Leiana Clark (Moloka’i Warrior) is a junior this year and currently in the Health and Wellness Academy. You might have seen her in Fiddler on the Roof last year as a villager. She enjoys going to the beach and spending time with loved ones. She is also looking forward to participating as cast in this year’s Hōʻike, and is very excited to bond with her castmates in Scotland.
Makana Waikiki (Nu‘akea) is a senior at Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi High School, born and raised in Hilo on the island of Hawaii. She enjoys singing, acting, surfing and art and is going to work to acquire many more performing skills during the coming years through the opportunities offered through her school. Attending the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland will expose her to different people, cultures, practices, and much, much more. She already has college credits and is working towards a degree in Anthropology and Archaeology. Makana is looking forward to absorbing all that she can from this extraordinary experience, applying what she can to herself, then sharing it with others that love performing as much as she does. Mahalo nui for your support to make this adventure possible!
Chalet Tauati (Kaha‘alewa) is currently a junior at Kamehameha Schools. She has been dancing for Johnny Lum Ho‘s halau for a year. Chalet has participated in the previous production of Hō‘ike. She enjoys reading, dancing, and running. She has also performed in numerous May Day celebrations during her time here at Kamehameha Schools. Chalet would like to thank everyone that made this opportunity possible. Mahalo.
Damien Stack (Haho) is a junior at Kamehameha Hawai‘i High School. Damien’s first theater experience was walking across the stage in Kamehameha’s first theater production, Oliver. Since then, Damien has been in most of Kamehameha’s performing arts shows and he is excited for the show and would like to thank, the cast, crew, and audience for this experience.
Jameson Kapuni Elia Sato (Moi) is a junior attending Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Campus, and resides in the Keaʻau district on the island of Hawaiʻi. He is overjoyed to be a part of a group that will perform the first Hawaiian opera ever to be presented at the American High School Theater Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jameson embraces the opportunity to share the Hawaiian culture with the rest of the world. In addition to honoring his entire Hawaiʻi Island family, his involvement in the festival pays special tribute to his kupuna and ohana that are lifelong residents of the island of Moloka’í. From the age of 5, Jameson has been a member of the youth choir and orchestra in his church, and was recently promoted to a position in the church’s adult music department. Besides preparing for the Edinburgh event, Jameson spends time playing football, soccer, and running track, as well as handling his responsibilities as the class (2018) President.
Tenille Nagareda (Kōlea) is a senior at Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i. She has always had a passion for music, leading her to take the Chorus class in both freshman and junior year, as well as take Concert Glee in sophomore year. During her sophomore year in Chorus she was a villager in Fiddler on the Roof. Tenille also sang a solo in the Kamehameha Hawai‘i Christmas Concert, when she sang “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl. It was a great experience for her because it introduced her to the more operatic aspect of singing, something she has always admired, but never experienced. Tenille is extremely thankful for the opportunity to go to Edinburgh and hopes to have a wonderful experience that can enhance her knowledge about not only our world, but the theatre world as well. She would like to thank her mother, father and the rest of her family for all the love they bestow upon her every moment of her life.
Arieka Pomaika‘ionalani Longakit (Uli) is a senior in the Health and Wellness Academy at Kamehameha Schools Hawaii. She puts God first in everything that she does and is extremely appreciative of her family for continuing to support her in her journey through theatre. Pomai speaks Hawaiian and is proud to be able to perpetuate her culture in the form of song and play. She is from a family of performers and it comes as no surprise that she found her way to the stage. Pomai is playing the sorceress Uli in this year’s opera, Hā’upu. She also played Ka‘ahumanu in the opera The Battle of Kuamo’o (2014) and Francesca in West Side Story. She would like to thank Mr. Stack, Mr. Mahelona, and the rest of the hō’ike committee for all that they’ve done to put such an amazing show together.
