In presenting the exhibit “;Hawaiian Flag Quilts: Legacy of Patriotism”; to mark the 50th anniversary of statehood, the Mission Houses Museum walks a fine line. The institution literally exists because of missionaries who mostly supported annexation and statehood, yet it seeks to convey respect and sensitivity to those who sit on the other side of the politically charged issue.

The museum pulls off this feat superbly, shedding light on how quilters of the late 19th century used their craft to protest annexation. The 12 quilts on display include numerous works by supporters of the Hawaiian monarchy, who combined motifs of the Hawaiian flag with crowns and other symbols of the monarchy, something Hawaii's provisional government (in 1893), republic (1894) and territorial government (1900) worked to remove.

“;We're trying to honor the 50th anniversary of statehood through showing examples of patriotism, whether it was to a chief, a king or queen or the United States,”; says Elizabeth Nosek, the museum's senior curator of collections and education.

The exhibit also features ceramics, sheet music and military uniforms that bear emblems of both the monarchy and the United States, bringing together pieces from the collections of the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum and Kauai Museum.

“;This exhibit looks at patriotism through the Hawaiian arts and shows the variety of ways people exhibited patriotism,”; Nosek says.