The tale of the Hawaiian people and their sometimes courageous, sometimes questionable battle with Hansen’s disease is one that lives on in the present day. Though the disease no longer threatens lives, Kalaupapa, Molokai remains frozen in time, a prison faded into a sanctuary for those who struggled with the illness. Father Damien, who lived in Kalaupapa with the “lepers” and helped them find spiritual peace, was recently honored with sainthood. Ko‘olau: A True Story of Kaua‘i tells the tale of one family whose lives were upended by the disease in the 1890s. To depict the story of Ko‘olau, a Waimea native, and his family, the performers will use live music, animated projections, shadow puppets and Japanese kuruma ningyo (wheeled puppets). The original story 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. 242-7469 or www.mauiarts.org
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