Alya-Joy Kanehailua (Kea’uleinakahi) has been casted to play Kea’uleinakahi, one of Kapepe‘ekauila’s warriors. She is a senior this year at Kamehameha Schools Hawai’i High School. She grew up in Hilo, Hawai’i and has been performing for many years in both hula and theater productions. She has danced hula for Johnny Lum Ho (winner at this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival) since the 4th grade, one performance being in Nagoya, Japan in September of 2014. She found her love for theater when she entered the Kamehameha Schools in 6th grade. Alya has performed in all of the high school’s productions since 2013, outstanding roles having been Anita in this past fall’s West Side Story and Anakē Meleana in E Paepae Hou ‘Ia Na Pohaku (Hō’ike 2015). She was also onstage dancing hula in the Hō‘ike 2013, The Battle of Kuamo‘o. In 2014, she was cast as a vendor in the University of Hawai’i at Hilo’s production of Miss Saigon. Alya is one of the twenty students taking this great production to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She, just like the rest of the cast, is buzzing with excitement and cannot wait to share her culture, ‘ōlelo and mele with an audience so far from home. Alya sends many warm thanks to all who have contributed to the production and her participation in it: to the teachers, Mr. Stack and Mr. Mahelona for their hard work, hours awake and at school, she thanks the cast for amazing her and making her smile, and last but not least, her parents for being so patient.
Daylan-Blake Makoa Kala‘i (Kapepe‘ekauila) is a senior attending the Kamehameha Schools Hawai‘i. Daylan has been involved in the performing arts since he was in the elementary keiki choir under the direction of Mrs. Cynthia Debus. It was there that he developed his passion for performing. In middle school, he participated in the Hawaiian Ensemble that is taught by Kumu Kimo Kekua, Kumu Darci Baker as well as Kumu Kilohana Hirano. There he developed a love for hula and a desire to perpetuate the culture. He currently dances with Hālau Hula o Kahikilaulani under the direction of Kumu Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang. In Daylan’s eighth grade year, he took an opportunity that changed everything. He auditioned for the high school musical, South Pacific. As an inexperienced singer and actor he was surprised to be offered the part of Joseph Cable, the lieutenant. Taking on a principle role required a bit of confidence, which he soon developed as the rehearsal process began. With newfound confidence from the musical, he took another risk that year and auditioned for the second Hawaiian opera that the school presented, the Battle of Kuamo‘o. With luck and the love of God he was offered the role of Liholiho, Kamehameha II. With that his heart was unwaveringly settled on the performing arts. In Daylan’s sophomore year he played Motel, the tailor in the fall production of Fiddler on the Roof, as well as a hula dancer in Hō‘ike 2015. This year, Daylan portrayed the role of Tony in West Side Story, and will be portraying the role of Kapepe‘ekauila in Hō‘ike 2016 or better known as Hā‘upu. Attending the American High School Theater Festival, let alone perform in it would mean to world to him because it gives him unique exposure to a new culture and audience. It would also give him an opportunity to evolve, both on stage and off. His plans after high school are to attend New York University and pursue his passion of performing as well as follow through with a second major in nursing. His heart extends to his family, friends, and teachers because they are his biggest supporters. He aspires to inspire young actors and singers who are too afraid to chase their dreams!
Hansel Ka‘aumoana (Keolo‘ewa) is more than honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the Hawaiian opera production of Hā‘upu in the American High School Theater Festival in Scotland and in Hō‘ike. In Edinburgh, he hopes to learn about the culture of Scotland, what makes it special, and how he can apply it to his own life. This is not the first time that Hansel has traveled outside of the country. In the summer of 2015, he traveled to Japan to learn their culture as well. In Edinburgh, Scotland, he hopes he’ll gain a whole new experience as he did in Japan. He was born and raised in Hilo. Hansel is a junior from Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi Campus, who has participated in some of the school productions, including Fiddler On The Roof and West Side Story. His interests include wrestling and judo as a school sport and activity. He’d like to thank his family, colleagues, teachers, and the generous members of the community for their support of the show.