Magic Conch Shell Inspires Reenactment Of Traditional Tale

Kiha (Jonathan Saavedra) is tormented by the sound that the akua (Brandon DiPaola) coaxes from his magical pu, in a scene from Moses Goods’ ‘The Magical Pu Stealer.’ Windward Community College’s Hawaiian Youth Theatre brings the Hawaiian mo‘olelo to the Paliku Theatre stage Feb. 12-14 and 19-21. Photo by Bonnie Beatson.

Hawaiian myth comes to the Windward stage with The Magical Pu Stealer, opening this weekend at Paliku Theatre.

The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Feb. 19-21, and at 4:30 p.m. Sunday and Feb. 22.

Written and directed by Bishop Museum cultural educator and noted storyteller Moses Goods, the play stars the students of Windward Community College’s Theatre 260 class, who will retell the traditional mo‘olelo of Puapualenalena, a shape-shifting dog who protects Waipi‘o Valley.

“With so many students of Hawaiian ancestry on our campus, it seems natural that our youth theatre offerings should bring mo‘olelo to the stage,” stated WCC theatre instructor Nicolas Logue.

“It’s important for young people to see their own culture on stage and watch dramatizations of these stories.”

Tickets cost $15 general, and $10 for students, seniors, military and children. Call 235-7310 or visit windward.hawaii.edu/paliku.

For more information on WCC theatre courses, call Logue at 236-9138 or email him at logue@hawaii.edu.