By PETER SUR
By PETER SUR
Tribune-Herald staff writer
For more than a hundred years since her untimely death, the saga of Princess Ka‘iulani has inspired generations of Hawaiians.
Who was this alluring, beautiful woman, heir to the throne, who spent her final years in a futile struggle to wrest control of the nation from those people who have deposed her aunt, Queen Liliuokalani?
A 2009 feature film about her life exposed her story to a nationwide audience, but some critics panned it for taking liberties with the historical record, among other things.
Tonight and Saturday at Hilo’s Palace Theater, Halau Ha‘a Kea O Kinohi, under the direction of kumu hula Paul Neves, presents “The Shattered Vase,” a two-hour hula drama based on the life and times of Victoria Ka‘iulani Cleghorn. About 30 members of the halau will be involved in the presentation.
“There’s hula kahiko, ‘auana, music, and audience participation,” Neves said. “It’s been about seven years in the making,” and had its first performance in Washington, D.C.
“The goal is to get this story out and to do it in such a way that our people are engaged. Its purpose is to get it out in as pure form as possible, but to inspire our young people, and people of all race, color, creed, whatever, to be more vocal and to speak up when we see injustices in the community, like she did.
“She’s always painted in a tragic light. It was the end of us, the last hope and all that. And I feel quite differently. I think young people around the world, they serve their country. They speak out at young ages. I think she’s one of them.”
Ka‘iulani was born in 1875 to Princess Miriam Likelike, the younger sister of both King David Kalakaua and Lili‘uokalani. Her father was Archibald Cleghorn, the Scottish-born one-time governor of Oahu.
She was studying in England in 1893 when her guardian, Theophilus Davies, received the following telegram: “monarchy abrogated — queen deposed — break news to princess.” Ka‘iulani spent several years pursuing an unsuccessful attempt to have the United States reinstate her family to the throne.
While on the Big Island, Ka‘iulani became drenched by a Waimea storm, contracted inflammatory rheumatism and died in 1899 at the age of 23.
“Her story inspires me,” Neves said.
In Neves’ retelling, Pilialoha Nathaniel will be the main person portraying Ka‘iulani, but there are four others, ages 11 to 14, who will depict the princess at different times of her life.
“It will bring joy. It will bring tears. It will bring console. In some it will bring out anger. We don’t hold any punches,” Neves said. “We do it to engage people that come.”
Neves grades the movie “Princess Ka‘iulani” a C.
“It’s fiction. Parts of it are not historical. I love the costumes, the portrayals, but … I don’t think that the story was told in the best way. I think you have to challenge the audience.”
The show starts at 7 p.m. both tonight and Saturday. Tickets are $15 general, $25 at the door.
Email Peter Sur at psur@hawaiitribune-herald.com.