The design is of the kukui, which provided light to the old Hawaiians. An original design by the artist, this is a reduction of a pattern, generally made in wall hanging size. Kukui is a large tree found throughout Hawai'i. Leaves are covered with a whitish down, and may resemble a maple leaf with a long stem. Flowers are small and whitish, and are strung with the leaves for lei in Molokai, whose color is silvery green.
Kukui nuts are walnut-like, with hard black shells, and are found one or two to a fruit.
Fruits are green turning to brown, fleshy but strong. Nuts are strung into lei and used ornamentally. The oily kernal of the kukui was dried and strung on coconut leaf midribs to be used as candles, and the oil was extracted and burned in stone lamps. Malamalama can be expanded to mean clear, bright, shining, the light of knowledge. This quilt has an effect of light towards its center, as well as the appliqued motif, to suggest light in many ways.