Maʻawe ʻElua | Hoʻonaʻauao
MFA Hawaiian Theatre
The MFA in Hawaiian Theatre was established by Dr. Haili‘ōpua Baker in 2014 with its inaugural mainstage production being Lāʻieikawai (2015). Lāʻieikawai was also, in fact, the very first production of any sort of Hawaiian content to be featured on Kennedy’s mainstage over a half a century after its founding. The program includes courses on the history of theatre in Hawai‘i, the study and analysis of indigenous Hawaiian theatre, and training in both traditional and contemporary Hawaiian performance forms. Original hana keaka productions reflect and honor the language, traditions, history and values of Kānaka Maoli. A primary focus of the program is to grow practitioners of hana keaka; actors, playwrights, directors, designers, technicians, and patrons in order to grow the profession of hana keaka. Through the vision and intentions of Ka Hālau Hanakeaka, a Hawaiian-medium theatre troupe founded by Hailiʻōpua and Kaliko Baker, coupled with the curriculum and productions of the Hawaiian Theatre Program, our hui continues to serve the community and build capacity in the discipline of Hawaiian theatre. Ua ao Hawaiʻi, ke ʻōlino nei.
PhD Hawaiian & Indigenous Performance
Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance is the newest concentration for the PhD degree in Theatre, building upon the Hawaiian Theatre MFA program that was established in 2014. Doctoral study in Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance centers performance practices of Hawaiʻi in a global context through the study of indigenous performance traditions, indigenous methodologies and concepts, as well as indigenous language, culture, politics, history, environment, and sustainability. The Hawaiian and Indigenous Performance track serves our Hawaiʻi community by providing an academic program born out of a commitment to turn the Department of Theatre and Dance into a Hawaiian place of learning, and the desire to elevate Hawaiʻi and our unique knowledge systems here for generations to come. Although Indigenous Studies degree programs have begun to materialize across the globe, this track in our doctoral program is the only one of its kind focusing primarily on performance. Visit the Department website for more information on admissions.
Curriculum Development - Kula Kaiapuni
ʻAha Kumu
In November 2023, ANNO faculty and graduate assistants attended two professional development workshops for Hawaiian immersion teachers, to provide an introduction to hana keaka and how it can be taught in the classroom. The workshop on November 9 was attended by teachers at levels ranging from kindergarten to grade 2, while the November 14 workshop had those teaching grades 3 to 5. On both days, Professor Hailiʻōpua Baker led the group in a series of Hawaiian-language theatre games and exercises, culminating in the creation of short scenes that incorporated traditional sayings, songs and stories.
