HAWAIIAN MISSION HOUSES HISTORIC SITE AND ARCHIVES BICENTENNIAL SPECIAL EVENTS APRIL 4, 2020 IN KAILUA-KONA, HAWAIʻI ISLAND FEATURING THE PREMIERE OF “MAKING THE ALIʻI LETTERS ALIVE” HISTORY THEATRE

News Release from Hawaii Mission Houses, March 5, 2020

On April 4, 2020, beginning at 8am, will be a series of events and programs to mark the 200-year anniversary of the arrival of the American Protestant Missionaries in Hawaiʻi.  The event will include feature FREE programs at Kailua Pier from 8am to 10:30am, as well as free programs at Mokuaikaua Church and Huliheʻe Palace from 11am to 4pm.

The events include the Torch Run from Kawaiahae to Kailua-Kona, a parade, historical talks at Huliheʻe Palace, the Kōkua Kailua Stroll Art and Food Fair, as well as a Bicentennial Luau Dinner Show from 3pm to 9pm at Kailua Pier ($60 pre-sale tickets available at https://www.kona2020.org/luau-tickets) with entertainment by John Keawe, LT Smooth, Chauncey Wong Yuen, Brian Boshard and island choirs.  At 8pm there will be a fireworks display.

Keep up to date with the latest information at kona2020.org and www.missionhouses.org.

FREE HISTORY THEATRE PERFORMANCES

At 11am, 1pm, and 3pm the newest installment of Hawaiian Mission Houses’ History Theatre program, Making The Aliʻi Letters Alive, will premiere at Mokuaikaua Church.  The 3 separate plays will feature portrayals of historical figures from the first mission stations at Kailua-Kona, Honolulu, and Waimea Kauaʻi.

11am – Making The Aliʻi Letters Alive -- Honolulu Mission Station featuring portrayals of Kalanimoku (portrayed by Kaipu Baker), Kalākua (portrayed by Kauʻi  Kaina), and Reverend Hiram Bingham (portrayed by Brandon Karrer); written by Tammy Hailiʻōpua Baker.

1pm—Making The Aliʻi Letters Alive -- Kailua-Kona Mission Station featuring portrayals of Governor Kuakini (portrayed by Ākea Kahikina), Reverend Asa Thurston (portrayed by Kevin Keaveney), and Lucy Thurston (portrayed by Rasa Fournier); written by Tammy Hailiʻōpua Baker.

3pm – Making The Aliʻi Letters Alive -- Waimea Kauaʻi Mission Station featuring portrayals of King Kaumualiʻi (portrayed by Moses Goods), Queen Kapule (portrayed by Pōʻai Lincoln), and Samuel Ruggles (portrayed by Sean Choo); written by Moses Goods.

On April 5 at 9am, there will be a special commemorative church service at Mokuaikaua Church.  After the church service, descendants of Rev. Asa Thurston and Lucy Thurston will be at Laniākea – the site of the Thurston’s home for walking tours of the grounds.  The ground is uneven with loose rocks and rough walking surfaces – so make sure to be prepared with appropriate footwear.

###

Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives is located in Honolulu’s Historic Capitol District and is the leading authority on Protestant missionary history in Hawaiʻi.  It is known worldwide as the place where the written Hawaiian language was developed through the collaborative efforts of the missionaries and the Aliʻi and the Hawaiian people. It preserves the two oldest documented houses in Hawaiʻi, which were built and used by the missionaries in the early nineteenth century, and the largest collection of Hawaiian language books in the world.