The
Story
Written by acclaimed Native Hawaiian playwright and actor Moses Goods, Kaula follows Mahina, a young Native Hawaiian woman seeking to understand herself through the stories shared by her kupuna, or grandmother.
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Together, they embark on a journey across the Pacific, tracing their family’s genealogy through Tahiti, Samoa, and Hawaiʻi. Each chapter reveals the songs, dances, traditions, and histories that have shaped their family across generations. As her grandmother shares their family’s history, Mahina begins to understand her place within a lineage that stretches across the Pacific.
Guests may also be invited to participate during the evening, joining the energy and movement of the performance.
The
Performances
A full cast of dancers, actors, musicians, and specialty performers brings Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Samoan traditions to the stage through live music, chant, mele, hula, dance, acrobatics, and fire-knife dancing.
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The production features original choreography by Tiana Liufau and Kayla Faʻamaligi. Their movement direction brings the different performance traditions together within the larger narrative, moving from intimate solos and traditional forms to expansive ensemble numbers, aerial sequences, and a dramatic Samoan fire-knife finale.
Guests may also be invited to participate during the evening, joining the energy and movement of the performance.
The
Production
Kaula is a large-scale theatrical production presented in a state-of-the-art oceanfront bandshell in Ko Olina.
Its expansive stage, large cast, live musicians, immersive multimedia, and world-class production values give the show the scale and polish of a major live performance.
Cinematic lighting, projection, sound, and coordinated stage effects transform the oceanfront setting throughout the evening. These elements support one continuous production that moves between intimate storytelling and large ensemble sequences.