Mililani egg hatches White House visit
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| Sharon Kuboyama, a Fabergé egg enthusiast from Mililani, has decorated ostrich, rhea, goose and duck eggs. This ostrich egg houses a store-bought Minnie Mouse.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser |
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
On a recent spring vacation, Sharon Kuboyama traveled from Mililani to the White House by way of a chicken's egg.
A classical Japanese dance teacher and egg hobbyist, Kuboyama landed an invitation to the White House when her Fabergé "pineapple egg" was selected to represent Hawai'i in the 10th annual decorated eggs exhibit at the White House.
White House photo
On March 25, first lady Laura Bush greeted Kuboyama and her husband, Stanley, as well as artists from every other state and the District of Columbia who submitted eggs for the exhibit.
The "pineapple egg" created by Sharon Kuboyama was selected to represent Hawai'i in an annual White House exhibit featuring the 50 states.
"We were real lucky, because she took photos with each state representative," Kuboyama said, noting that she had not done so last year.
Kuboyama's rhinestone-covered egg features three designs: the Hawaiian Islands, nene goose and hibiscus.
"The criteria specified that a chicken egg had to be used, the decoration had to pertain to the state and the (exhibit) had to be self-standing," she said. "Chicken eggs are fragile, so they are difficult to work with.
"I made three cutouts," sad Kuboyama, whose egg will not be returned. "The Hawaiian Islands and nene are made with decoupage. I used earrings for the hibiscus."
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Kuboyama's friend Marion Miyashiro submitted an entry last year, but declined the White House invitation to visit.
Kuboyama's house has many of her creations on display, including some with Japanese themes. She is also a teacher of classical Japanese dance.
"I felt it was an honor, so we went and had a wonderful time," Kuboyama said. "The White House is not open for tours (because of the Sept. 11 attacks), but we were given a special tour by an FBI agent."
She and about 20 other egg hobbyists meet twice a month to create the jeweled eggs named after Russian jeweler and goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé. The group usually works with goose, ostrich or duck eggs.
Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.
