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KS Hawaiʻi Hōʻike 2016

April 15, 2016

The Hawaiian language opera "Hā‘upu" debuted on March 10 at Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i as part of the school's annual Hō‘ike. Hō‘ike is an all-school production that incorporates song, chant and dance to tell a story that connects back to Native Hawaiian  culture and mo‘ōlelo (stories). Hā‘upu tells the legend of Kana and Hina. It is a story of the Wā Kāhiko, the ancient times when gods would walk among men. It is a tale of mythological proportions shrouded in folklore and presented through and opera exclusively in the Hawaiian language. Hā‘upu is a story of love and hate; of wrong and revenge; of custom and courage; of passion and superstition. For more information, visit www.ksbe.edu/kshhoike. To see more photos from the production, visit the KSH Facebook page.

Hina (center, played by sophomore Mara-Jayde Brown), an ali‘i from Hilo, is captured by Kapepe‘ekauila, a rogue ali‘i from Moloka‘i.




Uli (played by junior Pomai Longakit) sets the stage by recounting Kana's genealogy.




Hina, a chiefess of Hilo and the wife of the ruling chief Hākalanileo, bathes in the moonlight assisted by her entourage of attendants.




Niheu (right, played by sophomore Kaʻeo Cachola) and his brother Kana (left, played by sophomore Kuʻuhiapo Jeong) attempts to convince his gradmother Uli to use the powers given to Kana to reveal their mother, Hina's, location.




Hina is transported to Hāʻupu as Kapepeʻekauila and his warriors return with their stolen treasures.




Exhausted, Hina finally falls asleep where she is haunted by a phrophecy of Moi. Alone and determined, Kana expresses his undying love for his mother and promises that he will find her.




Niheu confronts his father Hākalanileo (right, played by sophomore Damien Stack) about not trying harder to search for his mother.




Through a round of kilu and with the help of Kana and his Shadows, it is revealed that Hina is being held captive at Hāʻupu, Molokaʻi by Kapepeʻekauila.




Haho (left, played by sophomore Jameson Sato) takes up the challenge to travel to Molokaʻi to help rescue Hina.




Kapepeʻekauila (left, played by junior Daylan Kalaʻi) and Moi (right, played by senior James Shaw) go through a late afternoon regimen of exercise.




The forces of Oʻahu and Maui engage Kapepeʻekauila's forces in an epic battle scene.




Kapepeʻekauila rallies his forces, shifting the tide of the battle where Hāʻupu is victorious.




Nuʻakea (right, played by junior Makana Waikiki) attempts to persuade Hina to contact her son Kana and end the conflict.




Kapepeʻekauila's agent Keaʻulenakahi (center, played by junior Alya-Joy Kanehailua) attempts to assassinate Hākalanileo, but is thwarted by Kana and his shadows before she can accomplish her task.




After Haho enters Hina's sanctuary in an attempt to capture her back, Hina resists him. Nuʻakea comes to her defense, only to be killed in doing so. After Haho is defeated by Kapepeʻekauila, Nuʻakea's husband Keoloʻewa (left, played by junior Hansel Kaʻaumoana) enters with Moi and finds her here.




After being rescued by her sons, Hina offers to help negotiate the peace treaty for Hāʻupu, but Kapepeʻekauila refuses her offer, knowing he must not betray his gods and fulfill his destiny.