Posted on: Friday, May 14, 2004

SATURDAY SCOOPS
Hawaiiana in theater spotlight
By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

Tammy Haili'opua Baker says she became a playwright by default.

She did her undergraduate work in Hawaiian and theater at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. For her master's thesis, she wanted to combine the two by directing a play written in Hawaiian. But after extensive research, she couldn't find one.

So she wrote one.

Then, she formed a Hawaiian-language theater company, Ka Halau Hanakeaka, to perform the piece. Since then, Baker has written, directed, toured with and performed in numerous Hawaiian and English productions.

Tonight, her latest play, "Kamapua'a," premieres in Paliku Theatre at the Windward Community College.

" Kamapua'a was calling to me," Baker says. She has been researching the many exploits of the virile, heroic "pig-child" since 1998, ever since he appeared to her in a dream. Kamapua'a's adventures, Baker says, would fill up three separate shows, so she had to select which parts were important and which would work on stage. Otherwise, "the audience would have to come to the show Friday night, go home, come back Saturday and then finish up Sunday," she says.

The cast of 15 actors includes graduate students, teachers, college freshmen, kumu hula and Baker's 6-year-old son, Kaipu, who has been raised speaking Hawaiian as his first language. Some, like dynamic actress Lani Waiau, who plays both Pele and Hina, are Ka Halau Hanakeaka veterans. Mitchell "Bobo" Miles Jr., who plays multiple roles, has numerous stage credits locally. For others, it's their first foray into a stage play. Kumu hula Snowbird Bento has years of experience as a dancer and chanter, but this is her first time in theater.

Kuiokalani Gapero, a 19-year-old college student and National Guardsman, plays the demanding lead role of Kamapua'a. It's his first time acting, but you would never guess that.

All the pre-sale tickets for "Kamapua'a" are sold out but a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Because of the adult subject matter inherent in Kamapua'a's stories, the theater company is doing three versions of the production: The evening performances are for mature audiences, but there are daytime PG- and G-rated shows for Hawaiian immersion school students.

Baker, a UH lecturer, and her husband, Ph.D. candidate and UH instructor Kaliko Baker, team-teach Hawaiian 485, a playwriting class in the Hawaiian language. Their vision is to have entire seasons of plays in Hawaiian.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com