Couple share love of all things Turkish

By Chris Oliver
Advertiser Staff Writer

Global Caravan Turkish Bazaar Pegge Hopper Gallery, 1164 Nu'uanu Ave., Thursday through June 12. Opening night is Thursday, 5-8 p.m. The gallery also is open for First Friday Gallery Walk, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. On sale are kilims and carpets from villages in Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan; rare, nomadic camel bags, saddlebags and other tribal items; jewelry, undyed cotton tablecloths and window hangings; and pashmina and silk shawls. Prices range from $10 to $2,000. Many items are priced $30 to $75.

Cynthia Austin of Maui little imagined growing up that a spiritual journey mid-life would lead her to a Turkish village, a new husband and an unusual business venture.

Hakan Ucarer, surrounded by a pile of handwoven carpets and kilims in the back streets of Konya, Turkey, little imagined that within months, he would marry the American woman inspecting the fine designs of a Bahtiyari camel bag; that he would move 8,000 miles to a remote town on Maui and the couple would run a business importing exotic Turkish goods and housewares from his homeland.

Together, the couple will host "A Global Caravan Turkish Bazaar" at the Pegge Hopper Gallery, opening Thursday, and continuing through June 12. The bazaar will feature traditional kilims and flat-weave carpets, clothes, camel bags, tribal bags, jewelry, wall hangings, collector's items and a large selection of pashmina, cashmere and silk shawls. Items are handmade, many featuring designs more than 1,000 years old.

If the couple's story sounds like an exotic tale from Capt. Richard Burton's "The One Thousand and One Nights," it is. Consider Austin's immediate deep connection with all things Turkish, overcoming language and cultural barriers to become part of a family in which women traditionally do not run businesses, and getting married in the country's capital, Ankara, as war broke out between the United States and Iraq in spring of 2003.

Three years ago, finding herself at one of life's crossroads, at the invitation of friends, Austin traveled to Konya to learn more about Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the 13th century philosopher and poet who made his home there and whose son founded the sect of Whirling Dervishes.

Inspired by Rumi's poetry and fascinated by Dervish festivities Austin fell in love with the country. She planned to import a few rare items to Hawai'i and her first visit inspired four more. On her first serious buying trip, she met Hakan. "Meeting (Hakan) in Konya was fated," Austin said. Each visit convinced the couple of their future together despite the challenge of very different lifestyles.

"Konya, is famous for its beautiful kilims and carpets," Austin said. "The women in Hakan's family come from a long lineage of weavers, spinning the wool from sheep raised in the region, and dying it with local plant materials into a vibrant tapestry of colors.

"Many of our items feel like treasures because they're just not being made anymore," she said. "In today's economy, many village woman can no longer afford to make handmade goods, causing many to disappear."

Austin, who has taken her husband's last name, says now is a good time to launch their bazaar when Islanders are looking for something different to Pacific and Indonesian imports.

"Turkish goods are different and very reasonably priced," she said ... "We have housewares made for nomadic life, sofas, floor mats, bed coverings, lanterns, grain bags, some with designs brought into Turkey from Syrian tribes in the 13th century."

Shades of the Arabian Nights? "Well, sometimes it does feel like a fairy tale," Cynthia admitted. "I would never have dreamed such a thing would happen to me."

How does life in remote Kipahulu, one hour from Hana, compare with Konya? "Well, behavior in Konya is very different, deeply religious and very conservative," said Austin. "On Maui, I can best describe our small community of 'sociable hermits' as free-spirited eccentrics.

"Konya is a desert environs, Hana is lush and tropical; there is no café or street life which Hakan grew up with. There is not one store or café where we live. Life is very different."

Opening night at the Turkish Bazaar will include Turkish pupu and refreshments. The Ucarers will share stories of Turkey as well as the history of each handcrafted piece.