Nativity Festival Brings Arts Opportunities for Keiki

Photo by Dewitt Jones

Molokai keiki got into the Christmas spirit on stage during a two-day Christmas Nativity Festival. It was put on by the Hokulani Children’s Theater of Molokai (CTOM), which was established almost two years ago and has continued to generate performing arts opportunities for Molokai kids. Last week, Hokulani CTOM teamed up with other Molokai artists for the inaugural festival.

Featuring a nativity play by the Hokulani CTOM actors, the festival also included performances by the CTOM choir, local singers, the Molokai Middle School Hawaiian Immersion students, and the Molokai Strings Quartet.

“We wanted to highlight all of the things that make Molokai special,” said Vicki Boswell, founder and director of Hokulani CTOM.

Almost 30 Molokai kids participated in Hokulani CTOM, representing a range of ages, schools and backgrounds. Boswell explained that she hopes these students will acquire positive life skills from their involvement with the arts, as well a larger sense of community.

With theater performances comes an emphasis on public speaking, leadership, teamwork, and other abilities to take beyond the stage, explained Boswell. A sense of commitment is an underlying force behind all these skills. Practicing multiple times per week, the keiki drama troupe approaches their role as performers with a certain seriousness.

“They see this as their job,” said Boswell. “Performing is how you bless the community.”

For Boswell, the performing arts can be a productive pathway for kids who might struggle socially or academically, giving them a community and skillset of which they can rely on and be proud of.

“We’re bringing kids all across the spectrum together,” she explained.

When Hokulani CTOM first came together in January of 2023, it was the first of its kind for Molokai.

“We have a huge depth of performing arts [on Molokai],” said Boswell. “But there’s almost no opportunity.”

Seeking to create that opportunity, Boswell has worked with over 30 volunteers and several program coordinators to make the arts on Molokai a consistent reality for kids. The theater troupe has put on plays like The Legend of Mulan, Christmas Peter Pan and Jane and the Giant Peach, as well as traveled to Lanai for a collaboration with the Lanai Academy for Performing Arts. Now, Boswell is looking at expanding the program to include more types of arts instruction.

With a musical coming up this spring, Hokulani CTOM will start rehearsals in early January. Keiki interested in participating can contact hokulanictom@gmail.com.