The newest addition to our department is the Hawaiian Theatre program. 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 productions reflect and honor the language, traditions, history and values of the Hawaiian community.
Lā‘ieikawai, the inaugural hana keaka of the Hawaiian Theatre program, played to sold out audiences here at Kennedy Theatre. The production toured to Hilo, Hawai‘i, Moloka‘i, Kaua‘i, and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Lā‘ieikawai was also a featured showcase production at the 2016 Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Degrees offered: MFA (Hawaiian Theatre)
NEWS:
Kennedy Center Medallion of Excellence awarded to Theatre + Dance Kumu Tammy Haili‘ōpua Baker
On 29 September, 2021, hana keaka at UHM was featured in the Hawai‘i Pono‘ī Hawaiian History Month panel, Pa‘a ke Kahua, Eia ke Kūkulu: Hawaiian Theatre at UHM, available on the Hawai‘i Pono‘ī website with this link: https://www.hawaiiponoi.info/
A closed-captioning option is available for the video.