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.
Ku‘uhiapo Jeong (Kana), born in Hilo, Hawaiʻi but raised in Puna, is a junior who plans to join the Humanities Academy, Performing Arts Pathway. From kindergarten through the 8th grade, he attended Ke Kula O Nāwahīokalani‘ōpu‘u, a Hawaiian immersion school that teaches its students entirely in the Hawaiian Language. He was later accepted into Kamehameha High School and continued his studies there. After high school, he hopes to attend the University of Hawaii at Hilo to continue his study of the Hawaiian language. He’s not sure what he wants to do with his life after college, but he is trusting God that He will guide him to a new mission in life. Besides focusing on academics, he loves to get involved in extracurricular activities just like school clubs. Outside of school, he loves listening to music, volunteering, traveling to new places, listening to old stories from his kupuna, and most of all, dancing hula. He started dancing hula for Hālau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua at the age of 4 and has been dancing ever since; last year marked his 10th year dancing under the direction of Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho. At the age of 11, he competed as a soloist in the Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition and placed 2nd. In the 5th grade, he took Hip-Hop and Jazz lessons from N2Dance. His biggest ambition is to compete in the Merrie Monarch Festival, and he says that his biggest dream in life is that one day, there will be a Mr. Aloha Hula (male hula competition) in the Merrie Monarch Festival. In this year’s Hō‘ike, Hā‘upu, Ku‘uhiapo will be portraying the role of Kana, the second son of Hina and Hakalanileo. He’s honored and thankful to have been given the opportunity to travel to such an amazing place where all forms of art and performances are shared amongst people all over the world. This is a blessing and a huge responsibility for the group and sharing the Hawaiian culture is one of their goals. The opportunity to share his love and passion for not only hula, but also other forms of performances could be the best experience that he could ever have in order to follow his dreams. Ku‘uhiapo would like to first thank God for everything He has blessed him with his whole life. Second, he would like to send his warmest mahalo to Mr. Stack, Mr. Mahelona, and everyone who was behind the scenes for sacrificing all of their free time to make this Scotland trip possible. He would also like to thank the entire cast for a great time during rehearsals. Lastly but certainly not the least, he would like to thank his entire family for supporting him through this unforgettable journey of his. He couldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for the love and support of his family.
Born in Waimea on the big island of Hawaii, Sierra Pi‘ikea Gleason (Attendant to Hina) is a junior at Kamehameha Schools Hawaiʻi. Though she is very committed to academics, there is an adjacent and equally significant place in her heart for musical theatre. She spends her free time singing, acting, and riding and caring for her beautiful horse, Sparky. Her involvement in theatre began with High School, limiting her experience to an extra in two of her school’s productions (Fiddler on the Roof and The Sinking of the Malolo) and Graziella in West Side Story. She surely hopes to acquire many more performing skills during the coming years through the incredible opportunities offered through her school. Attending the American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland will expose her to not only different acting styles, skills and talent, but also to different people, cultures, strategies, practices, and much, much more. She is looking forward to absorbing all that she can from this extraordinary experience, applying what she learned there to herself, then sharing it with others that love performing as much as she does. She’d like to thank her family for allowing her the resources they could afford and always having her success in mind. Mahalo nui for your support to make this adventure possible!
Tiari Faagata (Lāanoano/Attendant to Hina) is a junior aiming to join the Humanities Academy, Visual Arts pathway, and currently lives in Kea‘au on the island of Hawaiʻi. Her first performance was in KHS’s Fiddler on the Roof as a part of the chorus, and has thus performed in KHS’s SY2014-2015 Hō‘ike as a main character and in their 2015 musical, West Side Story as the side character Consuela. She is an enthusiast towards art, singing and performing arts, and is always drawing and listening to music when not focusing on school. In being a part of the select group who will be proudly representing Kamehameha Schools at the 2016 AHSTF Fringe with this performance, she is hoping to be able to expand her experience, knowledge, and perspectives on the world, as well as spreading the Hawaiian culture internationally. After high school, she is planning on going to college and wishes to major in visual arts. Tiari would like to thank her parents and grandparents for their constant support in all she does, whether art, acting, or education.