HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
JOSEPH KEKUKU AND THE VOICE OF THE STEEL GUITAR
Produced by Honolulu Theatre for Youth
From Honolulu, HI
Photo credit: Adam Larsen, courtesy of Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Photo credit: Adam Larsen, courtesy of Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Resources
About the Company
It's the late 1800s. It's a time of invention - trains, steamboats, cameras, even electricity is new at the King's palace in Honolulu. An eleven year old Native Hawaiian boy accidentally strikes the strings of his guitar with a bolt from a railroad track and unlocks a brand new sound. Hawaiian music - and the music of America - is never the same. Based on a true story, this new play traces the incredible invention of the steel guitar from the taro fields to vaudeville halls to Blues, Country, Rock and Roll music and beyond.
With a thrilling live slide guitar soundtrack and projections, this production celebrates innovation, engineering, and the global exchange of ideas and sound. It tells the real-life story of Joseph Kekuku as well as the story of the annexation of Hawaii and the movement of young people from the island to the continent and sometimes, back home again. Rich in history, the play also looks forward and encourages children of today to celebrate their voice, culture, and sense of curiosity.
Written by Moses Goods, one of Hawaiʻi’s most prominent theatre artists, in collaboration with Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings, this production premiered at HTY in spring 2025 and will have its first national tour in 26-27. This production is supported by the TYA Tour Development Collective with contributions from Gogue Performing Arts Center, Walton Arts Center, Playhouse Square, Zoellner Arts Center
Additional performances also available from the company:
(virtual) Stories of Oceania and Duke.
Curriculum Connections
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Fine Arts: Performance, Music, Multi-media design
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Language Arts: Oli (Hawaiian chant)
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History/Social Studies: Native & Indigenous Cultures; Hawaiian history, American History, Music History
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Science: Inventions, Engineering, Recording, Sound
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Social/Emotional Learning Development: Creativity, Curiosity, Innovation, Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Self Management, and Relationship Skills.
Outreach & Workshops
Please contact us if additional outreach or workshops is something you'd like to explore. A member of the creative team may be available to deliver pre or post show workshops or a live Q&A for participating audiences. Please connect with us about outreach activities that best engage your teachers and schools.
Sensory Friendly
This performance is available as a “sensory friendly” or “relaxed” performance if arranged with the company in advance and with specific direction as to what adjustments are necessary for your venue.
Minimum Tech Specs
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Load In Time: Four hours (pre-rig required.)
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Crew Needs: 1 -2 Stage Hands, 1 Lighting Technician and 1 Audio Technician for Load In. 1-2 sound and light crew members during show. Roles may be combined per venue regulations and per discussion with company in advance.
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Min. Stage Size: 24’ wide x 22’ deep, 12’ high.
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Load Out Time: 1-2 hours
Artistic Team
Written by Moses Goods
In collaboration with Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings
Directed by Eric Johnson
Musical and Historical Dramaturgy by Kilin Reece
Set and Lighting Design by Chesley Cannon
Costume Design by Iris Kim
Prop Design & Technical Direction by Eric West
Projection Design by Adam Larsen
Sound Design by Jarren Amian
Original Music by Mālie Lyman and Kilin Reece
Original Oli by Marques Hanalei Marzan
Additional Script Development by Kilin Reece, Kealoha Wong, and Joshua Tavares
Stage Manager Sarah Danvers
Performed by Mālie Lyman and Joshua “Baba” Kamoaniʻala Tavares
Touring Company will be 2 performers, 1 stage manager, still TBD.
Critical Acclaim
HTY has been awarded the prestigious 2022 CTFA Corey Medallion presented by the Childrenʻs Theatre Foundation of America and honors recipients for their significant achievements for the enrichment of children in the US and Canada. To learn more about the award, please read the following Broadway World article here.
This production is a Recipient of 2025 National Endowment for the Arts Grant and a Recipient of 2025 TYA Tour Development Collective Award.
About the Company
Past North American Tours Include: The Carp Who Would Not Quit, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, The Pa’akai We Bring, and The Great Race: The Story of the Chinese Zodiac.
Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) produces professional theatre and drama education programs that make a difference in the lives of young people, families and educators in the state of Hawaii.
HTY believes that drama education and theatre are unique, socially-based education and art forms that help their participants and audiences walk in the shoes of others, allowing them to expand their imaginations, enrich their lives and discover the infinite possibilities in the world. HTY works towards a future for Hawaii in which people are culturally literate and imaginative, are critical thinkers and inventive problem solvers, with a respect for history and a sense of place in a complex world.
Founded in 1955, HTY is one of the oldest and most respected children’s theatres in the country. HTY has served over five million people through school and family performances and drama education programs. Over 300 new plays for young audiences have been commissioned by HTY.
HTY has used their talents in new ways during the Covid era and, with a partnership with NMG Network and Hawaii News Now, created a new type of children’s television program. Grounded in their geography and the many diverse cultures that make Hawaii special, the program is unlike anything currently available in children’s television and marks the beginning of a hybrid future for HTY as both theatre and digital media creator. Check out HTY's television show THE HI WAY as well as other information about the company and their work on their website here.
Past Productions
