What are the opening hours?

Monday 11am - 3pm Tuesday 11am - 3pm Wednesday 11am - 3pm Thursday 11am - 3pm 7:15pm - 10:30pm Friday 11am - 3pm 7:15pm - 10:30pm Saturday 7:15pm - 10:30pm Sunday 1:15pm - 4:30pm

Kumu Kahua Theatre

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Kumu Kahua Theatre

Kumu Kahua Theatre Plays about life in Hawaiʻi. Plays by Hawaiʻi playwrights. Plays for people of Hawaiʻi.
(227)

01/24/2025

SOUTHERNMOST opens TONIGHT at Kumu Kahua Theatre!

Join us for this moving comedy by Mary Lyon Kamitaki, about former Big Island fisherman Wally Chaves who must decide to stay or go when earthquakes begin to shake up his keiki coffee farm (and family shakes up his home life).

Performances for SOUTHERNMOST run Thursdays to Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Visit kumukahua.org for tickets (and don’t forget to take a photo at our selfie station)!

See you here for opening weekend!

01/23/2025

In the familiar hills of Ka‘u at the southernmost tip of Hawai‘i Island, former fisherman Wally Chaves lives with his retired wife Becky and plants keiki trees for a coffee farm.

The situation becomes unstable when his daughter Charlene visits with her girlfriend Jessica. But when earthquakes start to really shake things up, should Wally stay or go?

SOUTHERNMOST opens tomorrow at Kumu Kahua Theatre! Save your seats for opening weekend before tickets completely sell out at kumukahua.org.

See you at the theatre!

01/22/2025

“Nah, no need. Dey always say someting coming. Las’ time was one tsunami, befoah dat was one hurricane. An’ look. I still heah, you still heah.”

SOUTHERNMOST opens this Thursday at Kumu Kahua Theatre! Tickets are selling out but there’s still time to save your seats now for opening weekend. Visit kumukahua.org!

01/19/2025

We are saddened to learn about the recent passing of Kati Kuroda. Kati was a kind soul, wonderful friend, and talented actor who appeared in FLOWERS OF HAWAI‘I (pictured here with William Ha‘o in 2013) and WHO YOU AGAIN? at Kumu Kahua Theatre, as well as many other productions in Hawai‘i, NYC, and beyond.

Our hearts go out to Kati’s family and friends during this time. Aloha, Kati—we love and miss you. ❤️

01/18/2025

There’s still two weeks left to submit to our January contest!

Give us your best 10-page scene about someone learning how to use chopsticks to eat. The scene should end with either success or failure. Have fun with this one! (Not sure how to format a script? Visit dramatistsguild.com/script-formats to learn how!)

Kumu Kahua Theatre is proud to present this regular playwriting contest in partnership with Bamboo Ridge Press. There’s a different theme each month and our favorite script receives $100 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge.

Congrats to playwright Sean Gref for winning our December contest with his piece, THE BURGER AND THE DUCK! You could be January’s winner—visit kumukahua.org/gotryplaywrite to submit your script by the 31st.

Happy writing, and good luck!

01/15/2025

“For me, this play is about change. It’s about loss and growth and what it means to come home,” writes Mary Lyon Kamitaki in her playwright’s notes for SOUTHERNMOST.

“Developing it has been a way for me to return home to Hawai‘i even as I live and work on the mainland. To see it actually come to life here is a dream.”

Join us next weekend for SOUTHERNMOST at Kumu Kahua Theatre! There’s still time to save your seats for opening night. Visit kumukahua.org now for tickets!

01/12/2025

“An’ now you know dey all fin’ each oddah on da cell phones? Get one... one computah program on deir cell phones fo’ find you one girlfrien’ o’ boyfriend’ o’ whatevah.”

SOUTHERNMOST opens in two weekends at Kumu Kahua Theatre! Save your seats now for this play written by Mary Lyon Kamitaki and directed by Harry Wong III.

For tickets, visit kumukahua.org!

01/08/2025

Kumu Kahua is proud to announce a new STAGES educational course for production directors on Oʻahu!

Harry Wong III will teach theatre direction via script study and critical analysis. A small group of students will be selected to receive instruction on how to “think like a director.” They will receive instruction, read and discuss plays, then view and critique three upcoming plays throughout our 54th season running now through August 2025. The course will consist of eleven 3-hour sessions in addition to viewing of three productions.

The goal of this course is to identify and support burgeoning directors to possibly support upcoming Kumu Kahua productions and programs, as well as add to the pool of trained and experienced theatre directors on Oʻahu.

Students of various levels of experience will be invited to participate. All selected students will receive this instruction FREE with compliments of Kumu Kahua Theatre. (There will also be three slots available for individuals wishing to audit this class. If selected, the cost to audit this class will be $300.)

If you would like to be considered for this course, please visit kumukahua.org/auditions/2025-directors-workshop! Complete the application online and upload your resume by January 21. Selected students will receive further information and the course will begin in late January 2025.

Mahalo, and good luck!

01/07/2025

“You know what, it’s almos’ like when da sugah cane come tru. Was huge, da whole districk come down here fo’ work, an’ get choke developers from da’ mainlan’ come here fo’ try make some money. But dis time, now it’s only da small local guys get da land. Like me.”

