last six years, the classes are being held at the Lokelani 'Ohana Farm. Clients choose the products they want to make and Dana with other volunteers sew their weavings into their dream creation! We have endless gratitude in our hearts for Dana, Mihoku in MA who brought it to the US, and Miaso Jo for bringing the wonderful free style of weaving "Saori" to our lives!             

Our farm grows biodynamic cotton which we gin to stuff pillows and seat belt covers and to weave with.

Daniel Norton, founder of Village Home, a non-profit supportin over 7,000 people, mostly women, to gain independence thru selling their beautiful handmade crafts through 17 stores around the world, invited Lokelani 'Ohana to feature their crafts and arts in his "Village Home" store at Queen Ka'ahumanu in Kahului, Maui. This opportunity has empowered participants to weave and create beautiful products to sell in the store participant said proundly she is famous because her picture and weaving are at the store. We are happy and free to say we are gratefully exhilarated!