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actors in red with white masks rehearsing
UH Hilo presents Ghosts of Hiroshima.

The Ghosts of Hiroshima—a combination of theatrical conventions of movement, dance and masks with images, words, science and poetry that allow history and nuclear issues to be considered anew—opens at The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s Performing Arts Center, November 17–20. The words of the survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima are framed against the hard facts about nuclear weapons in this stirring theatrical performance.

  • “Just like shadows. The shock was so great they had lost words, they could not speak; everyone was very, very quiet. Even the children did not cry. Silence.”
    –Miss Shibama

Directed by UH Hilo Professor Jackie Pualani Johnson, Ghosts of Hiroshima features an ensemble of actors, artistic staff and contributing faculty from the UH Hilo performing arts department, guided by two story tellers who give context and reflection to the facts surrounding the bombings and painful aftermath.

The performing arts department presents this landmark offering as an ode to the times and temperaments found in today’s global landscape. At the heart of the production is the consideration of the human costs of war.

Surviving Hiroshima seeds

After the final matinee on Sunday, November 20, the audience is invited to participate in a discussion session with actors, artistic staff and contributing faculty. The Green Legacy Project will host a ceremony presenting the seeds from trees that survived the bombing at Hiroshima to Norman Arancon of the UH Hilo department of agriculture, which will become the repository for what will be a world-wide effort to disseminate the seeds to promote peace.

Performance information

Performances dates

  • November 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m.
  • November 20 at 2 p.m.

Ticket prices

  • $12 General
  • $10 Discount
  • $5 UH Hilo/Hawaiʻi CC students (with a valid student ID) and children 17 and under.

Seating is open. Tickets are available by calling the UH Hilo Box Office, Tuesdays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at (808) 932-7490 or ordering online.

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