For former fisherman Wally Chaves, who lives with his retired wife Becky in the familiar hills of Ka‘u at the southernmost tip of the Big Island, planting keiki trees for a coffee farm is giving him new life. His daughter Charlene visits with her girlfriend Jessica, and everything begins to get unstable. But when earthquakes start to really shake things up, should they stay or should they go?

SOUTHERNMOST opens on January 23 at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Save your seats now for opening weekend at kumukahua.org!

01/04/2025

The January contest is on!

This month’s Kumu Kahua Theatre and Bamboo Ridge Press playwriting contest has a chopstick prompt: Write a 10-page maximum scene with someone learning how to use chopsticks to eat. The scene should end with either success or failure. Have fun with this one!

You have until January 31st to submit your scripts. Our favorite receives $100 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge! (Not sure how to format a script? Visit dramatistsguild.com/script-formats to learn how!)

Send your stuff at kumukahua.org/gotryplaywrite. Good luck!

01/03/2025

“Dis girl, how long you known her? Wat, tree years? Foah? Five? And how come you nevah tell us? She not family, Charlene. If you no like bring her home, she no can be family. Dis family.”

SOUTHERNMOST opens on January 23 at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Save your seats now for opening weekend at kumukahua.org!

12/31/2024

Happy (Almost) New Year’s Eve!

Before the new year, don’t forget that any donations to Kumu Kahua Theatre before January 1 will immediately receive a receipt that can be used for a tax deduction if you itemize. Your support will help us continue to produce new performances and showcase the voices of Hawai‘i.

We appreciate your consideration! To learn more, visit kumukahua.org/donate

12/28/2024

There are only a few days left of 2024... But still get plenty of time for playwriting!

Don’t forget that the deadline for submissions to our annual playwriting contest, presented in partnership with the University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance, is this coming Thursday, January 2, 2025.

To learn more about this annual playwriting competition, the prizes, and how to submit, visit https://www.kumukahua.org/playwritingcontest.

Meanwhile this coming Tuesday, December 31, is the last day to submit your short scripts for this month’s contest, presented in partnership with Bamboo Ridge Press!

To learn more about this month’s liar’s theme and to submit, visit https://www.kumukahua.org/gotryplaywrite.

We’re excited to read your work. Best of luck!

12/24/2024

“Dey say it’s Pele. Dat Pele appears like dat, on da road. So if you see one old lady wit white hair walking down da road at night you s’posed to pick her up—“

Planting keiki trees for a coffee farm is giving former fisherman Wally Chaves new life in the familiar hills of Ka‘u at the southernmost tip of the Big Island. But when earthquakes start to shake things up, should Wally—and his retired wife Becky, his visiting daughter Charlene, and her girlfriend Jessica—stay or go?

SOUTHERNMOST opens at Kumu Kahua Theatre one month from today, on January 23. Save your seats now for this powerful play by Mary Lyon Kamitaki—visit kumukahua.org!

12/22/2024

Write one more short play (or your first!) before the end of the year: There’s still 10 days left to submit to this month’s contest!

Here’s your prompt for December: For every successful lie, there’s someone who believes it. Write a 10-page maximum scene or an 8-page max monologue of someone who, when confronted with facts, still believes the lie. No other qualifiers or examples—just the warning from Voltaire: “Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

Go Try PlayWrite is proudly presented in partnership with Bamboo Ridge Press. Each month means a new theme and our favorite script wins $100 and a subscription to Bamboo Ridge!

To learn more about the contest and to submit, visit kumukahua.org/gotryplaywrite. Best of luck!

12/17/2024

This January, join us for SOUTHERNMOST at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Meet our awesome cast: Allan Okubo, Ember Isabelo, Sanae Tokumura, Stu Hirayama, and Violette Skilling!

This show runs January 23 to February 23, 2025, at Kumu Kahua. Tickets can be reserved online at kumukahua.org—but save your seats soon before they sell out!

12/14/2024

Mahalo to photographer Brandon Miyagi and the cast and crew of SOUTHERNMOST for a great photo shoot! Here’s a behind-the-scenes preview of the characters in this new play written by Mary Lyon Kamitaki and directed by Harry Wong III, opening on January 23!

Save your seats now for SOUTHERNMOST at Kumu Kahua Theatre before they sell out—visit kumukahua.org for tickets!

12/12/2024

See you in 2025 for SOUTHERNMOST, our next play at Kumu Kahua Theatre!

Written by Mary Lyon Kamitaki and directed by Harry Wong III, SOUTHERNMOST follows former fisherman Wally Chaves, who lives with his retired wife Becky in the familiar hills of Ka‘ū at the southernmost tip of Hawai‘i Island. Planting keiki trees for a coffee farm is giving him new life. But when daughter Charlene visits with her girlfriend Jessica—Wally calls her “one vegetarian lesbian”—everything begins to get unstable. When earthquakes start to really shake things up, should they stay or should they go?

