Kamehameha Schools Hawaii campus will present the school’s 14th annual Ho‘ike at 6 p.m. March 16-17 at Koai‘a Gymnasium.
For this year’s production, KS Hawaii will present “Ka ‘Iu O Hoku,” a historical fiction work based on two plays by the late Clarence Waipa, a retired music teacher from St. Joseph School and former choir director of Hilo Seventh-day Adventist Church, First United Protestant Church, Kamehameha Schools Alumni Chorus of Hilo and Sing Out Hilo.
“Ka ‘Iu O Hoku” involves two 19th century alii related not only through blood but through the common fate of both being heirs to the throne of the Hawaiian Kingdom but never able to reign.
Act 1 is taken from Waipa’s play “Almost a King” and examines the life of William Pitt Leleiohoku II, brother to Kalakaua and Lili‘uokalani, during his early 20s. His story showcases his romantic side through song and hula as he courts a young Margaret Rice, a non-Hawaiian. His hanai mother, Princess Ruth Ke‘elikolani, and his royal sister, Lydia (later known as Lili‘uokalani) try to offer him advice on becoming a king and navigating his politically challenging romance. But Leleiohoku’s joie de vivre and optimistic attitude will not be dampened by royal convention.
Act 2, taken from Waipa’s play “Ka‘iulani,” is about the life of princess Victoria Kaias seen through the eyes of close friend and confidant Robert Louis Stevenson. The story paints a picture of the queen-to-be from her beginnings as a precocious child to a young woman who confronts the American government to restore her kingdom.
The combined plays have been given the title “Ka ‘Iu O Hoku” by junior Ku‘uhiapo Jeong. In English it is roughly translated “the highest of the star/the sky.” Ka‘iulani and Leleiohoku were viewed as the highest and most important people at that time (when the Hawaiian Kingdom was on the brink of annexation) as heirs to the throne. The title also cleverly combines their two names.
“Ka ‘Iu O Hoku” will celebrate the lives of these alii through mele and hula, performed in the tradition of Kamehameha Schools Hawaii Ho‘ike, as an all-school production involving the entire student body. Music for the play includes music of the time period by and written for the alii portrayed.
“These plays were first performed in the 1980s and Kamehameha Schools Hawaii High School is honored to bring to the stage the light of our alii at its apex – ‘Ka ‘Iu o Hoku,’” writes Lehua Veincent, KS Hawaii high school po‘o kumu. “We look forward to seeing you at Ho‘ike 2017!”
Doors for the two evening performances will open at 5 p.m. Tickets, on sale now, are $15 for floor seats and $10 for bleacher seats. They can be purchased online at https://connect.pauahi.org/2017-ksh-hoike or from 3-4 p.m. March 6-10 and 13-15 at the high school administration office. Tickets also will be available at the door on the night of the performances.
