{"id":173172,"date":"2023-02-23T11:52:28","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T21:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=173172"},"modified":"2023-02-23T13:16:23","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T23:16:23","slug":"hawaiian-theatre-hits-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/02\/23\/hawaiian-theatre-hits-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawaiian theatre hits road in hope of inspiring next generation"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Hawaiian theatre production, ʻAuʻa<\/span> ʻIa:<\/span> Holding On<\/em> performed to sold-out crowds at Kennedy Theatre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In celebration of Mahina ʻŌlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/a> (Hawaiian Language Month), haumāna (students) and kumu (faculty) from the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Mānoa Hawaiian Theatre program<\/a> and Â鶹´«Ã½nuiākea<\/span> School of Hawaiian Knowledge<\/a> are trekking to a number of communities to encourage the use of Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> mother tongue. Ola Ka ʻĪ<\/span> is a series of free Hawaiian language fairs spearheaded by the organization Kanaeokana which features hoʻokūkū<\/span> haʻiʻōlelo<\/span> Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> (speech competition), games and crafts for the entire ʻohana<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Tammy Hailiʻōpua<\/span> Baker<\/strong>, director of the Hawaiian Theatre Program, and her haumāna have participated in two fairs so far this month, the most recent on Maui. “I hope that sharing our moʻolelo<\/span> and artistic practice at Ola ka ʻĪ<\/span> inspires our community to continue to embrace our language as a source for deeper understanding of our culture and history,” Baker said.<\/p>\n

The nationally-recognized program screens a film version of its on-stage production, ʻAuʻa<\/span> ʻIa:<\/span> Holding On<\/em><\/a> followed by a panel discussion. The Hawaiian language play written by Baker was performed to sold out crowds in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> and earned a prestigious invitation to perform in New York City in 2020.<\/p>\n