SOUTHERNMOST goes from January 23 to February 23, 2025. Performances run Thursdays to Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available—but save your seats now before they sell out. Visit kumukahua.org!

Address

46 Merchant Street
Honolulu, HI
96813

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 3pm
Tuesday	11am - 3pm
Wednesday	11am - 3pm
Thursday	11am - 3pm
	7:15pm - 10:30pm
Friday	11am - 3pm
	7:15pm - 10:30pm
Saturday	7:15pm - 10:30pm
Sunday	1:15pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18085364222

Website

http://www.KumuKahua.org/

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Videos

Kaipo Dudoit on KITV's Island Life Live

Mahalo to KITV4 for featuring KIMO THE WAITER on a recent episode of Island Life Live! Actor Kaipo Dudoit joined hosts Davey D and Lina Girl to discuss 1980s Hawaiʻi, researching history, and the responsibility of portraying local characters accurately and authentically on stage and screen. This weekend is your last chance to catch KIMO THE WAITER at Kumu Kahua Theatre. The show runs Thursday to Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit kumukahua.org/tickets now to save your seats!

Kevin J Molina on family support in KIMO THE WAITER

"There's obviously one parent that's super supportive of Kimo and one parent that's not that very supportive..." Actor Kevin J. Molina shares some thoughts on KIMO THE WAITER and the importance of receiving support from friends and family, especially for creatives. Mahalo Kevin for your thoughtful words! Performances of KIMO THE WAITER at Kumu Kahua Theatre resume tonight through Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. But please note—entire shows are selling out. Save your seats now before they're gone at kumukahua.org!

Kaipo Dudoit and Billy V on Sunrise

Mahalo to K5 and Hawaii News Now - Sunrise for this recent feature on Sunrise! Actor Kaipo Dudoit joined host Billy V earlier this week to talk about KIMO THE WAITER, opening night of the show, and his other awesome upcoming performances on screen. Mahalo Kaipo and Billy! KIMO THE WAITER continues this weekend at Kumu Kahua Theatre. Performances run tonight through Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Save your seats at kumukahua.org/tickets!

Improv at Kumu Kahua

Join us for a double feature today at Kumu Kahua Theatre! At 2 p.m., don't miss Moses Goods' LOVEY LEE, a coming-of-age story set in 1970s Hawaiʻi. Then—live from Honolulu, it's Sunday night! At 7 p.m., catch an epic Improv @ Kumu Kahua, a special Dark Night show hosted by Ryan “Oki”naka. For tickets to LOVEY LEE, call our box office at 808-536-4441! To save your seats for improv, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/improv-at-kumu-kahua-theatre-hosted-by-ryan-oki-naka-tickets-1007040082997!

Malia shares thoughts on Lovey Lee

We couldn't agree more! Mahalo Malia for letting audiences know why they should see LOVEY LEE if they haven't yet. (And if you have seen this powerful play written by Moses Goods but want to catch it again, use the code COMEBACK when checking out online to receive 20% off your ticket!) LOVEY LEE continues at Kumu Kahua tonight and tomorrow at 7 p.m. and this Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit kumukahua.org to save your seats for the show!

Sean-Joseph Choo shares candid thoughts about LOVEY LEE.

Sean-Joseph Choo shares more candid thoughts about LOVEY LEE.

Mahalo to KHON2 News for featuring Kumu Kahua Theatre on a recent episode of Living808! Harry Wong III joined host Mikey Monis to discuss the plays of our 54th season, the importance of sharing local stories, and ways to get involved with Kumu Kahua. "[Kumu Kahua presents] a chance to get to see yourself on stage," Harry says. "All the media that we consume almost have nothing to do with us. And when they do, it's usually not representative of who we are. Everything that you see on the Kumu Kahua stage ... These are are the things that we're going through right now in the community. Or things I didn't know about Hawaiʻi." Enjoy the Kumu Kahua stage this weekend with performances of Moses Goods' LOVEY LEE tonight and tomorrow at 7 pm, and Sunday at 2 pm! And mark your calendars for Monday, September 9, for the return of The Work, where Jason Kanda and Reyn Afaga will go head-to-head directing a new script by Anette Arinix. See you soon at the theatre!

Mahalo to everyone who joined us for a great opening night of LOVEY LEE last night at #KumuKahua! Performances continue tonight and tomorrow at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., for this coming-of-age story about a young queer Hawaiian finding their place in 1970s Hawai‘i—and the world. Reserve your tickets now for #LoveyLee at kumukahua.org!

Director Harry Wong III talks sacrifice, Nietzsche, and the evolution of spirit in the Kāmau Trilogy

"In order to save his family's land ... [Michael] has to destroy the thing he most loves, which is his family." Director Harry Wong III talks sacrifice, Nietzsche, and the evolution of spirit in the Kāmau Trilogy. "That's the through-line for me, is creating all of those connections. Making sure that each character that the plays focus on do what is necessary to free the family's spirit." With the power back on, the Kāmau Trilogy continues at Kumu Kahua Theatre! Tonight, join us for KĀMAU AʻE at 7 p.m. and UA PAU on Saturday. Enjoy all three plays beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday! Save your seats online at kumukahua.org/tickets!