Lei maker focused talents on floral craft

Master lei maker Amelia Ana Ka‘opua Bailey died peacefully March 27 at her Manoa home, surrounded by family, according to Mehana Blaich Vaughan, one of her granddaughters.

She was 89.

Bailey, known as "Tutu Auntie Bailey," shared her knowledge of lei-making with many, including people at the "Haku Lei Booth" at Punahou School’s carnival or for the annual "Day at Queen Emma Summer Palace." She taught children from elementary to high school as well as adults.

Born to James Ka‘opua Sr. and Kamila Amina in Kalihi, Bailey graduated from Kamehameha School for Girls in 1941 and the University of Hawaii-Queen’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1945.

She married Robert F. Bailey, a family doctor, in 1946, and stayed home to raise five children.

For 20 years, Bailey was the costume coordinator at Punahou. She crafted haku lei for the school’s carnival’s booth since 1972.

She was an active member of numerous organizations, including Hui Hanai, Queen’s Nursing School Alumni Association, the Garden Glub of Honolulu, Aha Hui Kaahumanu, Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club and the Daughters of Hawaii.

Judging the city’s May Day lei competition festival first inspired Bailey’s passion for the art of lei-making, she has said.

She counted Marie McDonald, Barbara Meheula, Irmalee Pomroy and Marcie Freitas among her mentors during the Hawaiian renaissance of the 1970s.

When her children were young, she would set out a basket and other materials to show them how to wili (twist) flowers and greens with braided raffia. Later, she taught her eight grandchildren how to make lei.

"As a tutu, I feel, because I’ve learned the craft of lei-making, I want my grandchildren to learn it," Bailey told the Star-Bulletin in a Feb. 3, 2010, story.

Bailey is survived by husband James W. Beatty; sons James, Speedy and John; daughter Beryl Blaich; brother Glenn Kaulukukui; sister Marcella Brede; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial celebration will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Punahou School Chapel. In lieu of wreaths, the family asks people to wear lei. Donations may be made to Punahou School’s Dr. Robert F. and Amelia Bailey Endowed Scholarship Fund, 1601 Punahou St., Honolulu, HI 96822.