Keaka Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival to feature The Battle of Kuamo'o

Jun. 4, 2019

Contributed by Shaundor Chillingworth

This month, the UH Hilo Performing Arts Center will host the KEAKA: Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival on June 14 and 15, featuring three different shows from Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu, Mana Comics and our very own Hōʻike A Haʻi.

The Battle of Kuamoʻo is the featured show on Saturday night, June 15 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Admission to the festival is free though donations will be accepted to help with travel costs as these haumāna prepare to bring this show to a worldwide audience at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Keaka performance is their last scheduled Hawaiʻi performance before traveling to the Fringe for four shows in Scotland. In April, students performed a new version of the opera for audiences at the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center as part of their Merrie Monarch Week performances. In March, haumāna joined the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra(KPO) for the debut of a new symphonic suite for the opera at the KPO’s season closing performance at Kahilu Theatre.

"The Battle of Kuamoʻo", an opera sung entirely in the Hawaiian language, tells the story of the fateful conflict after the death of King Kamehameha between regional chief Kekuaokalani, loyal to the traditional customs and religion, and Liholiho, the new king swayed by his regent mother to end the old ways to make way for the new. Through music, traditional dance and chant the story is retold of the fate of an island nation shaped by a single battle.

See the event flyer for more information on the Friday night shows.

Three shows in the Hawaiian language are featured as part of this year's Keaka Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival on June 14 and 15.

The Battle of Kuamoʻo shares the conflict between Liholiho (portrayed by Jorden Kealoha-Yamanaka) and Kekuaokalani (portrayed by Kyden De Sa) following the death of Kamehameha I.

At the heart of the story is the love between Kekuaokalani and Manono (portrayed by Kayla Enanoria), and their willingness to sacrifice everything for each other and what they believe in.