Hōʻike a Haʻi presented Punikawā, an original Hawaiian language play written by kumu Eric Stack on May 17 and 18 in the William Charles Lunalilo Center. The Saturday evening performance was recorded and is now available for viewing on the Kamehameha Schools YouTube channel. 

Living in a parallel universe where the overthrow was averted, Punikawā, a student at the Queen’s High School, dreams of playing on the Hawaiian National Volleyball team and winning the Olympic gold medal. When her boyfriend asks her to help his sister overcome a crisis, Punikawā is transported into the past where she is confronted with the problems and prejudices of 19th Century Hawaiʻi. Desperate to return to her own time, Punikawā encounters many obstacles, one of which deals with young Princess Pauahi’s decision on whom to marry. When asked for her advice, Punikawā is split between being disingenuous and returning home safely, or being honest and perhaps never seeing her friends again.

Junior Pūlama Lafaele played the title role of Punikawā Pemberton. See the program and full cast list. 

Originally presented as a school Hōʻike in 2012, Punikawā featured the very beginnings of what would become the KS Hawaiʻi High School’s Hawaiian Opera series.

Punikawā, as well as this year’s Hōʻike - Kū I Ka Mana, are also a part of the Keaka Hawaiian Language Theatre Festival. 

Watch Punikawā on the KS YouTube channel -

Punikawā is caught at a crossroad of doing the right thing and doing what is necessary to return to her present.

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