Hawaiian Mythology: 'Hiʻiaka' Musical Arrives in Hawaii

Previews for 'The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka: The Hawaiian Goddess' start on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina. This marks the first time a Hawaiian moʻolelo has been staged as a full-scale, Broadway-style musical in Hawaii.

The project is a partnership between Hawaiian Council and WitzEnd Productions. WitzEnd is the producer behind the Tony Award-winning revival of 'Once On This Island.' The two groups joined forces to bring the story of the goddess Hiʻiaka to the stage.

The development of the musical spans 10 years. Storyboarding began in 2014. The creative team traveled to Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island for research. They also held readings in New York and Honolulu. A world premiere preview took place at the 2025 Native Hawaiian Convention. Rehearsals for the current production began in September 2026.

The cast includes Jana Anguay Alcain of Waiāhole in the title role. Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom, a six-time Grammy nominee, plays Pele. Moses Goods, known for 'Chief of War,' serves as the narrator, Kāne and Panaʻewa. Native Hawaiian practitioners hold key leadership and creative positions in the production.

Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council and a producer, explained the organization's role. 'As a Native Hawaiian organization, we have a responsibility to invest in our own stories and ensure Hawaiian voices help shape how they are told,' Lewis said. Hawaiian Council provided funding, staff, cultural advisers, and creative partners.

Michael Jackowitz, producer and a Maui resident, discussed the challenge of the project. 'I moved here 11 years ago to start figuring out how to tell a story that appeals to both a Hawaiian audience that grew up with these gods and goddesses and a musical theater audience who never heard of them,' Jackowitz said.

The script draws on the moʻolelo of Hiʻiakaikapoliopele. This story was serialized daily in the Hawaiian-language newspaper Ka Naʻi Aupuni from 1905 to 1906. It was later translated into English by M. Puakea Nogelmeier. The plot centers on Hiʻiaka, who travels across the islands to find Lohiʻau, the chief of Kauaʻi. She brings him to Kīlauea to restore him to life, a journey that tests her bond with her sister Pele.

The show features live music, hula, oli, puppetry, and projection. It is performed in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. The 90-minute performance has no intermission.

Opening night is Saturday, Dec. 5. The production will then continue with an open-ended run. Performances are scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Show-only admission is $126. A standard adult ticket with dinner is $179, and VIP tickets are $264. A kamaʻāina discount is available on the production's website. The show is recommended for ages 8 and up. It includes stylized battles, mature romantic themes, and volcanic effects. Infants are not permitted, and children 5 and older require their own tickets.