{"id":210004,"date":"2025-01-29T15:00:03","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T01:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=210004"},"modified":"2025-02-18T14:24:59","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:24:59","slug":"paliku-theatre-aloha-kaua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/01\/29\/paliku-theatre-aloha-kaua\/","title":{"rendered":"King Kamehameha III<\/abbr>\u2019s ‘queer love and resistance’ at Palik\u016b Theatre"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Alten Keoki Ken Kiakona, Corin Kumakani Medeiros and Leleaʻe<\/span> “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong in Aloha Kaua<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The brief period known as “Time of Kaomi” covering King Kamehameha III<\/abbr> and his “joint king” is the subject of an upcoming play at Windward Community College\u2019s Palikū Theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Windward CC<\/abbr>\u2019s Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Conservatory of Performing Arts<\/a> (HCPA<\/abbr>) and the North Beach-West Maui Benefit Fund present Aloha Kaua<\/em>, written by Noalani Helelā and directed by Taurie Kinoshita, February 21–March 2, 2025.<\/p>\n

‘Joint king’<\/h2>\n
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Alten Keoki Ken Kiakona and Corin Kumakani Medeiros in Aloha Kaua at Palikū Theatre<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a young man, Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III<\/abbr>) fell in love with Kaomi, a brilliant half-Tahitian and half-Hawaiian student of Hiram Bingham. Kaomi healed with his hands, diagnosed illnesses and rebelled against the values and laws being imposed by the missionaries. As their love deepened, Kauikeaouli was inspired to resist oppressive colonial morality. He brought back hula, free love, drinking, games and Makahiki (an annual celebration).<\/p>\n

Kauikeaouli eventually made Kaomi his Mōʻī<\/span> kuʻi<\/span> (joint king). Kuʻi<\/span> also implies marriage, underscoring the deep love they had for each other.<\/p>\n

Outraged, Christian chiefs (Kaikioʻewa<\/span> and Kīnaʻu<\/span> among them) tried to stop the young Kauikeaouli. Some resorted to violence, turning their anger on Kaomi and demonizing him for leading the king down what they believed was a dangerous path. The “Time of Kaomi” was almost erased from history.<\/p>\n

Kinoshita said, “We see the clash between traditional non-binary views and the rigid hierarchical world of the west. It\u2019s a historical drama about queer love and resistance, peppered with humor and witty dialogue.” <\/p>\n

Show dates and times:<\/p>\n