{"id":242818,"date":"2026-10-27T15:41:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T01:41:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=242818"},"modified":"2026-10-28T07:47:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T17:47:51","slug":"kupua-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/27\/kupua-back\/","title":{"rendered":"糖心视频<\/abbr> talent brings Kupua back after 25 years"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"\"
糖心视频<\/abbr> students, alumni and faculty are among the production\u2019s cast and crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hawaiian stories of supernatural beings, love and family come to life in Kupua<\/em>, a play by University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s Tammy Hailiʻōpua<\/span> Baker returning to Kumu Kahua Theatre for its 25th anniversary.<\/p>\n

Opening October 29, the production brings together 糖心视频<\/abbr> students, alumni and faculty to reimagine the work Baker wrote on commission for Kumu Kahua in 2001. Baker is the founder and director of 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Hawaiian Theatre program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The stories blend suspense and humor while exploring how people recognize danger and protect those they love.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kupua<\/em> weaves together two traditional Hawaiian moʻolelo<\/span> ka\u2018ao (stories), “Ka ʻEnuhe<\/span>” and “Ka Puhi a me Ka Loli,” from Kaʻū<\/span> on Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island. At the center are kupua, supernatural shapeshifters whose appetites threaten the families around them. The stories blend suspense and humor while exploring how people recognize danger and protect those they love.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ve always been interested in the fantastical, so having these stories from our past that have a hint of magic, a hint of something beyond us, were a natural choice to explore when thinking about what magic can happen in the theatrical space,” Baker said.<\/p>\n

New mele, dance<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Kupua<\/em> weaves together traditional Hawaiian moʻolelo<\/span> kaʻao<\/span> (stories) Hawaiʻi<\/span> Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This staging features three new mele (songs) composed by Baker and arranged by 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Assistant Professor Joshua ‘Baba’ Kamoaniʻala<\/span> Tavares. William Kealiʻinohopono<\/span> Kāhele<\/span> and Reyn Afaga co-direct the production that includes movement ranging from hula to breakdancing.<\/p>\n

The production draws students, alumni and faculty from four 糖心视频<\/abbr> campuses: M\u0101noa, Kapiʻolani<\/span>, Windward and Leeward. Scenic designer Antonio Hernandez earned his master of fine arts (<\/abbr>MFA<\/abbr>) at 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa in May. Three cast members are current Windward Community College students or recent graduates. Artistic director Harry Wong III<\/abbr> of Kumu Kahua Theatre earned his MFA<\/abbr> in directing at 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa.<\/p>\n

For Baker, the anniversary also carries personal meaning. Her daughter, Kaʻiukapu<\/span> Baker, had not been born when Kupua<\/em> premiered. Now, she is helping bring her mother\u2019s play to life as a costume designer.<\/p>\n

For audiences, Baker hopes the laughter and suspense spark a deeper interest in Hawaiian stories and the places they come from.<\/p>\n

“I hope they enjoy and laugh and all of that good stuff. But I also hope that the play might stir people\u2019s interest to learn more,” Baker said.<\/p>\n

Performance information<\/h2>\n

Kupua<\/em> runs October 29–November 29, with performances Thursdays\u2013Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Student tickets are $8 on Thursdays and Fridays and $13 on weekends. Purchase tickets at kumukahua.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The production brings together 糖心视频<\/abbr> students, alumni and faculty to reimagine the work Tammy Hailiʻōpua<\/span> Baker wrote for Kumu Kahua in 2001.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":242826,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[598,130,9],"class_list":["post-242818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-faculty-recognition","tag-theatre","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t