Maui Theatre

Maui Theatre Presents 'Ulalena, a theatrical experience. Traditional Butoh theatre is blended with acrobatic feats of strength and beauty. Hula is combined with modern dance. Rich costumes, lighting and stage design are woven together into a filagree of fantastic images drawn from Hawaiian legend and history, pulling the viewer out of time and into a place of wonder, experiencing with awe the spirit-filled landscape of the imagination of the ancient Hawaiian story tellers. This option is for standard seating.

Maui Theatre Presents 'Ulalena, a theatrical experience as impressive as the story. This is not just a theatre. It is a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art venue built for this presentation. It employs the talents of some of Hawaii's most distinguished musicians and performers, combining live traditional Hawaiian music with 8-channel surround sound.

Special Schedule Notes

There are no shows scheduled on the following dates:
~October 31 (Halloween)

All parties will be seated together. Complimentary upgrades will be offered on the day of the show, if available. Every seat maintains a sense of intimacy and interaction with the performance.

'Ulalena is a wind unique to Maui, as said in the Kumulipo, an ancient Hawaiian creation chant, as well as a red-yellow colored rain revealed by the twilight. Like a soft wind in the mist of light.

'Ulalena invites each spectator to a place of wonder. "It is often said that life is a journey, an individual voyage which does not necessarily involve change of place. One is changed by events and the passage of time." (Eugenio Barba, The Paper Canoe, A Guide to Theatre Anthropology.)

'Ulalena explores relationships between people, nature and mythology. The use of metaphors integrates Hawaiian chants and dances, original music and choreography, lighting and projections to support the talents of unique performers.

'Ulalena is a journey where the moment to moment excitement of self-discovery is the destination.

The Story:

In The Beginning...The first verse of the Kumulipo, or Hawaiian creation chant, sets the theme for the endless cycles of life. A lone man on a spiritual quest is seen carrying a ka'ai ( a woven burial casket used to hold the bones of ancient ruling chiefs) to an unknown destination. And taro, one of the food and plant staples of the Hawaiian Islands, emerges out of the ground, dancing the first breath of life.

The Ocean
provides the way for the first migrators from Tahiti. Navigating by the stars and following signs from birds, they pursue their vision of Pele, the volcano goddess, and her brother Kamohoali'i, the shark god. The demi-god Maui pulls the islands from the depths of the ocean.

The Mythical Forest...
A young ali'i has a vision of a Mo'o (a guardian spirit in the form of a lizard) who inhabits a waterfall. The trees in the rainforest suddenly come to life, manifesting their mana, or life-force; young men and women run playfully among them. The gods reflect upon their passions and desires while the half-hog, half-god, Kamapua'a pursues his passionate love for Pele.

The Village...
Men pounding poi from fresh taro roots and women beating kapa exemplify simple village life in Hawaii. The sister of the young ali'i has a vision of the Kapa goddess while she works.

The Makahiki...
A long white tapa banner honoring the god of agriculture, Lono, announces the annual celebration of the Makahiki Harvest Festival, a time of thanksgiving, sports and taboo on war.

The European Explorer
arrives and interrupts the climax of the Makahiki Festival. The great white sails of the ship reveal a similarity with the Lono banner. The island inhabitants vow reverence and great respect as they believe the god Lono has arrived in human form.

Shadows
behind a ship sail expose the differences between two worlds and the introduction of foreign elements. After the death of King Kamehameha, the old kapu system is overthrown, resulting in conflict between the old and new ways.

The Hawaiian Monarchy
witnesses some of the events of the nineteenth century before its downfall; immigrants from around the world are brought to work in the islands' sugar cane fields as the demand for sugar increases.

The Regenerating Forces Of Nature...
Pele, the volcano goddess, explodes, reflecting the turbulent emotions of the century. After her devastation comes a time of contemplation, where life begins again under the peaceful lunar light of Hina, the goddess of the moon.

'Ulalena...
The new era of golden people face their future as the 'Ulalena rain embraces them - their essence and spirit molded into a way of life that is close to nature.

This show does not include hotel or condo pick-up. All taxes and fees are included in this package. Child prices apply to ages 3 to 12. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-881-3303.