Ko'olau
Ko‘olau was a native Hawaiian paniolo from Waimea, Kaua‘i. In 1892 he and his son contracted Hansen’s disease. Rather than be separated from his wife, Pi‘ilani, and exiled, Ko‘olau took the family to the remote valley of Kalalau where he found freedom, of a sort.
This is the family’s story, recorded in 1906 by Pi‘ilani, in the Hawaiian language with John Sheldon, an American journalist.
Based on a true story of Hawai‘i in the 1890’s, this intimate and inventive puppet performance utilizes live music, animated projections, shadow puppets and Japanese kuruma ningyo style (wheeled puppet) figures.
Director Tom Lee addresses the powerful themes of this story with puppetry that evokes the poetry of the Hawaiian language and the natural environment of the islands.
The piece is performed by four puppeteers, two musicians and two projectionists who animate live shadow and video images projected onto a screen at the back of the stage. Music is inspired by sounds of nature and compositions of Queen Lili‘uokalani and is performed on shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), hammer dulcimer, guitar and percussion.
Reserved Seating. LIMITED SEATING. Tickets are $20 General, $15 Discount, and $7 for UHH/HCC Students with Valid ID and Children 12 & Under.
This event is made possible with support from the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through the Performing Arts Presenters of Hawai‘i and by the generous support of WESTAF, the Western States Art Federation; and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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