Themes about the power of family bonds, love and survival are prevalent in an upcoming play about a Kauai outlaw cowboy named Koolau. The historically based show titled Legend Of Koolau, is set in the late 1800s during the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.
“I spent about a year-and-a-half doing the research for this play,” said writer Gary Kubota who was born in Honolulu. “It’s authentic to the time, but for the dialogue I had to take a bit of creative license since nobody knows what Koolau’s words were exactly during his struggle.”
Kubota’s own history runs deep in Kauai. His father was born in Waimea, and his uncles made names for themselves, including his uncle Tommy Inouye, who has a Lihue street named after him, uncle Shigeomi, a former Kauai councilman, and uncle Akio, a former Kauai High School coach.
“It’s a bit serendipitous in that writing this play not only gave me a chance to reconnect with my family roots, but also share the story of Koolau, from his point of view,” said Kubota.
The setting for Koolau’s fight is Kekaha, where he lived and fought to keep him and his son from being sent to a leper settlement at Kalaupapa called “The Living Grave.” Koolau was not only a Hawaiian cowboy, he was the foreman on several area ranches and a hunter.
Moronai Kanekoa, who played Cesar in the T.V. soap opera “As the World Turns,” and the role of the helper in the short “The Sleep Counselor,” will be playing the role of Koolau in the one-man production.
Kubota is training other actors for the role as part of a theater company he founded.
A recent graduate of the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in drama, Kubota sees value in seeing the production because it enables both Kauai residents and visitors alike to gain insight into a pivotal period in Hawaiian history.
“It makes people laugh and it makes them cry,” said Kubota. “It really is an historical reckoning of what was happening to the Polynesian population and their decimation.”
Kubota’s additional talents include song and poetry writing, as well as years working as an award-winning news journalist and editor. He also produced two primetime Hawaii specials for public television.
Grant funds were awarded in 2013 from the National Performance Network (NPN) of New Orleans for the play. In 2011, a play reading at the Waimea Historic Theatre also became a spring board for its financial and creative development.
Kauai audiences will have an opportunity to watch the drama unfold this weekend at the Waimea Historic Theatre. Tickets are available by calling 349-2027 or 645-0996 or by visiting by www.legendofkoolau.com and www.waimeatheater.com.
Show times are 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Ticket prices for the Saturday show are $25 each and $20 each for the Sunday matinee. The Kamaaina price is $15 and students pay $8.
