Hawaiian Council and WitzEnd Productions Bring 'The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka' to Ko Olina
Previews for the 90-minute musical begin November 25, featuring a cast that includes Grammy nominee Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom.
By Diego Mendoza ·
The production of the Hawaiian moʻolelo about the goddess Hiʻiaka has spent 10 years in development. The team began storyboarding in 2014 and conducted research journeys to Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island. Readings took place in New York and Honolulu, leading to a world premiere preview at the 2025 Native Hawaiian Convention.
Rehearsals for the stage adaptation started in September 2026. The musical is set to begin previews at Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina on Wednesday, November 25. Opening night arrives on Saturday, December 5. The venue will host performances from Wednesday through Saturday evenings for an open-ended run. Each show lasts 90 minutes without an intermission.
Jana Anguay Alcain of Waiāhole plays the title role of Hiʻiaka. Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom, a six-time Grammy nominee, portrays Pele. Moses Goods, known for his work in “Chief of War,” serves as the narrator, Kāne and Panaʻewa. Native Hawaiian practitioners hold key leadership and creative positions throughout the production.
The project is a collaboration between Hawaiian Council and WitzEnd Productions. WitzEnd previously produced the Tony Award-winning revival of “Once On This Island.” Their credits also include “Some Like It Hot” and “A Beautiful Noise.” Hawaiian Council invested funding, staff, and cultural advisers to shape the storytelling process.
Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council and a producer on the show, stated that Native Hawaiian organizations have a responsibility to invest in their own stories. He said, “As a Native Hawaiian organization, we have a responsibility to invest in our own stories and ensure Hawaiian voices help shape how they are told.” Lewis added that he hopes young Hawaiians see the production and know their stories and voices matter.
Michael Jackowitz, a Maui resident and producer with WitzEnd, moved to Hawaii 11 years ago to find a way to tell this story. He aimed to appeal to audiences who grew up with these deities as well as musical theater fans unfamiliar with them. The narrative is drawn from the moʻolelo of Hiʻiakaikapoliopele as told by Hoʻoulumāhiehie. The story was serialized in the Hawaiian-language newspaper Ka Naʻi Aupuni from 1905 to 1906 and translated into English by M. Puakea Nogelmeier.
The plot follows Hiʻiaka, the youngest sister of Pele, on a journey across the islands. At Pele’s request, Hiʻiaka seeks out Lohiʻau, the chief of Kauaʻi whom Pele loved in a dream. Her goal is to bring him home to Kīlauea and restore him to life. The long journey tests the bond between the sisters. The performance features live music, hula, oli, puppetry, and projection in both English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Tickets are available for show-only seats at $126. A standard adult ticket with dinner costs $179, and VIP tickets are $264. A discount is available for kamaʻāina residents. The production creates employment for local performers, production crews, and hospitality teams. Free parking is available in designated areas, and optional round-trip transportation from Waikīkī costs $30 per person.
