Kauaʻi artisan has fun with feathers

Diane Mitsuyasu-Masumura aims to see her creative projects through from start to finish, not compromising quality and keeping production at her own pace.

For more than 36 years, the Kauaʻi-based owner of Weslyn’s Creative Feather, named after her only son, has sold hand-sewn feather lei, or lei hulu, jewelry, gifts and more.

This August will mark her 31st year at the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival. She is among few vendors that have returned every year since its inception.

“I started with a tiny table in the corner of my girlfriend’s booth. She told me to bring feathers for earrings, so I did,” Mitsuyasu-Masumura recalled. “From that time on, I did craft fairs and got to the point where I could eventually cut back. If you can do Made in Hawaiʻi, you have to have a lot of stock, but it will take you to places and give you exposure. Made in Hawaiʻi Festival is the platform to do it.”

Since January, she has been preparing for the summer festival and will be filling orders through November. “Tying and curling 1,000 feathers for one lei can take up to three days to do. I usually work 10-hour days.” Other custom lei can take up to a few weeks to complete, she said. “It’s messy and it’s a lot of work. Plus, you canʻt put the fan on when working with feathers.”

This year, she plans to showcase some exclusive items.

Her process starts with pheasant hunting, plucking, washing, drying and individually cutting the feathers before sewing them one-by-one onto the band with different colors, styles and designs. Pheasant, goose and peacock feathers are her favorite to use.

When asked what inspires her creativity, Mitsuyasu-Masumura said her research of Hawaiian history, native plants and flowers. She’s also passionate about hunting, archery, dancing hula and lauhala weaving.

“Sometimes I can just be lying in bed coming up with feather patterns. My house has scratch papers everywhere. Last year, I played around with Maui lokelani style and pīkake lei and thought, wouldn’t it be nice if I made a puakenikeni one. Flowers inspire me quite a bit.”

She also uses an iPad to draw and color match, which she says is especially helpful when working with customers on their orders.

One project in the back of her mind is “to make a really nice feather cape, I just donʻt have the time right now."

“I keep it small so I can enjoy it. I do it all by myself, with my husband who helps cut for for me. So if I spread too thin, I probably would be disappointed in the work I produce. I don’t want it to be like a big manufacturing thing.”

Mitsuyasu-Masumura started the business after a career in hospitality. “I was fortunate that I was able to stay home and take care of my son and do what I love to do.”

She now has two grandchildren. “Sometimes there’s just no price to pay for paradise. I’m real close to my family.

“My granddaughter is now 5 and wants to do everything with me. It would just be a beautiful surprise if she were to say, ‘Teach me how to make that feather lei.’ My son and daughter-in-law can do it. Just passing this down to the next generation, that would make me really happy.”

Stay up to date with Weslyn’s Creative Feather on Instagram:

More about Made in Hawai‘i 

Made in Hawai‘i Festival is scheduled for Aug. 15-17 at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center.

Last year’s festival brought in nearly $10 million in revenue, with more than 700 vendors, “and we welcomed approximately 70,000 attendees in 2024,” said Olena Heu, who runs the event’s marketing and public relations.

Though vendor count has not yet been finalized, she told Aloha State Daily Monday that so far, more than 500 vendors have been approved.

“I love seeing all the new creations, some exclusive to our festival. It is absolutely fascinating and inspiring to see our local artisans and our community really come together,” she said. I have to give props to our food vendors – we’ve evolved from chips and iced tea. We offer a lot of options to eat, shop and spend the day with us.”

Ticket sales will begin Aug. 1 at madeinhawaiifestival.com. When purchasing your ticket, you will also be prompted to donate to Hawaiʻi Foodbank and The Food Basket Da BUX program.

“Your donation goes straight to the nonprofits. The Hawaiʻi Food Industry Association, which produces the Made in Hawaiʻi Festival is a nonprofit, as well, so we wanted to amplify the impact and give people the opportunity to give back to those who are hungry or in need.”

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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.