Sept. 30, 2016

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

For the first time ever, the immensely popular living history walking tour “Mai Poina: The Overthrow” held annually on the grounds of ‘Iolani Palace was performed on stage, on the shores of Nā Honoapi‘ilani at the Maui Arts & Culture Center (MACC) and in Keōpūolani Hale at Kamehameha Schools Maui.

Kamehameha Schools collaborated with the MACC Artist in Community Program to sponsor the performances which retraced the four pivotal days leading up to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy. Mai Poina means “Never Forget.”

Audience members were transported to a Honolulu of 1893 by costumed role-players who interpreted the significant events and sites that figured in the overthrow. Characters included a local merchant, plantation worker and her majesty Queen Lili‘uokalani herself.

KS Maui Hawaiian Protocol Facilitator Ekela Kaniaupio-Crozier, who helped coordinate the KSM performance, says that the experiential learning opportunity was a valuable one for students.

“It’s important for our haumāna to know their history from the ‘kanaka’ perspective as Kaleikoa shared from John 8:32 – ‘A e ʻike auaneʻi ʻoukou i ka ʻoiaʻiʻo a ʻo ka ʻoiaʻiʻo e kuʻu akuniā ʻoukou.’ Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Each attendee received a detailed viewer’s guide with historical information and an analysis of the play, penned by local author Victoria Nālani Kneubuhl. Filled with primary source materials, a bibliography, and essays by well-known Hawaiian scholars, the guides are especially useful for both students and teachers.

All performances concluded with insight and sharing of mana‘o from S. Kaleikoa Ka‘eo, UH Maui College associate professor of Hawaiian Studies.

Education is key to sovereign rights of the Hawaiian people and for all people of Hawai‘i to understand the true history of our people and these islands,” he said. “Don’t believe me – find out for yourself. It’s in our newspapers, it’s in the legislative records and court transcripts.”

The performances were part of ʻOnipaʻa, an annual celebration of the birth of Queen Liliuokalani hosted by the Hawai‘i Pono‘ī Coalition.

Queen Lili‘uokalani, played by actress Nyla Fujii-Babb, addresses her subjects before the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. The scene is part of “Mai Poina – The Overthrow,” which was presented on stage for the first time, in Maui.

The play was an excellent experiential learning opportunity for KSM haumāna.

The performances concluded with insight from S. Kaleikoa Ka‘eo, UH Maui College associate professor of Hawaiian Studies.