{"id":187897,"date":"2023-12-01T09:10:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T19:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=187897"},"modified":"2023-12-04T13:16:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T23:16:03","slug":"hawaiian-language-production-kcactf-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/12\/01\/hawaiian-language-production-kcactf-award\/","title":{"rendered":"National awards for 东精影业<\/abbr> Hawaiian language production"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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In Hawaiian, Hoʻoilina<\/span> means legacy or inheritance. (Artwork by: M\u0101h\u016bcha)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa hana keaka (play) written and directed by a recent alumnus of the Department of Theatre and Dance<\/a> as part of his MFA<\/abbr> degree in Hawaiian Theatre<\/a> captured six national awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival<\/a> (KCACTF<\/abbr>). The national theatre program, which incorporates 18,000 students annually from colleges and universities across the country, awarded productions in higher education that promote long-term societal impacts through an artistic lens.<\/p>\n

The 东精影业<\/abbr> Mānoa Hawaiian Theatre\u2019s production, Hoʻoilina<\/span><\/a> is written and directed by Ākea Kahikina who penned the comedic hana keaka mostly in Hawaiian. The play also features other languages such as Pidgin, English and ʻōlelo<\/span> māhū (māhū creole). Set in pre-pandemic Hawaiʻi<\/span>, Hoʻoilina<\/span><\/a> explores real-time issues such as what it takes to be considered Hawaiian.<\/p>\n

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Part of the play is spoken in ʻōlelo<\/span> māhū which is similar to the cadence of Pidgin. (Photo credit: Christine Lamborn)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“It is truly an honor to be recognized on the American national level for theatre excellence,” Kahikina expressed. “The true award, however, is the participation, laughter, tears and leo kākoʻo<\/span> (supportive voices) of our lāhui: our people, our nation. That is the validation we as hana keaka practitioners look for when putting out moʻolelo<\/span> (stories) for our people.”<\/p>\n

The production, which closed Kennedy Theatre\u2019s 2021–22 mainstage season last April, netted awards for the play\u2019s ensemble, original artwork and costume design.<\/p>\n

Related: Comedic play to debut in Hawaiian, Pidgin and \u02bb\u014dlelo m\u0101h\u016b<\/a>, March 2022<\/span>\t<\/p>\n

“This national recognition of our students’ creative scholarship confirms the po\u2018okela or level of excellence that is pursued and inherent in Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) theatre praxis,” said Tammy Hailiʻōpua<\/span> Baker, director and founder of the campus\u2019 inaugural Hawaiian Theatre program. “When a hana keaka production is honored nationally, that award elevates the Hawaiian Theatre Program, the Department of Theatre and Dance and the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at Mānoa.”<\/p>\n

Awards<\/h2>\n

Hoʻoilina<\/span><\/p>\n