The tale of the Hawaiian people and their sometimes courageous, sometimes questionable battle with Hansen’s disease is one that continues to live on in our present world. Though the disease no longer threatens lives, Kalaupapa, Molokai remains frozen in time, a prison faded into a sanctuary, for those who struggled with Hansen’s disease. Father Damien, a man who lived in Kalaupapa with the ‘lepers,’ and helped them to find spiritual peace, was recently inducted into sainthood. In light of the the impact this disease had on Hawaiian lives and culture, “Ko’olau, A True Story of Kauai’i,” tells the story of one family whose lives were overturned by the disease in the 1890’s. To depict the story of Ko’olau, a Waimea native, and his family, the performers use live music, animated projections, shadow pupets, and Japanese kuruma ningyo (wheeled puppets). The original story, “Ka Moolelo Oiaio O Kaluaikoolau,” was written by Pi’ilani, the wife of Ko’olau, in the Hawaiian language, with the help of an American journalist, John Sheldon. After a trip to New York to perform at the LaMaMa Experimental theater, the production members, led by director Tom Lee, return to Maui to perform March 7th at 5 PM at the MACC. Tickets are $22, call 242-7469 for more information. By: Sierra Brown