Prince Kuhio Play Brings History to Life 

Photo by Jack Kiyonaga

As part of the Hawaii Pono’i Coalition, a play honoring the late Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana’ole Pi’ikoi came to Molokai for a special performance at Kulana ‘Oiwi. In collaboration with the Ho’olehua Homesteaders Association, the play sought to educate audiences on the biography and character of one of Hawaii’s most famous leaders. 

Written by Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl and directed by Sammie Choy, the play covers the life of Prince Kuhio. Starting with his early years in Hawaii and adoption by his aunt and uncle Queen Kapi’olani and King Kalakaua, the play follows Kuhio’s journey throughout the turbulent years of the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, subsequent rebellion, imprisonment, and eventual career as Hawaii’s delegate to the U.S. Congress.  

“Everyone knows the name,” explained Choy, “but not everyone knows the details about what he did for Hawaii and how hard it was.” 

One of the aspects of Kuhio’s life that the play especially focuses on is how difficult it was for him to accomplish his agenda for Hawaii as a non-voting member of Congress. The play demonstrates Kuhio’s efforts to forge positive political relationships, his struggles against racism and prejudice, and his mission to create homestead lands for Hawaiians.  

Photo by Jack Kiyonaga

Portraying the life of Kuhio in the dramatic telling of a live play, Choy hoped to fully engage audiences in the performance. 

“If the piece is done well then it brings history to life,” she explained. “You may know the ending already, but the very fact of somebody embodying that character brings it alive and makes it visceral for people.”

A discussion with Hawaiian history scholar, Kawelau Wright, followed the performance. Wright, who specifically researches the history of the territorial period in Hawaii, explained that her studies have led to a deeper appreciation for the complexity of Kuhio’s character. 

“The more that I found, the more that I realized that Kuhio is one of those figures that I think is really, really misunderstood,” said Wright. 

She explained that he was complex in his beliefs. He supported statehood and the development of Pearl Harbor, and yet was at the same time fiercely loyal to the Hawaiian people, culture and future. 

“The play does a really good job of bringing that stuff out. He was a complicated guy,” said Wright. 

The Hawaii Pono’i Coalition has three other living history plays depicting stories of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, Queen Liliu’okalani and the 1898 U.S. annexation, which Choy hopes will be performed on Molokai in the future.