UH Hawaiian Play Heads to New York

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Moanikeʻala Nabarro, (808) 600-4084
Spokesperson, Office of Communications
Posted: Jan 5, 2020

LINK TO VIDEO AND SOUND: https://bit.ly/2MRAP1Q

WHAT: The University of Hawai`i at Mānoa Hawaiian language production, `Au`a `Ia: Holding On leaves to perform in an off-Broadway festival

WHO: UH students and faculty- 35 cast members, 4 kumu, 4 production technicians

WHEN:  Departing Honolulu on Sunday, January 5, arriving in New York on Monday, January 6.

Cast will perform January 7-12 

WHERE: New York City

Lower East Side’s 4th Street Theater Community at New York Theater Workshop

     

OTHER FACTS:

  • Organizers of the inaugural indigenous theatre festival, Reflections of Native Voices Native Theater Festival, invited the UH Mānoa theatre `Ōlelo Hawai`i (Hawaiian language) play to open its six-day event. 

  • This is the first time in UH’s history that a production has been selected to perform off-Broadway.

  • The popular play debuted at Kennedy Theatre in September 2019 and is performed predominantly in Hawaiian. The play captures pivotal moments in Hawaiʻi’s history from the perspective of four haumāna (students). While researching a project for class, they embark on a journey that throws them into a collection of 19th century Hawaiian language archival materials. Hawaiian ʻoli (chant), mele (songs) and hula transport audiences through time.

  • Playwright and UH Mānoa professor Haili`ōpua Baker is the director of the production that features both Hawaiian music and hula.

  • Generous donations helped cover the $100,000 price tag for the cast and crew’s airfare, cargo transport and accommodations. 

  • Hawaiian Airlines gifted 20 round-trip tickets and discounted fares for the remaining cast and crew. 


VIDEO:

BROLL: (2 minutes)

0:00-0:40, 4 clips: Performance shots 

0:40-0:55, 2 clips: Rehearsal shots 

0:55-1:25, 5 clips: Packing costumes

1:25-2:00, 5 clips: Packing flags and spears


SOUND: 

Jorin Young/Actor, UHM Hawaiian Theatre (15 seconds)

My kuleana is to make sure that our voices and our language is heard and I also want to make sure that I do my duty to make sure that it is correct and it is said well and shown well.

Jorin Young/Actor, UHM Hawaiian Theatre (10 seconds)

I’m just so excited to go and perform and to be in cold weather, and to just be able to be on that stage again with the people that I really admire.

Haili`ōpua Baker/Playwright, Professor UH Mānoa (10 seconds)

That excitement and honor that people feel being selected for us to go that’s what’s fueling everyone’s response.