Na Mo`olelo Kalikimaka

Kualapu`u School tells the Christmas story.

In place of traditional garb in the Nativity scene, flower-printed kihei and a bamboo-crafted manger dressed the stage for Ka La Hanaui `o Iesu, the birth of Jesus.

Kula Kaipuni o Kualapu`u, Kualapu`u school’s Hawaiian immersion program, performed their first Christmas play in over a decade at Mitchell Pauole Center last week.

Sparkling angels sang carols of Nawainei Keiki (What Child is This) and Po La`i E (Silent Night), the king and his guards performed a haka and keiki danced hula celebrating the newborn child.

“It was exciting because I got to play Mary and be the main actress. I hope to do it again next year!” said sixth grader `Okalani Schnackenberg.

This is the third year Kualapu`u has put on a play spoken in Hawaiian, and the school hopes to perform another play this spring.