Jan. 8, 2025
As we turn the page to a new year, our theater performers have something special in store to kick off 2025.
Hōʻike a Haʻi will present "The Runaway Musubi: A Journey Through Tales" on Friday, January 10 at 6pm. The show is a short play designed for elementary school aged students in Kindergarten to 6th grade and will be presented in our William Charles Lunalilo Center.
"The Runaway Musubi: A Journey Through Tales" is an original play about the Musubi Man, designed after the Gingerbread man, who doesn't want to be in his story anymore. He goes on a journey through a variety of different stories trying to see if he can find a better one. Journey with us to meet Unko and the three Nieces, Ikaika The Hammah Huntah, Nā Puaʻa ʻEkolu Liʻiliʻi, and Little Tita ʻUlaʻula, as the Sumo Man tries to catch the Musubi Man. Will he mālama his kuleana and go back to his story? Or will he always run from tale to tale?
There is only one public show on Friday, January 10 at 6 p.m. Admission to the show is free, though we are encouraging attendees to consider a donation to the Food Basket, Hawaiʻi Island's food bank. Canned/non-perishable food donations will also be collected at the door. Audience is limited to the first 550 people. The show's runtime is around 40 minutes in total.
The show is directed by junior Mālie Hokoana.
See the show's program. Here is the show's cast:
| MUSUBI MAN | Luke Chung |
| SON’S MOTHER | Paige Yanagawa |
| LITTLE MISS TITA ʻULA | Taylor Mendoza |
| ORIGINAL NARRATOR | Malina Martinson |
| HUNTAH | Numera Kaʻaukai |
| UNKO | Alohilani Kalaola-Maruquin |
| KELEKELE | Kilinahe Ehrhorn |
| MOMONA | Avalynn Roque-Ahina |
| PEKONA | Ayzen Flores |
| NIECE #1 | Cinnamon Gorai-Lau |
| NIECE #2 | ʻŌhiʻa Kauhane |
| NIECE #3 | Hope Authur |
| SUMO MAN | Kalama Buckley Francisco (voiceover - Jhayden Mata |
| ENSEMBLE | Caden Boggess, Taylor Mendoza, Ayzen Flores |
Admission to the show is free, though patrons are encouraged to donate to the food basket. Canned food will be collected at the door. The shows poster was designed by junior Alohilani Kalaola-Maruquin.