Actor Moses Goods III plays Kaululā'au, among others, in The Legend of Kaululā'au. Photo: courtesy Keali'iwahine Hokoana

'Legend of Kaululā'au' to debut on O'ahu

Honolulu run to help fund performances in Europe

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola

As Kaululā'au's signal fire burned atop Lāna'ihale to signify his victory over the ghosts that once inhabited Lāna'i, so too did the fire inside of Native Hawaiian playwright Keali'iwahine Hokoana inspire her to share the story of this kolohe who came to rule Lāna'i and Maui.

The Legend of Kaululā'au is part of the larger story of 'Ele'io, the quick-footed messenger of West Maui ali'i Kāka'alaneo. And, in following the Hawaiian storytelling tradition, the story begins with those who came before our hero, Kaululā'au. A detour from 'Ele'io's usual 'awa-fetching route brought father Kāka'alaneo and mother Kelekeleiōkaula together, sparing 'Ele'io's life, and bringing Kaululā'au into the world.

For Kaululā'au's many kolohe antics in his younger days, his father banished him to Lāna'i, which was at the time inhabited solely by ghosts. His trickster instincts that had led him into trouble on Maui served him well on Lāna'i, ensuring his survival and … well, you'll have to go see the show for the rest.

"Kaululā'au is a significant historical figure, but his story is also significant as he grows from a cocky youngster who thinks only of himself to a person who realizes his value as it relates to the Hawaiian people," said playwright Hokoana, who brings her play to Honolulu for the first time after a year of performances on Maui. "It caused me to examine my own role as a Native Hawaiian and my purpose to the people."

The Legend of Kaululā'au defies standard Western categories of stage productions. Not quite play, not quite monologue, the show modernizes the traditional Hawaiian oral storytelling form with a single thespian as kākā'ōlelo (storyteller) and as all of the characters. Think of sitting at tūtū kāne's feet to hear a story, but on stage.

Hokoana had already penned plays such as Koi, Like the Fish and Ai! You Stay Hāpai! But with Kaululā'au, she wrote the play to give the Hawaiian storytelling tradition a breath of new life.

"Even though space and time is irrelevant in native storytelling, the events must lead up to a final physical, emotional and spiritual confrontation," Hokoana said. "I modernized the form to make it easier for the storyteller to remember the important parts of the show and the order of the events."

The sole performer in the production is experienced Maui actor Moses Goods III. "Moses has a voice that lulls you into the story and makes feel like you're his confidant," Hokoana said. "He also has the acting skill to transform seamlessly into nine different characters. And as a Native Hawaiian, he also has taken on the kuleana of perpetuating native mo'olelo."

These first O'ahu performances are fundraisers for the show to perform in Europe, including in August at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, the largest arts festival in the world. In the 2008 Fringe, almost 250 venues played host to more than 30,000 performances spanning music, comedy, theater and dance.

Performance dates on Maui are expected to be announced soon. If you are on O'ahu, catch the tale of the trickster Kaululā'au while you can. You'll be in for a treat.