It’s taken us 4 years since we left Kauai. The goal has always been to return to the place our hearts and souls yearn for. We are Wayshowers, people who can demonstrate how to make things happen. Synonymous with Wayshowers is Wayfinder. In 2019, my husband lost both his parents and we did not want to retire in Florida. After experiencing hurricane Irma and a fire that came dangerously close to our home, we knew it was time. Add in the excessive heat and humidity of a Florida summer, blood sucking midges, 800-pound black bears that loved our tropical fruits, and we were ready to return! Once the issue of Eddie’s parents’ estate were finalized, we were so close. Then, COVID happened – shutting down just about all forms of a normal life.
Thinking we might not ever be able to return to Kauai, we bought a home in the Hill County of Texas in November, 2020. That was to be followed by one of the worst ice storm in Texas’ history. It was this event and our spirits still yearning for Kauai, and with the restrictions beginning to ease that returning to Kauai become a reality. Mr.G moved heaven and earth to get us back. We bought a condo at Poipu Sands within walking distance of two great beaches – Shipwreck and Poipu Beach. We we could later self-manage it as a vacation rental, with the intent to utilize it with future quilt retreats. By August 2021 we found a beautiful home in Koloa Estates, minutes away from our condo. We are here to stay. Our last breaths will be taken here. Our way finding days are over in this regards, but now we forge ahead in a new direction with the creation of Wayfinder Fabrics and Gifts.
After much research, analysis, discussion and reviewing three (3!) 113-pages long lease agreements, we hit roadblocks. Our findings are that we will never be able to afford leasing space here on Kauai. This is reserved for the big kahunas. We are able, however, to build an artist studio on our land. But with worldwide supply-chain and worker issues, this will have to wait. In the meantime, our garage has been converted to the studio where I continue to provide quilting services on an appointment only basis. Wayfinder Fabrics and Gifts was born from all our brain-storming. We cannot and will not compete with Kauai’s already established fabrics shops. Our limited fabrics will be sold for the projects we make and sell the remainder online.
Our goal is to make Kauai a quilters destination sharing our efforts with local artists, engaging in retreats and shop-hops. We are even considering, if all parties agree, to fund $10,000 per year for an annual quilt show with judges and awards. This will make Kauai a comparable destination with the likes of Hamilton Missouri , Paducah Kentucky, or even Houston Texas (dream BIG, right?!). And since Kauai and Quilting sound so well together, it is a Wayfinder’s job to make this happen. Think of it, a clean industry around the love of quilting, teaching young wahines the arts involving fabric and carrying on traditions, as well as learning other new technologies.
Our daughter Courtney, has invested much time in her business designing incredible works to augment our offerings. She merged her business, products and design services with our Greenlee Family Enterprises 1 LLC now under the registered trade name “Wayfinder Fabrics and Gifts”, which you will find here in on this site. We acquired two new machines for her that will up the grade of her production including a Glowforge. She designed the following brand Image – The Wayfinder Wahine!
We are back on Kauai for good! Learn how we moved heaven and earth to get here – because we are Wayfinders!
Do you remember “Where’s Waldo”? Well we are going to have some fun with this concept by having our customers search for discounts and free gifts by locating the “Wayfinder Wahine” online, in our condo, or in our studio. We will also be helping local artists sell goods as well. Everything we do must attract digital traffic. Sorry, this is the only way to survive in this digitally driven world. Look hard, you just might win a free quilt, free gift or even a free stay at our condo.
We want to be good citizens of Kauai, by giving back and sharing, and hopefully make Kauai synonymous with quilting.
Are you ready to find your way?
2 thoughts on “Return of the Wayfinders”
One day I’ll be on your doorstep
We will leave the tiki torches lit for you!