KS Hōʻike Presenting Stories of 19th Century Aliʻi

Image courtesy of Kamehameha Schools.

Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi campus will present two tales of 19th century aliʻi during its 14th annual Hōʻike on March 16 and 17 at Koaiʻa Gymnasium.

This year’s performance will feature two works of historical fiction written by the late Clarence Waipa, a retired music teacher from St. Joseph School and former choir director.

The play is called Ka ʻIu O Hoku, and follows the story of two blood-related aliʻi who shared the fate of being heirs to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom, but never reigned.

Act One is taken from Waipa’s playwright Almost a King, following the life and struggle of William Pitt Leleiōhoku II, brother to Kalākaua and Liliʻuokalani, during his early twenties. Leleiōhoku struggles with a politically challenging romance against the tides of royal convention, while his family try to prepare him for the future task of ruling the kingdom.

Act Two, taken from Waipa’s play Kaʻiulani,  covers the life of the princess as seen through the eyes of close friend and confidant Robert Louis Stevenson. Her story begins from her precocious childhood and follows to her steadfast fight as a young woman confronting the American government to restore her kingdom.

Both Kaʻiulani and Leleiōhoku were viewed as the highest and most important monarchs of their time, when the Hawaiian Kingdom was on the verge of annexation. The presentation will celebrate both of their lives through mele and hula, performed as an all-school production by the entire student body at KS.

“These plays were first performed in the 1980s and Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi High School is honored to bring to the stage the light of our aliʻi at its apex – Ka ‘Iu o Hoku,” writes Dr. Lehua Veincent, KS Hawaiʻi high school poʻo kumu.

Doors for this evening performance will open at 5 p.m. and the production starts at 6 p.m.

Tickets are  $15 for floor seats and $10 for bleacher seats and can be purchased at the door, online or in-person from the High School Administration Office from 3 to 4 p.m. from March 6 to 10 and March 13 to 15.

Guests requiring special accommodations are asked to contact Mrs. May Lynn Earle, student activities assistant at (808) 982-0734.

For more information, visit the Hōʻike A Haʻi website.