Aunty Betty Webster from Waimea, also known as “The Sunglass Lady,” has a future so bright she needs to wear shades. Twelve hundred pairs of shades to be exact. Known for her fun collection of sunglasses and her outgoing personality, Webster’s eccentric collection is pending induction into the 2015 Guinness Book of World Records. But first, each pair must be numbered and photographed, and the Firehouse Gallery in Waimea will help her do just that.
This Sunday through March 29, the gallery invites the public to choose a favorite pair of sunglasses and have their photo taken while wearing them.
“I have close to 1,300 but I’ve gone to Guinness Book of World Records with 1,200,” said Webster. “We’re going to take pictures of 1,300 just in case their eyes think some of the pictures look like duplicates. So, I better start taking pictures ASAP before someone else decides maybe they want to beat me. I’m in the book, but it’s pending until they get the pictures.”
Sunglasses made their appearance long before they became a popular staple among Hollywood movie stars. People of ancient China and Rome donned their own fashionable specs made with flat panes of smoky quartz to protect the eyes from glare. But Webster says she uses her sunglasses to keep people smiling and happy.
Webster started collecting sunglasses in 1999 when she worked as a hula dancer and greeter at the Bay Club, which is now the Waikoloa Hilton.
“We had a party on New Year’s Eve and they had ordered the 1999 glow glasses that glow in the dark,” said Webster. It was nothing fancy. The guests had a lot of fun with them, so the following year we got the 2000 glow glasses. Everyone enjoyed that too, so my niece got on the computer and started to look for glasses and got a couple for me.”
Webster also worked at local restaurants and began wearing them to work. Her glasses became a conversation piece and she became a big hit with the customers.
“The restaurants, they would have comment sheets and people would say, “Oh Betty was so gracious and we are so charmed by her catchy glasses,” said Webster. “As years went on, people are still sending me glasses. Now, I’m ready for St. Patrick’s Day with my clover sunglasses. I’ve also got the shiny kine, and the blinky kine with the lights that go off and on. I like the eyelash glasses the best. There’s so many to choose from. I’ve got the beer bottles in all sizes and colors. Then there’s the drinking glasses with margaritas, and a variety of Christmas, Thanksgiving and oodles of Halloween glasses. I still don’t have all of them yet. There are a lot out there that I can use.”
After the first few years, Webster accumulated more than 500 glasses and got the idea to go for the world record.
“I said to myself, ‘Wow, why don’t I try for a thousand and get into the Guinness Book of World Records!’ When I was working, I let my customers know what my goal was and then they went back home and started looking for sunglasses to send to me. I have all different colors because I need to match my outfits. It’s important you know. I only wear muumuu, and no shoes, only slippers. I have over 300 muumuu and my glasses need to match. I don’t want people saying, ‘Oh Aunty Betty seems to be getting senile! She’s wearing purple glasses with orange clothes, maybe she’s not thinking!’ I can’t have that happen.”
Amaury Saint-Gilles, president of Waimea Arts Council met Webster and decided to help her with her goal of setting a world record.
“We’re going to have a variety of Betty’s sunglasses every day until we get all 1,200 of then shown,” said Saint-Gilles. “I met her by accident and when she told me about this invitation by Guinness Book of World Records — that they wanted to see proof of her collection, I thought, ‘Wow, this is great, let’s do it.’ It progressed from there, and I offered to make an exhibition at the Waimea Arts Council and get everybody in there to put one on their heads and take a picture. That’s how it happened. It was serendipity frankly — to personally meet her and have a conversation. It just needed to be done and I was going to do it.”
Webster has other goals in addition to setting a world record. She has been selected to represent the Waimea Senior Club in the Older American Award that is coming up in May. She hopes her world record accomplishment will help her stand out among the judges. As Frank Sinatra would say to Webster, “Put your sunglasses on, because you ain’t going home till the morning comes.”
The Firehouse Gallery is located opposite the Chevron gas station in Waimea’s historic corner. For more information, call 885-0507.